12-10-01, 10:46 AM
EchoStar and DirecTV expressed disappointment with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to keep must-carry rules for satellite TV intact, but the DBS providers promised they will comply with the regulations.
The must-carry rules, which require satellite TV providers to carry all local stations in the markets they serve, kick in Jan. 1.
EchoStar spokesman Marc Lumpkin said the appeals court decision handed down Friday "is a tremendous loss for consumers and competition to cable in small and mid-sized markets because it limits the ability of EchoStar's DISH Network to expand local TV service via satellite in more than the current 36 cities we serve today."
He added that EchoStar will be ready for the Jan. 1 deadline, and that the company doesn't anticipate removing any channels in the cities its DISH Network DBS service serves today.
Lumpkin said the appeals court decision underscores the need for speedy approval of the proposed merger between EchoStar and DirecTV parent Hughes Electronics. "By combining our satellite spectrum and resources, we will deliver local TV channels into over 100 metropolitan areas, which will reach about 85 percent of the U.S. households while complying with the full must carry rules," he said. "This is the only way to offer true competition to cable."
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said the company is disappointed with the appeals court decision, but with the successful launch and deployment of DirecTV 4S, the company's spot-beam satellite, "we are fully prepared to meet must carry on Jan. 1.
"In fact, we plan to begin offering additional local channels in all of our local channel markets by the end of this year," Marsocci said.
"However, the court's decision is a tremendous loss for consumers and competition in small and mid-size markets because as we have previously stated, must-carry limits our ability to rollout local broadcast networks in additional markets," he said. "We are still reviewing the details of the decision, and are exploring all of our business and legal options."
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</A> (Used with permission)
The must-carry rules, which require satellite TV providers to carry all local stations in the markets they serve, kick in Jan. 1.
EchoStar spokesman Marc Lumpkin said the appeals court decision handed down Friday "is a tremendous loss for consumers and competition to cable in small and mid-sized markets because it limits the ability of EchoStar's DISH Network to expand local TV service via satellite in more than the current 36 cities we serve today."
He added that EchoStar will be ready for the Jan. 1 deadline, and that the company doesn't anticipate removing any channels in the cities its DISH Network DBS service serves today.
Lumpkin said the appeals court decision underscores the need for speedy approval of the proposed merger between EchoStar and DirecTV parent Hughes Electronics. "By combining our satellite spectrum and resources, we will deliver local TV channels into over 100 metropolitan areas, which will reach about 85 percent of the U.S. households while complying with the full must carry rules," he said. "This is the only way to offer true competition to cable."
DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said the company is disappointed with the appeals court decision, but with the successful launch and deployment of DirecTV 4S, the company's spot-beam satellite, "we are fully prepared to meet must carry on Jan. 1.
"In fact, we plan to begin offering additional local channels in all of our local channel markets by the end of this year," Marsocci said.
"However, the court's decision is a tremendous loss for consumers and competition in small and mid-size markets because as we have previously stated, must-carry limits our ability to rollout local broadcast networks in additional markets," he said. "We are still reviewing the details of the decision, and are exploring all of our business and legal options."
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</A> (Used with permission)