Sat Radio, SHVIA and Must-Carry, Oh My!

[Chris Blount]

National Association of Broadcasters' President Edward Fritts told members attending the organization's annual show in Las Vegas this week that the broadcast business "should feel good about its function and its future."

But during an address given to NAB Show attendees Monday, Fritts also focused on three threats to the broadcast community: Satellite radio going local, satellite industry proposals for the renewal of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, and digital must-carry for cable TV.

Fritts called satellite radio's recent roll-out of local traffic and weather programming an "obvious violation" of Federal Communications Commission rules given that satellite radio was licensed as a national service.

He also claimed the nation's two satellite radio providers - XM Satellite Radio and Sirius - face serious financial problems. "A quarter of their customers are switching off the service every year," Fritts said.

"Also, the life expectancy of XM satellites has fallen from 17 to less than 7 years. That's why every morning when I get up, I look out the window to make sure an XM satellite is not plummeting toward my roof," Fritts said. "So you can see why XM and Sirius are skirting the FCC rules."

As for renewal of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, Fritts said "mischief is afoot in Washington" among satellite TV interests pushing issues such as digital distant networks for customers who cannot get local digital TV and the two-dish solution for satellite-delivered locals.

"The bottom line is that NAB won't be satisfied until every TV station in all 210 markets is carried on satellite local-to-local," Fritts said. "Once that is in place, there is no reason for any consumer to receive an out-of-market distance network signal on satellite."

On cable must carry of digital TV and multicast signals, Fritts said, "Nearly 1,200 local stations are broadcasting digital signals, but only a third of those are carried on cable.

"Our DTV and high-definition signals are all dressed up with no place to go," he said. "I call on the FCC to break down the cable industry's digital dam, and let the free broadcast signals flow."

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[Pete K.]

Choose one:
Fritts is an:
(A) idiot
(B) scared
(C) misinformed
(D)all of the above

[Allen Noland]

"Our DTV and high-definition signals are all dressed up with no place to go," he said. "I call on the FCC to break down the cable industry's digital dam, and let the free broadcast signals flow."



If the signals were free to the cable providers I'm sure more would be carried. If they do get digital must carry I hope they have to provide the signals to the cable providers for free. And, the cable companies have to include these free digital channels in there basic tier at no charge as well.

[TonyM]

"The bottom line is that NAB won't be satisfied until every TV station in all 210 markets is carried on satellite local-to-local," Fritts said. "Once that is in place, there is no reason for any consumer to receive an out-of-market distance network signal on satellite."


This one is hilarious if you think about it.

"Once all 210 markets are up, there will be no need for distants"....WRONG!!!!

Example: Mankato, MN is its own DMA. The list of stations in the DMA
KEYC 12 (CBS)

That's right.....ONE STATION IN THE DMA!!! On the Direct & Dish sites, Mankato can qualify for FOX & NBC distants (supposedly KAAL in Austin qualifies as Grade B, although when I was in Mankato, I couldn't get it even with an outdoor antenna). So unless they would import Mpls NBC & FOX (the whole DMA would qualify), people would need to get distants.

How many other DMA's are there that only have 1 or 2 stations??

[Mark Holtz]

Nice talk, except that the smaller the market, the less likely the station is able to afford getting the signal to the point of presence, and the higher likelihood of the retrans consent being rejected.

SHIVA is S.2013

[TonyM]

Nice talk, except that the smaller the market, the less likely the station is able to afford getting the signal to the point of presence, and the higher likelihood of the retrans consent being rejected.

SHIVA is S.2013

But if there is only one station in the DMA, wouldnt they be the POP?? :)

[Rursery]

Jonesboro, AR DMA only has one station: KAIT-8 (ABC)

[Geronimo]

But if there is only one station in the DMA, wouldnt they be the POP?? :)


As far as I know the POP goes where the DBS provider wnats it to. It would seem riduculous to put it where no station can reach it but..................

[Greg Bimson]

The draft of the extension for the SHVIA contains a satellite significantly-viewed clause.

[Geronimo]

The draft of the extension for the SHVIA contains a satellite significantly-viewed clause.

What does it say?

[homeskillet]

St. Joseph, MO is it's own DMA (30 miles north from Kansas City) and it contains KQTV 2 (ABC)

[homeskillet]

ALSO

Not every market has every "network" station....

Topeka, KS (My Locals) do not have a UPN or WB affiliate, am I supposed to live w/o one forever?

[Greg Bimson]

I don't know what it says. This link (http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/04012004hearing1246/Hartenstein1924.htm) is Eddy Hartenstein's testimony before Congress regarding the reauthorization of the SHVIA. Mr. Hartenstein discusses the fact that the "signficantly viewed" clause is there...SHVIA has been a huge success. So we are very pleased that the Subcommittee recognizes the importance of reauthorizing SHVIA in a timely fashion. And, as I indicated, this draft makes several improvements to current law. · It allows satellite carriers for the first time to deliver broadcast signals into all of the markets in which cable operators deliver them - including markets where such signals are "significantly viewed." This is a very important provision, which will make DBS more competitive with cable in markets across the country. The provision will also go a long way towards addressing the concerns you have expressed about your constituents' current inability to receive the news and public interest programming most relevant to their lives.In SatBizNews.com yesterday, it appears that DirecTV and the NAB are close to a deal regarding the new SHVIA.

[skaeight]

I don't know what it says. This link (http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/04012004hearing1246/Hartenstein1924.htm) is Eddy Hartenstein's testimony before Congress regarding the reauthorization of the SHVIA. Mr. Hartenstein discusses the fact that the "signficantly viewed" clause is there...In SatBizNews.com yesterday, it appears that DirecTV and the NAB are close to a deal regarding the new SHVIA.


Could the language of your quote indicate that d* might be ready to add WB/UPN feeds to DMA's that don't currently have a local affiliate?

It says: It allows satellite carriers for the first time to deliver broadcast signals into all of the markets in which cable operators deliver them - including markets where such signals are "significantly viewed."

My local cable system carries WPIX (because we don't have a WB affiliate). Does this draft indicate that I would also be allowed to recieve WPIX on d* because the local cable system carries it?

[thevoice]

I guess this doesn't suprise me... This is from following Fritts and his political background...

[Brett]

Could the language of your quote indicate that d* might be ready to add WB/UPN feeds to DMA's that don't currently have a local affiliate?

It says:

My local cable system carries WPIX (because we don't have a WB affiliate). Does this draft indicate that I would also be allowed to recieve WPIX on d* because the local cable system carries it?

"The significantly viewed exemption to the Commission's exclusivity rules is based on an otherwise distant station establishing that it receives a "significant" level of over-the-air viewership in a subject community. Should this viewership level be met, the station is no longer considered distant for purposes of the application of the Commission's exclusivity rules since it has established that it can be recieved over-the-air in the subject communities."

Stations are reviewed, when HH are surveyed:
"In KCST-TV, Inc., the Commission held that in order to obtain a waiver of Section 76.92(f) of the Commission's rules, which provides for an exemption to the network nonduplication for significantly viewed stations, petitioners would be required to demonstrate for two consecutive years that a station was no longer significantly viewed, based either on community-specific or system-specific noncable viewing data, to one standard error. For each year, the data must be obtained as a result of independent professional surveys taken during two one-week periods which are separated by at least thirty days, the viewing samples must be distributed proportionately among the relevant cable communities, and not more than one of the surveys may be taken between April and September of each year."
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/1999/da991279.txt

Since SHVIA won't be drafted by the FCC, the operative application of a 'significantly viewed' could be different.

It is primarily based on over the air viewership. WPIX and the superstations do not have over the air viewership very much beyond their assigned DMAs.

Unfortunately, adding the clause does not guarantee anything. It is up to DirecTV or Dish where they want to use it. For example, they may not be obliged or have interest to give a customer in Carbon County, PA WFMZ 69 even though it is 'significantly viewed' there. Even though parts of Philadelphia market receive distant stations that are 'significantly viewed' over the air (Northern regions get NYC or Scranton, Western regions get some Lancaster stations, etc.), DirecTV may consider the market "already covered" in terms of broadcast station selection and offering.

In some cases, cable operators choose not to carry duplicating network stations, or cannot because of exclusivity arrangements. Exclusivity arrangements could hinder people in overlap areas (of 2 network affiliates of same network) from qualifying for both: such as 2 ABCs etc.

It may only benefit customers in the very small markets where the local cable companies import missing affiliates from adjacent markets (that are adjacent enough where the network station comes in over the air).

DirecTV will like this because it, it allows FOX owned stations to claim more coverage area (beneficial for NewsCorp), simplifies the local determination process for the small markets, and puts competing broadcasters at each other (e.g. WMDT 47 ABC vs. WMAR 2 ABC for certain counties), giving DirecTV leverage in retransmission.

Clarification on significantly viewed and 2-dish, will also make it harder for Echostar.

The NAB likes it, because they can hope to eliminate the national offering distants by counting for each market. However, it is a thorny issue if exclusivity arrangements are in place. Thus it may not be used in several area. A customer may still not get an significantly viewed station in their packages if it is duplicating, and another local has exclusivity.

It doesnt deal with superstations or missing WB, UPN stations directly, unless a nearby WB or UPN station is significantly viewed in an neighboring part of a DMA, or the entire DMA.

[billpa]

How many other DMA's are there that only have 1 or 2 stations??

Presque Isle, Maine: WAGM-8 CBS plus a full power relay of Maine PBS on channel 10.

[Msguy]

This Man is VERY Missinformed. XM is supposed to be launching a new satellite soon. Also on his comments about Satellite Radio Subscriptions being cancelled or Turned off. XM has done nothing but Turn on Satellite Subscriptions. Xm is not very far from break even. This guy Fritts has made statements and he obviously has not done ANY of his homework. His Credibility is Zero in my book. Many many people in my area (where Local Radio has become an absolute Joke) have been subscribing to XM. XM has been doing very well. It is Sirius that is struggling right now. But in time they'll do well. XM-Sirius is the Direc TV-Dishnet work of Radio and I hope and think both will succeed.

[Nick]

Choose one:
Fritts is an:
(A) idiot
(B) scared
(C) misinformed
(D)all of the above(E)None of the above
(E) a typical self-serving, party-line spouting industry HACK.

The correct answer is (D) & (E)

The NAB has the public interest at heart about as much as the tobacco industry does.

[rvd420]

I would like to see the 2 dish issue resolved.
I think dish should automatically install the 2nd dish at time of inital installation for new customers, and within 21 days for existing customers (21 days from the request)

As far as HD goes. I would love to see national HD Feeds in areas not served or underserved (can get a signal)