01-31-02, 03:58 AM
Johnson Broadcasting, engaged in a bitter must-carry dispute with EchoStar and DirecTV, asked the Federal Communications Commission this week to deny the merger between the two satellite TV companies.
In its FCC petition, Johnson said a combination of the two platforms "would lead to anti-competitive abuses and lessen competition." It added that a merged satellite TV company "would continue to undermine the ability of local television broadcast stations to serve the public by denying or marginalizing their ability to participate in carriage of their television signals" via the combined platform.
Johnson is taking legal action against the two companies in U.S. District Court in Houston concerning carriage of its stations on the two satellite TV services. Recently, the FCC denied Johnson's must-carry request for its stations, saying the broadcaster didn't elect carriage by the July 1 deadline.
In addition to asking the FCC to deny the merger, Johnson asked the commission to grant its application for review on the must-carry request and "fully investigate whether the recent actions and anti-competitive proclivities of DirecTV and EchoStar are in the public interest."
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)
In its FCC petition, Johnson said a combination of the two platforms "would lead to anti-competitive abuses and lessen competition." It added that a merged satellite TV company "would continue to undermine the ability of local television broadcast stations to serve the public by denying or marginalizing their ability to participate in carriage of their television signals" via the combined platform.
Johnson is taking legal action against the two companies in U.S. District Court in Houston concerning carriage of its stations on the two satellite TV services. Recently, the FCC denied Johnson's must-carry request for its stations, saying the broadcaster didn't elect carriage by the July 1 deadline.
In addition to asking the FCC to deny the merger, Johnson asked the commission to grant its application for review on the must-carry request and "fully investigate whether the recent actions and anti-competitive proclivities of DirecTV and EchoStar are in the public interest."
From <a href="http://www.skyreport.com" target=none>SkyReport</a> (Used with permission)