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This week, DirecTV told the Federal Communications Commission that its ability to provide local TV channels as a stand-alone company is "severely limited" by capacity constraints.
In its comments on competition in the multichannel marketplace sent to the agency, DirecTV said a merger with EchoStar would alleviate those constraints and "enable DBS to compete more aggressively with the cable incumbents." Both companies have promised to deliver local TV channels for all 210 DMAs.
Also in the filing, DirecTV took issue with the FCC's effort to allow spectrum-sharing for wireless services in the same frequencies used by satellite TV, and outlined its concerns about increased regulatory demands on DBS capacity. Those demands include mandatory carriage requirements tied to the delivery of local TV channels.
Meanwhile, according to reports, the Federal Communications Commission is close to wrapping-up its review of the proposed $26 billion merger between EchoStar and DirecTV.
Media Bureau Chief Ken Ferree, speaking before the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association convention in Rhode Island, said he may forward recommendations on the merger to the commissioners within four to six weeks. That news came as other reports suggested the Justice Department is ready to depose executives from both companies to talk about the merger.
From SkyReport (Used with Permission)
In its comments on competition in the multichannel marketplace sent to the agency, DirecTV said a merger with EchoStar would alleviate those constraints and "enable DBS to compete more aggressively with the cable incumbents." Both companies have promised to deliver local TV channels for all 210 DMAs.
Also in the filing, DirecTV took issue with the FCC's effort to allow spectrum-sharing for wireless services in the same frequencies used by satellite TV, and outlined its concerns about increased regulatory demands on DBS capacity. Those demands include mandatory carriage requirements tied to the delivery of local TV channels.
Meanwhile, according to reports, the Federal Communications Commission is close to wrapping-up its review of the proposed $26 billion merger between EchoStar and DirecTV.
Media Bureau Chief Ken Ferree, speaking before the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association convention in Rhode Island, said he may forward recommendations on the merger to the commissioners within four to six weeks. That news came as other reports suggested the Justice Department is ready to depose executives from both companies to talk about the merger.
From SkyReport (Used with Permission)
