Independent TV network Veria Living has begun to...

Senate Judiciary Committee Friday. “This was not a courtesy meeting,” Sherman said of the hour-long Justice conversation, a sentiment he repeated about his meeting in the Dirksen building with congressional staff that lasted about as long. Justice had several lawyers at the table and “a long list of questions,” he added. “They were very serious.” Sherman advocated for the position of independent networks that provide original content, with grave concerns laid out about any Comcast/TWC deal and the resulting market power concentration that would follow. He urged against the deal unless there are “carefully worded conditions” applied to it, protecting independent networks, he said. “It’s a very scary situation.” Comcast has defended the proposed deal as good for consumers and argued it merits approval from Justice and the FCC. Congressional staff asked Sherman what a consent decree in the Comcast/TWC deal should look like, he said: “They asked us to suggest language.” Sherman has offered to testify at Senate Judiciary’s April 2 oversight hearing on the deal, slated for 10 a.m. in 226 Dirksen, whether just for Veria or potentially on behalf of independent networks overall. He also recounted a “chance meeting” with Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., on the first train ride into Washington. Franken, a Senate Judiciary member and critic of the deal, warned of Comcast’s lobbying power and influence in Washington and “was sympathetic” to Veria Living’s concerns, Sherman said. “We're definitely fighting an uphill battle here, but one we need to be fighting.” Both Justice and Senate Judiciary gave the impression of welcoming other meetings on these issues, Sherman said: “They were very anxious, ‘Send all your friends our way.'”