International Trade Today is a Warren News publication.

An NAB ex parte filing Tuesday (CD March...

An NAB ex parte filing Tuesday (CD March 19 p21) accusing the pay-TV industry of collusion in advertising rates is “a transparent stunt to muddy the waters” on discussion of joint sales agreements and retransmission consent, said NCTA CEO Michael…

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

Powell in a written statement. “NAB’s latest attack is an unfortunate and desperate attempt to divert attention from examination of discrete broadcast ownership issues,” Powell said. “Heavily regulated local broadcasters in smaller markets are being scrutinized by the FCC for a practice that involves one local TV station selling ads for another local TV station,” said NAB President Gordon Smith in a Wednesday news release highlighting the filing (bit.ly/1dpA6dE ). “Yet the heavily consolidated pay-TV industry, unshackled by any ownership rules, is free to engage in this most collusive of advertising sales practice on a massive scale in multiple markets."