Ending Top-4 Ownership Rule Raises Retrans Problems, ATVA Says
If the FCC relaxes or ends its top-four prong of the local ownership rule, it will have to find means of addressing retransmission consent issues that move would bring up, American TV Alliance (ATVA) representatives told Media Bureau staff and…
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an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, said a docket 15-216 ex parte filing posted Thursday. ATVA pointed to the agency's 2014 retrans consent amendments order, Congress' 2014 passage of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act and DOJ comments last year on Nexstar's buy of Media General, all highlighting issues about joint negotiation among top-four stations in a market. And ATVA said those same findings that joint negotiations lead to higher retrans consent fees would apply to joint ownership of those stations. On behalf of ATVA were representatives from AT&T, Charter Communications, Dish Network and the American Cable Association, plus ATVA Executive Director Mike Chappell. Broadcast interests pushed for elimination of the top-four ownership rule (see 1704030049 and 1702230070).