Goodbye Ad-Supported Broadcast Television?

[clip]

So I've been without CBS now for almost a week because our local affiliate thinks they should be able to charge our cable provider to broadcasting what they're broadcasting publicly.

So because I'm a cable subscriber, I have to pay a premium for CBS?

Isn't the affiliate already benefiting from all the ad-watching consumers? Where is this headed? Am I going to have to pay for all broadcast television now? What do you guys think?

WISH-TV's Side
http://www.wishtv.com/global/Story.asp?s=9116843

Brighthouse's Side
http://indiana.mybrighthouse.com/pro...ng_status.aspx

[mguebert]

A similiar situation was occuring here in St. Louis with CBS, they wanted to charge charter communications, Charter told them to stuff it, so it was not available as a HD local. Luckily for me I was able to receive CBS OTA so it did not affect me too much, but for people further out than me it would suck big time.

I don't agree that network stations should be able to charge for rebroadcasting, that utlimately benefits them becuase of the wider audience their paid ads get.

[vexhold]

Whatever is available free OTA is not a chargable service by the cable/satelite companies. There is a specifically placed line (geographically) where the cutoff of "legitimate OTA signal reception" can be aquired. Beyond that line is fair game forSat/Com companies to charge you. And a side note: There are 2 "Lines" - One for Analog and One for Digital. As they have different distances of clean reception.

This also brings up another point I have been making for some time now. Since analog broadcasts are being eliminated, and Digital is going to be the new standard. Sat/Com companies are going to get a little happier when they are able to charge more people for locals as the gap between Analog and Digital disapears.

Edit: At least that is the case in Minnesota

[reggie14]

The same thing going on with the OP went on in Iowa a couple years ago. The Fox affiliate decided it wanted a piece of Comcast's subscribers fees.

At least in Iowa, and I thought this was nation-wide, was that, ordinarily, cable TV providers must carry broadcast stations when those stations offer it to cable TV providers for free. However, a broadcast station may demand that cable TV providers pay to carry the station. In this case, the cable TV provider is no longer required to carry the station.

vexhold-
Cable companies can charge you for only the broadcast channels in Minnesota. I paid for that for a couple years when I was going to school in Duluth (using an antenna wasn't an option).

[lobosrul]

Same thing happened here for years. Comcast finally relented and agreed to pay Lin-TV for KRQE CBS Albuquerque a few months ago. I don't know what the fee is. And I get it OTA for free anyways.

[vexhold]

You are correct, as of 1992, local affiliates do have the right to demand that Sat/Com companies pay for airing locals, or get their consent to air them free.. but, the Sat/Com companies also have the right to not air them at all (even if it is just temporary to scare them).

By the Sat/Com companies not airing locals, the revenue from ads that are aired on local channels drops almost 75%. Local affiliates have been trying this ever since Bill Clinton signed the law giving Satelite companies the ability to air locals to compete against cable. And in almost every instance, the local affiliate backs down. Since only 25% of people will be recieving the adds, sponsors of such adds preasure the local affiliates to back down or they will leave.

All about the money baby

On the bright side.... Most cable companies that drop the local stations fill that spot with something like HBO Family..lol.

As far as Duluth, I used to live over on Lakeside by Lester Park and worked up at Miller Hill Mall when I went to UMD.

Not sure when or where in Duluth you lived and where exactly those "lines" are there, but I do know that town is an oddball for local heritage and legallity. Theres a reason there is no Walmart, Target, or any other "non local companies" there. The city blocks them. The closest you can build to Duluth is in Hermantown.

[lobosrul]

Originally Posted by vexhold

You are correct, as of 1992, local affiliates do have the right to demand that Sat/Com companies pay for airing locals, or get their consent to air them free.. but, the Sat/Com companies also have the right to not air them at all (even if it is just temporary to scare them).

By the Sat/Com companies not airing locals, the revenue from ads that are aired on local channels drops almost 75%. Local affiliates have been trying this ever since Bill Clinton signed the law giving Satelite companies the ability to air locals to compete against cable. And in almost every instance, the local affiliate backs down. Since only 25% of people will be recieving the adds, sponsors of such adds preasure the local affiliates to back down or they will leave.

But in my situation, and the OP's as well I think, we're talking about the HDTV signal only. The analog signal was still on cable, therefore their commercials were still being watched. Now as a larger % of the population has HDTV service theres more of a demand for them to get their HD signal on cable/sat systems. I would bet Comcast got the deal done for pretty cheap, probably no more than $.10 per HDTV package subscriber.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by vexhold

You are correct, as of 1992, local affiliates do have the right to demand that Sat/Com companies pay for airing locals, or get their consent to air them free.. but, the Sat/Com companies also have the right to not air them at all (even if it is just temporary to scare them).

Actually, local network affiliates can invoke the FCC's must-carry provision. In that case, the cable company can't refuse to carry the affiliate (but the cable company doesn't have to pay, either). This rule doesn't apply to satellite companies.

As far as Duluth, I used to live over on Lakeside by Lester Park and worked up at Miller Hill Mall when I went to UMD.

I lived on campus both years. Griggs Hall and Goldfine. Oh, the memories... I liked Duluth for the most part. I wasn't a huge fan of the school though.


lobosrul

But in my situation, and the OP's as well I think, we're talking about the HDTV signal only. The analog signal was still on cable, therefore their commercials were still being watched. Now as a larger % of the population has HDTV service theres more of a demand for them to get their HD signal on cable/sat systems. I would bet Comcast got the deal done for pretty cheap, probably no more than $.10 per HDTV package subscriber.

I don't think so. I'm pretty sure the OP is talking about both the analog and digital broadcast. And I doubt the affiliate is looking for fees per HD package subscriber. Cable companies don't have to carry HD network channels (at least, not yet), but when they do they're not allowed to encrypt them. Pretty much anyone with cable TV service should be able to pick up the HD network channels in clear QAM (if the cable company isn't breaking the rules). Sometimes you can pick up those channels if you only have internet service and no cable TV package.

[Zippster]

Same crap here in Buffalo NY. I prefer mine OTA though anyways.

Originally Posted by vexhold

On the bright side.... Most cable companies that drop the local stations fill that spot with something like HBO Family..lol.

They filled ours with CBS College......not sure how that equates besides the CBS part.

[robogeek]

Our local FOX affiliate just pulled its content off of Time Warner Cable last week

http://Just-Say-No-To-LinTV.com

[stevech]

so when the local broadcasters use the ether as their medium, they did not dare to bill the FCC for use of the medium. Same is true in the move to different frequencies per the FCC mandate to vacate VHF/UHF.

Odd, then, that when the medium is cable/fiber, and this isn't FCC licensed, that things change?

[stanger89]

OTA, local broadcasters are delivering directly to their customers with their own equipment. The FCC doesn't do anything but assign them a slot to use.

Cable and Satellite are 3rd party companies who desire to use the local broadcaster's service to add value to their customers. It's not unreasonable for one company to want to charge another for a valueable service.

The thing is, in this case, it's of mutual benefit to have the locals carried on cable (and sat) and of mutual detriment to not. It's just unfortunate that these companies can't work out their agreement without affecting customers' service.

[lobosrul]

I guess this is the analog and digital signal. In that case, this won't last long. Once LIN sees how much ad revenue they're losing, they'll give in.

[Taddeusz]

A couple years back when I'd first purchased my HDHR the parent company of our ABC affiliate here in Oklahoma City did the very same thing and Cox Cable dropped the KOCO HD feed for more than a year because they were demanding compensation. They finally came to an agreement and KOCO came back up on Cox.

To make matters worse for consumers KOCO must run their digital feed at a lower power level because they interfere with an analog station elsewhere, I think in Kansas. Their digital transmission only runs at 35KW. Once the other station's analog goes dark next year they'll be able to up their power and be able to reach more people.

Correction: The station that KOCO interferes with is in Lawton Oklahoma to the Southwest. They are also the only digital transmission going out on VHF.

[clip]

I suppose its comforting to know that I'm not the only SageTV user to run into this. I was hoping to hear that these issues are resolved quickly, but I'm starting to doubt it based on some of the comments here.

Indy maybe somewhat unique because only the west half of the metro is on Brighthouse, Comcast has the east side. So instead of the ad-watching market being reduced by 75%, it's probably more like 38%.

If CBS had more compelling programming and the Home Owners Association wouldn't come after me, I'd hook up the HDHomeRun to an antenna. I don't know if it would work with more discrete rabbit ears.

lobosrul, I lived in ABQ 2 years ago. Now, I know why CBS-HD wasn't available. I thought it was because we were behind the times. Guess it was just the legal stuff.

I guess it's time to remap my video sources so that I can enjoy my "free preview" of Starz Kids and Family.

Thanks for all the insights.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by clip

If CBS had more compelling programming and the Home Owners Association wouldn't come after me, I'd hook up the HDHomeRun to an antenna. I don't know if it would work with more discrete rabbit ears.

Check out: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

The HOA can't stop you from putting up an antenna, although they can set limited restrictions on where you can put it, as long as those restrictions don't prevent you from getting a good signal.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by clip

If CBS had more compelling programming...

Heh - between the Monday night sitcoms, Saturday college football and basketball, and Sunday NFL, I think I watch CBS more than any other channel.

But, to each their own.

[Ryokurin]

The only reason that so many stations are making a big deal about it now is because of the expense it was to go digital. Its the same reasons why a ton of stations that used to be family owned went corporate chain in the mid to late 90s as they saw the expense.

[clip]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Check out: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

The HOA can't stop you from putting up an antenna, although they can set limited restrictions on where you can put it, as long as those restrictions don't prevent you from getting a good signal.

Very interesting, thanks. Now I just need an FCC ruling on the Wife Acceptance Factor.

[TallMomof2]

If your HOA is like mine then you'll be allowed to put your antenna in the attic. Antenna doesn't work for me because I have a major airport between me and the TV stations. I haven't tried since the advent of digital/HD but when it was analog OTA was unwatchable.