Report: Comcast-TWC merger could kill ATVA

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ATVAFierce Cable says that Comcast’s deal to acquire Time Warner Cable will likely result in the demise of the American Television Alliance, the coalition of pay TV distributors that TWC formed in 2010 to lobby for reform of retransmission-consent rules.


From the story:

“Time Warner Cable has been one of the biggest advocates of retransmission-consent reform, and has been leading the push to lobby Congress and the FCC to reform rules that have allowed local TV stations to use the threat of blackouts to squeeze increased fees from pay TV distributors. ATVA member companies also include DirecTV, Verizon, Dish Network, Harron Communications, Mediacom Communications, Suddenlink Communications, Cablevision, Charter Communications, Bright House Networks and several cable programmers such as Discovery Communications and Starz Entertainment.

TWC has been one of ATVA’s biggest supporters, and has led the funding for its lobbying efforts. But ATVA spokesman Brian Frederick insists that the coalition won’t fold: ‘In spite of the broadcasters’ best wishes, the American Television Alliance isn’t going anywhere. We’re a broad and diverse coalition that will continue to fight for consumers against TV blackouts and skyrocketing retransmission consent fees. Consumers deserve video rules written in the 21st Century and we’ll keep fighting until Congress finally fixes this broken system,’ he said in a prepared statement.

See the full Fierce Cable story here