The battle over retransmission consent fees has, until today, largely seen broadcast television station ownership groups engage in bitter, protracted arguments with MVPDs.
Now, the nation’s “Big Four” networks are being joined by Fubo, Warner Bros. Discovery, Roku and the two major Spanish-language television groups with the formation of a coalition that aims to upend swelling support to extend retrans to vMVPDs.
Introducing the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition, launched on Thursday with support from founding members comprised of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and Telemundo, and Univision, in addition to the three aforementioned companies.
The group, it says, “will aim to protect consumer streaming choices and preserve a competitive online video marketplace.”
That’s PR lingo that clouds the true message the Coalition is seeking to push: that broadcasters who seek to get their fair share for retransmission of their stations on virtual MVPDs are out of line for seeking Congressional legislation that would codify such dollars.
As the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition members see it, “large station groups are pushing for FCC rule changes that would force online video providers and streaming platforms to negotiate with them for content that they do not own.” These groups, the Coalition says, “would revive a long-dormant FCC proceeding that provoked an overwhelmingly negative response during a comprehensive public consultation where commenters pointed to the potential harm to viewers, content creators, and local news providers. Their proposed rule changes would turn back the clock and force online video providers and streaming platforms to be regulated like the cable industry of decades past.”
The PVCC is referencing the desire of Senate Commerce Committee Majority Leader Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to reignite a proceeding started nine years ago regarding streaming media services and that, as the senator noted June 22, during its nominations hearing for FCC Commissioners, “bargaining in good faith” needs to be revived. Cantwell sent a letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel urging the FCC to refresh the record on vMVPDs and retransmission consent. This was greeted positively by NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
That group, the The Coalition for Local News, says it wants Washington to “modernize existing regulations” while ensuring the economic viability of local TV news remains healthy. Upon closer examination, the real message of this group is that its Broadcast TV members want Congressionally mandated streaming retransmission consent revenue.
The Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition is dead-set against letting that happen.
“These station group efforts are not about getting local TV content onto streaming platforms — that’s already happening,” said Bryce Harlow, spokesperson for the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition. “Rather, this is about trying to use government mandates to interfere with business negotiations. Consumers deserve the freedom to access diverse video content and enjoy a wealth of choices, which is why we oppose proposed regulation that would threaten that choice, stem innovation, and increase the cost to consumers.”
With the rise of streaming, the video content marketplace has become increasingly diverse and competitive, offering consumers a wide range of options. From traditional cable to satellite to a variety of streaming services, accessing news, entertainment, and sports content is easier than ever.
And, as the PVCC sees it, local TV stations “benefit from this environment,” as they are able to negotiate with online video services and streaming platforms to carry their local content. “Today, hundreds of these stations from TV markets across the country are carried on streaming platforms, with more continuing to be added, ensuring access to local news and content for viewers on a variety of devices,” the PVCC notes.
Harlow explains, “Our goal is to protect consumer choice and the availability of local TV content on streaming platforms, and we believe that is exactly what the streaming marketplace provides today. We want to embrace the future of content that streaming enables, not be dragged backward to a time when choice was limited, costs were high, and access was controlled by a handful of distributors. These regulations could eliminate options for streaming consumers and risk reducing the amount of local content available online today.”
As such, the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition will be engaged “in a variety of advocacy efforts and will work with other stakeholders that prioritize consumer choice in the streaming marketplace.”
The goal: to urge Congress and the FCC “to refrain from unnecessary government regulation.”
