Comments on: Broadcast networks pursuit of retransmission fees heats up

By: Atlee

Atlee — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:44:43 +0000

To Schmoker,

Heck, the cable companies will probably up the ante soon, in anticipation of having to pay retransmission fees to the nets.

Cable companies never miss a lick in upping the fees charged.

By: Schmoker

Schmoker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:40:04 +0000

Robert, do not kid yourself. ALL of it will be passed on to us. Cable companies will raise rates immediately if this happens.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:58:20 +0000

“Try running a cable network without the Super Bowl, the Grammys, CSI, The Final Four, Survivor and David Letterman.”

I don’t know… I don’t watch any of those. But in the spirit of Hud’s comment, Moonves should look at the flip side of the coin… try charging advertisers money when your network’s only seen by those with broadcast tv antennas.

By: Hud

Hud — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:45:33 +0000

I recall that approx 15 years ago, the broadcast network affiliates were taking legal action to force the cable providers to carry the local broadcast stations. In my town, Local Government required tha the cable provider agree to cary local stations before they were awarded a franchise. Can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:20:35 +0000

Kozy, my understanding is the local affiliates have negotiated fees and in some cases the affiliate is owned and operated by the network (in FOX’s case apparently 9 out of the top 10 markets). For a lot of the networks its convoluted (ABC has ESPN, Disney, etc, NBC has USA, Bravo, Syfy, Oxygen, FOX has FNC, FX..), but due to the separation of Viacom and CBS is not convoluted. It has no basic cable channels (it has Showtime and a College sports channel that for me is in an expanded sports tier).

CK, though it will cause some kicking and screaming, I think there will be redistribution of the payouts with some networks (like ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC) getting more, while some of the existing cable channels get less. But sadly, I do fear some of it will inevitably be passed through to us.

By: CK

CK — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:03:18 +0000

Can’t see the Broadcast nets NOT pursing this more agressively. Can’t see a cable carrier NOT wanting CBS, FOX, ABC, nor NBC (if only for the football). Unfortunately the end result: more fees paid to nets and then higher subscription rates. The viewers will ultimately pay more. sigh

By: Kozy

Kozy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:17:07 +0000

I’m really amazed that the broadcast networks aren’t getting a fee from the cable companies already. I thought retransmission fee was the norm. I can’t believe the broadcast networks have been giving the subscription TV companies this free ride. I thought Rupert Murdoch likes money. NBC and ABC could certainly use the dough.

Sure, the cable subscriber can get the broadcast channels on their own if they became unavailable on the set-top boxes, but it would drive them crazy having to flip back and forth.