TerrestrialLoophole
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AT&T, DirecTV, Verizon push Comcast & Cablevision for HD sports channels
After the FCC closed the terrestrial loophole we knew it wouldn't be long until satellite and IPTV providers started moving on the cable companies regarding access to high definition versions of their regional sports networks and now they have. Multichannel News reports AT&T has put in its request for access to HD feeds of the MSG Network, while DirecTV and DISH Network have done the same for Comcast and its SportsNet Philadelphia channel. Today, Verizon filed a supplement to its existing Program access Complaint to the FCC asking it to force Cablevision into opening up those MSG and MSG+ HD feeds. so far, Comcast has had no response at all, while Cablevision maintains that providing standard def access to U-Verse and FiOS satisfies its requirements under the current laws -- although it certainly doesn't match our standard of common decency -- the rest is up to the courts, lawyers and the FCC.
FCC sides against cable companies restricting local sports HD feeds
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/television/FCC_Sides_Against_Cable_Restricting_Sports_HD_Feeds'; Recently cable companies, most notably Cablevision, have been refusing to share high definition feeds of sports networks they owned and cited a loophole in the FCC's regulations as justification for doing so. Today the FCC voted 4-1 to close the "terrestrial loophole" that previously only required satellite delivered programming to be made available to competitors. Verizon, AT&T, DirecTV and Dish Network are predictable pleased by the ruling, but we wouldn't assume the various MSG networks will be showing up in your FiOS guide right away. This ruling just allows the affected parties to go through a complaint process and show how they are being harmed before the FCC might take any action, and dissenting voter Robert McDowell indicated he expects to see the ruling challenged in court. Unfortunately he did not mean the basketball court, otherwise we could just tie this in with the Lebron-to-the-Knicks rumors and call it a day.
AT&T also has a grudge against Cablevision
Looks like Verizon's not the only one to have beef with Cablevision's treatment of its MSG HD channels, now that AT&T has also petitioned the FCC to compel the cabler to sell the high definition feeds to its competitors. AT&T cites stats showing high definition is a big deal for consumers, with 45% saying they'd switch providers for a superior sports package, claiming it can't compete in Connecticut without the networks. Just as before, Cablevision claims it can do as it likes, that it already sells them every single game (in SD format) and that AT&T is a bigger company that doesn't need a bailout. We've had plenty of summertimes squabbles about who was and wasn't playing by the rules that ended with one side claiming they'd take their ball and go home, but we usually didn't bring the FCC in to settle it. The FCC is still on a five month clock to consider the complaints and the "terrestrial loophole," 'til it responds we can't guess how this one will end.
