A new ruling by the Federal Communications Commission says that local cable sports providers have to stop withholding their content from rival operators.
The decision closed what is known in the industry as a “terrestrial loophole” that has been used by operators such as Comcast and Cablevision to basically keep other companies like Dish and DirecTV from carrying the local sports that the previous companies’ control.¬†¬†
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “The bottom line is that viewers should not be unfairly forced to choose between the sports teams they love and the provider they prefer. Our new rules allow competitors to seek recourse when they have been unreasonably denied access to terrestrially delivered programming.”
This is great news for someone like me.¬† I moved to Philly this past summer from the NYC area and part of my excitement was that I could watch the Phillies every night.¬† But when I moved here, if I wanted the HD DVR for my home (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?¬† I didn’t get an HDTV to watch standard definition programming.¬† And as far as the DVR….once you get one you can’t live without it), but my apartment complex limits what kind you can have.¬† I had to get a Dish brand DVR, and Comcast does not allow Dish to carry Comcast Sportsnet.¬† I was heated to say the least.
Dish Network, who seems to be as excited as me, said in a statement:¬† “Dish Network congratulates the FCC for delivering consumers a double victory: First, sports fans in Philadelphia and San Diego will soon have a choice of pay-TV providers; second, consumers can no longer be held hostage during a contract dispute between cable programmers and video distributors. DISH Network thanks Chairman Genachowski for his leadership and for standing up for consumers and competition.”
Of course they are going to congratulate the FCC, this is a huge victory for their company and other rival companies like Verizon.¬† But you can bet that Comcast and Cablevision (owns a lot of New York Knicks programming, although I think New Yorkers are content to not have that raft of garbage fed into their homes on a nightly basis) aren’t going to sit by quietly on this 4-1 ruling by the FCC.¬† This decision does not mean that people like me will be able to watch an appearance by G. Cobb on “Daily News Live” tomorrow or the next day or the next week or any time in the near future.
This will probably get tied up in litigation just like everything else.¬† Comcast should try to look at the bright side of this (I’m sure they will), it will bring their sports channel into more homes around the tri-state area.¬† So shut up, charge more for advertising, and allow me to enjoy the sub-standard product that is the 76ers in the comfort of my own home.¬†
