DIRECTV Applauds FCC Closure of 'Terrestrial Loophole'

**Scott Greczkowski** · 01-20-2010 01:18 PM

DIRECTV Applauds FCC Closure of 'Terrestrial Loophole'

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV issued the following statement today: "The FCC's order today eliminating the terrestrial loophole is a big win for consumers and fair competition in the marketplace. We vigorously applaud the FCC for recognizing that withholding cable-owned regional sports networks from non-cable competitors significantly hinders competition and is anti-consumer. We are looking forward to offering DIRECTV customers the local sports programming they have been denied for so many years."

**This1** · 01-20-2010 01:40 PM

Does this mean that finally Prism/comcast Philly will be on Directv if so I will be very very very happy.

**rad** · 01-20-2010 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by This1

Does this mean that finally Prism/comcast Philly will be on Directv if so I will be very very very happy.

IMHO, that means that they can't say a flat out no, but they will have to negotiate the rights to carry the channel and how much they have to pay for access to it.

**hancox** · 01-20-2010 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by rad

IMHO, that means that they can't say a flat out no, but they will have to negotiate the rights to carry the channel and how much they have to pay for access to it.

Indeed. If I were a betting man, I would bet on lots and lots of "VS issues" with the impacted RSN's across the space. Comcast would much rather hold fast on a price increase universally, then give up a subscriber base to DBS.

**nmg222** · 01-20-2010 02:24 PM

Finally, someone stands up to the Dolan's! Hopefully, the NY teams center ice games will be in HD soon.

**raoul5788** · 01-20-2010 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by nmg222

Finally, someone stands up to the Dolan's! Hopefully, the NY teams center ice games will be in HD soon.

Hopefully, but this decision may not have anything to do with hd carriage.

**robjlevin** · 01-20-2010 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by raoul5788

Hopefully, but this decision may not have anything to do with hd carriage.

In NY/NJ it has EVERYTHING to do with HD carriage. VZ and ATT have been denied the HD feeds for MSG and MSG+ for years.

As I posted in the other thread, however, I strongly suspect the Dolans will drag this through all kinds of court hearings.

OTOH, I doubt very much this will have any impact whatsoever on Center Ice.

**FlyingJ** · 01-20-2010 04:02 PM

I have cousins that work for ComCrap Philly, don't think that it will be held p for the Satcos at all...beeing looked at close!

**This1** · 01-20-2010 04:37 PM

what are you saying that your cousin thinks comcast will not be on satellite Is he in the management dept.
I want to hear Ray Diddy on Sundays after the game and watch all philly sports news

**Kheldar** · 01-20-2010 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by raoul5788

Hopefully, but this decision may not have anything to do with hd carriage.

From
PaidContent.org

:

It sounds like programmers won’t be able to fulfill the FCC’s ruling with standard definition only; HD has to be included. Cablevision has been holding back its MSG Network in HD, drawing complaints from Verizon.

So it looks like the ruling does include HD content.

CableVision responded in that same article:

While we find the legal basis for the decision unfounded, we are pleased that the FCC recognized the value of Cablevision’s local programming strategy and investments. Verizon and AT&T will not receive an FCC bailout that will allow them to capture News 12, MSG Varsity and other programming that we have developed for our customers. We are also pleased that despite the phone companies’ overwhelming lobbying effort, the FCC has ensured a complaint process. If the phone companies complain that they are unable to compete, we are confident that we can prove that it is for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with HD sports programming. Verizon and AT&T do not need a regulatory bailout in order to compete.