FCC seeks to close "terrestrial loophole"

[Bill_W]

from the Inky...

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/79386607.html

It's about time.  How about TCN, the former CN8 as well.

[bsquared11]

I have been waiting 12 long years for this to happen.  Finally, the FCC corrects a long time mistake.  Companies that deliver programming, such as cable companies, should not also be allowed to create programming aimed for a specific market, and then decide who they will provide that program to, or not.  Comcast said "yes" to Verizon but "no" to DTV and Dish?  Baloney. 

And, Mr. David Cohen, please stop with the apples to oranges comparison to the Sunday Ticket Package and Comcast you've been mentioning for several years now.  That's between you and the NFL and has NOTHING to do with keeping CSN-Philly from sports fans in the market who decided to have satellite delivery into their home either because they can't get Comcast to wire their location, or they know that DTV has a better package for sports fans who happen to live in Philly. Should it matter how I pay you Comcast for your content because I want a different delivery mechanism into my home?

All these years I could watch the various CSN's around the country in my suburban Philly home, but NOT the CSN in my own market.  Made absolutely no sense, terrestrial delivered or not.  Also with DTV, get to watch all NFL games, all NCAA Tournament games, alternate feeds of games, etc. not to mention the RSN's from around the country, way ahead in digital transmission years before Comcast, and now more HD sports offerings as well.  And shame on the teams (Phillies) and certain parochial media outlets in this market who are either ignorant to the whole issue, and/or bow down to Comcast because they happen to be headquartered in Philly.  Enough already.  We live in an instant, global, real-time, digital world, not one of terrestrial transmission and archaic thinking.  Go get 'em on this issue, FCC!

[digidan]

Let's hope the Comcastic puppet (aka Arlen Specter) doesn't stand in the way of making this happen.  In 12 years, this is the most encouraging news, but we've all been disappointed before. 

[ding12]

It helps that this time around, the FCC is led by Democrat (3) Chairs, instead over Republican, the latter who have always been Comcast friendly in protecting Comcast's interests.

Watch for CN8/CN though.   It can be overlooked, and Comcast will continue to keep the more popular Flyers game on CN, when the two are playing the same night.

[Bill_W]

And, Mr. David Cohen, please stop with the apples to oranges comparison to the Sunday Ticket Package and Comcast you've been mentioning for several years now.  That's between you and the NFL and has NOTHING to do with keeping CSN-Philly from sports fans in the market who decided to have satellite delivery into their home either because they can't get Comcast to wire their location, or they know that DTV has a better package for sports fans who happen to live in Philly. Should it matter how I pay you Comcast for your content because I want a different delivery mechanism into my home?

Cohen keeps bringing up the Sunday Ticket.  A couplr of years ago, the Sunday Ticket was up for renewal.  DirecTv paid lots of money to keep it exclusive.  Comcast had the option to pay the NFL as well.  Comcast chose not to show the money to the NFL.  Had Comcast paid money for the Sunday Ticket, it might not have been exclusive to DirecTv any more. 

This almost happend with MLB until Congress got involved.  DirecTv was willing to pay more money to bring the MLB package exclusive.  And with the MLB package on DirecTv as opposed to the Comcast one, I can watch ALL the Red Sox games on NESN in HD.  If I had this package through Comcast, I could watch the home feed of a game only in SD.  I could not choose between NESN or YES to watch a Red Sox - Yankees game whether the game is in Boston or New York on Comcast like I can on DirecTv.

[Julius May]

Its about time. CSN and CN need to be on the dish for everyone to see.