Washington, D.C.
(January 18, 2007)
-- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says Sinclair Broadcast
Group and Mediacom Communications should enter binding
arbitration in their carriage disagreement.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
The publication reports that Martin also says Mediacom subscribers should not lose access to Sinclair's standard and HDTV while the argument is ongoing.
Sinclair pulled 22 local TV stations from Mediacom cable systems two weeks ago when talks between the two companies broke down. The broadcast group wants Mediacom to pay for the right to carry their stations' signals.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
The publication reports that Martin also says Mediacom subscribers should not lose access to Sinclair's standard and HDTV while the argument is ongoing.
Sinclair pulled 22 local TV stations from Mediacom cable systems two weeks ago when talks between the two companies broke down. The broadcast group wants Mediacom to pay for the right to carry their stations' signals.
"I continue to
believe that this (arbitration) would be good for
both parties to be submitting to,” Martin told
reporters, according to Multichannel News.
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However, Martin stopped short of ordering the two companies to enter arbitration. Mediacom has urged Sinclair to agree to arbitration, but the latter has refused.
Mediacom says it shouldn't have to pay for Sinclair's signals because they are available for free via off-air antennas.
Similar battles between local stations and cable operators over standard and HDTV signals are taking place across the country. How the Sinclair-Mediacom dispute is resolved could set a precedent for those disagreements.
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However, Martin stopped short of ordering the two companies to enter arbitration. Mediacom has urged Sinclair to agree to arbitration, but the latter has refused.
Mediacom says it shouldn't have to pay for Sinclair's signals because they are available for free via off-air antennas.
Similar battles between local stations and cable operators over standard and HDTV signals are taking place across the country. How the Sinclair-Mediacom dispute is resolved could set a precedent for those disagreements.