[opendtv] US House panel advances satellite legislation

     UPDATE 1-US House panel advances satellite legislation
     - Apr 28, 2004 05:57 PM (Reuters)

(Adds industry reaction)


WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - A U.S. House of
Representatives panel on Wednesday approved a measure requiring
EchoStar Communications Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) and DirecTV Group Inc.
to put local broadcast channels they offer on a single
satellite dish instead of two dishes within a year.


EchoStar, the No. 2 provider, requires customers in 38
markets to have two dishes, citing capacity constraints.


Local channels are split between the two dishes and
broadcasters have complained that less popular channels are
shunted to the second dish that some customers forgo.


DirecTV, which is controlled by News Corp. (AUS:NCP), is
also expected to use two dishes in some local markets when it
rolls out service in more cities later this year.


The bill would "help ensure that consumers where
local-into-local is available have ready access to all the
local broadcast stations in their market," said Rep. Fred
Upton, chairman of the House Commerce subcommittee on
telecommunications which approved the measure by voice vote.

...

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41207229

 
 
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