Tom Barry wrote: > But I don't believe it was just the small number of HD's. > I think a case could be made that WESH had a weaker > bargaining position than they expected because without > Cox they had zero HD reach in Gainesville. > > So it took longer for the two parties to converge on an > agreement. Makes sense to me. In the macro sense, there have to be advantages for the networks to have a presence in the local OTA market, or there wouldn't be any OTA left. Even if that advantage is purely for the retrans consent agreements they can get from the MVPDs in the area (and I'm not saying it is). I've never ever understood how NBC could be so dismissive of the Gainesville market. Nor why the customers haven't raised a stink about it. I *think* that Craig told us that more and more, local affiliates are paying the networks to carry their content? Did I remember this right? If true, then that would make this even more of a mystery. Because this is more similar to the Euro OTA model, which seems to do quite well. The micro argument might go something like, if an OTA NBC affilate is created in Gainesville, then fewer people might be lured to the MVPDs, and NBC loses out. The obvious counter argument is, it's more likely that NBC will simply lose the OTA audience. It is not likely that just one program would convince MVPD subscribers to drop their subscription. Something doesn't add up. Bert _________________________________________________________________ It’s a talkathon – but it’s not just talk. http://www.imtalkathon.com/?source=EML_WLH_Talkathon_JustTalk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.