[opendtv] PR: Public Television and Cable Announce Major Digital Carriage Agreement
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 08:21:03 -0500
At first glance one might conclude that the=20
agreement discussed in the following story is an=20
indication that the marketplace can deal with=20
cable carriage rights. But PBS is not a "market=20
player," as there is no money changing hands, or=20
potential for ad revenues derived from carriage=20
of PBS programming.
Still, this is a positive step in the RIGHT direction.
Regards
Craig
Public Television and Cable Announce Major Digital Carriage Agreement
=46ebruary 1, 2005 12:00am
Source: PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, PR Newswire: WASHINGTON,=20
Jan. 31 -- U.S. cable consumers will be able to=20
enjoy the rich diversity of high-definition,=20
educational and children's programming provided=20
by the nation's local Public Television stations=20
for the foreseeable future under a major digital=20
cable carriage agreement announced today by the=20
Association of Public Television Stations (APTS)=20
and the National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association (NCTA).
The "Public Television Digital Cable Carriage=20
Agreement" ensures that local Public Television=20
stations' digital programming will be carried on=20
cable systems serving the vast majority of the=20
nation's cable subscribers. Further, it provides=20
significant digital cable carriage incentives for=20
local Public Television stations to produce more=20
high-definition, children's and local=20
programming. It also recognizes and enhances the=20
unique role that public broadcasters play in=20
national homeland defense efforts and provides=20
for cable carriage of additional emergency public=20
safety information.
There are currently 356 Public Television=20
stations in the U.S. As of the end of January,=20
digital signals from about 100 Public Television=20
stations were being carried by cable systems.
A number of Public Television stations have=20
created, or are planning to launch, new and=20
differentiated programming via their digital=20
signals. For example, the New Jersey Network=20
(NJN) already has a digital channel lineup that=20
includes digital distribution of NJN's regular=20
channel, a channel for adult learners, a=20
children's channel, and NJN JerseyVision, which=20
features all locally-produced news, public=20
affairs, and other programming. NJN also provides=20
a channel of High-Definition (HD) programming=20
that features a combination of NJN's own HDTV=20
productions and special wide-screen and HDTV=20
presentations distributed by PBS and other=20
program sources. Similarly, Thirteen/WNET and=20
WLIW use their digital resources to provide cable=20
viewers in the New York metro area with a suite=20
of digital channels that include World, Create,=20
Kids, and Thirteen HD. These examples show how=20
multicast carriage enables local Public=20
Television stations to draw on substantial=20
programming libraries to offer their viewers a=20
wealth of new series and specials.
APTS President & CEO John Lawson said: "This=20
agreement is truly historic. Securing cable=20
carriage of America's local public television=20
stations' digital offerings achieves one of the=20
most important strategic objectives of our=20
industry. Our stations developed extensive plans=20
to use multicasting to provide new programming=20
and services that meet the educational and public=20
safety needs of the communities they serve. This=20
agreement enables local stations to focus their=20
resources on developing new digital content with=20
the confidence that cable subscribers in their=20
communities will be able to benefit from these=20
services."
NCTA President & CEO Robert Sachs said: "Public=20
TV for many years has been an important outlet=20
and educational resource for millions of=20
Americans. Cable operators recognize that public=20
TV has been a leader in producing new and=20
compelling digital television content. Through=20
the agreement, the cable industry is ensuring=20
that our customers will benefit from the quality=20
and creative non-commercial PTV digital content=20
that is available today, and will be offered in=20
the future."
APTS was assisted in its negotiations by the Public Broadcasting Service (PB=
S).
PBS President & CEO Pat Mitchell said: "PBS has=20
been building a positive relationship with cable=20
for many years. We, in support of our member=20
stations, are pleased to have played a part in=20
bringing this significant agreement together. The=20
progress made between APTS and the NCTA in=20
addressing the issues and our concerns is=20
commendable. Final action on the agreement is on=20
the agenda of the PBS Board of Directors meeting=20
this week."
One significant benefit of the agreement is that=20
it represents the resolution of complex digital=20
TV issues through private contractual=20
negotiations rather than government mandate,=20
giving Public Television stations and cable=20
operators the ability to make long-term business=20
plans without the uncertainties that often=20
accompany legislative or regulatory solutions to=20
complicated business issues, said APTS and=20
NCTA..TABLE Terms of the unprecedented carriage=20
agreement include: * During the period when=20
Public Television stations are broadcasting both=20
in analog and digital formats, upgraded cable=20
systems that offer High- Definition Television=20
(HDTV) will carry up to four streams of free non-=20
commercial digital broadcast programming and=20
associated material from one Public Television=20
station in a market, if a station chooses to=20
distribute that many streams, in addition to the=20
station's analog signal. * After all TV stations=20
in a market are transmitting only digital=20
signals, upgraded cable systems that offer HDTV=20
will carry free non-commercial digital=20
programming of each local must-carry Public=20
Television station. This carriage may include=20
four streams of free non-commercial digital=20
programming and associated material, subject to=20
reasonable programming duplication parameters. *=20
Any Public Television station that decides to=20
shut off analog transmission and broadcast in=20
digital-only before the DTV market transition may=20
choose to have its digital signal carried on the=20
upgraded local cable system at that time.
The Public Television Digital Cable Carriage=20
Agreement does not supersede existing=20
pre-transitional digital carriage agreements=20
among Public Television stations and cable=20
systems. The existing agreements would remain in=20
effect until they expire.
=46ollowing approval by the Boards of Directors of=20
APTS, NCTA and PBS, within 60 days the agreement=20
must be ratified by Public Television stations in=20
markets that comprise 80 percent of U.S. TV=20
households, and by cable Multiple System=20
Operators (MSOs) representing at least 80 percent=20
of cable subscribers. The MSOs will begin=20
carrying Public Television stations pursuant to=20
the agreement within 180 days of its ratification.
[Additional materials accompanying this release=20
can be found at=20
http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=3D573&showArticles=3Dok]
The Association of Public Television Stations=20
(APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization=20
established in 1980 to support the continued=20
growth and development of a strong and=20
financially sound noncommercial television=20
service for the American public. APTS works=20
closely with individual stations to produce=20
effective strategies that allow stations to=20
fulfill their individual missions. As=20
broadcasters make the transition to digital=20
transmission, APTS is working to ensure the=20
federal government continues its commitment to=20
universal public television services.
NCTA is the principal trade association of the=20
cable television industry in the United States.=20
NCTA represents cable operators serving more than=20
90 percent of the nation's cable television=20
households and more than 200 cable program=20
networks, as well as equipment suppliers and=20
providers of other services to the cable industry.
SOURCE National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association .end (paragraph)<<PR Newswire --=20
01/31/05>>
<< Copyright =A92005 PR Newswire >>
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