Craig Birkmaier wrote: > Seems that the broadcasters have the advantage in terms of > must carry/retrans consent. You have to update your assumptions, Craig. The assumption in what you say that the "local broadcaster" is the sole source of some really high quality content that all local MVPD outlets must have. Instead, with the congloms changing the way they do business, that assumption is becoming wrong. So the local broadcasters have to get more buying power to compete, and that ain't going to be no mom and pop operation. > The MVPDs have the advantage in that they have the content that > most people are watching - I'm not talking about the stuff that > is available FOTA. Again, you have to update your assumptions. I'm past the point where OTA stations transmit what you seem to assume they always have and always will transmit. And by the way, OTA stations are also past that point, although not past enough yet. They too can transmit at least SOME of what you claim "most people are watching." > And they have the ability to collect subscriber fees and > compete for local ad dollars. Oh, and you forgot the biggest advantage MVPDs have. The MVPDs also have the advantage of paying for large fleets of trucks, salaries, medical, retirement, vacation time, for substantial workforces in every single market. No, not just news crews and the local talent. > Obviously if they chose to create a Freeview like system they > would not be able to demand carriage and compensation from > competitors. Not true. The American consumer is lavish enough that I'm convinced most of them would continue to want MVPD service. It's just that the equilibrium would shift some, as it MIGHT already be doing a little. Depending whether the rules change, the OTA broadcasters may continue to be the sole source for some of that network content, or not. I don't know. With this FCC intent on demolishing FOTA TV, you just can't tell what they'll do next to prop up MVPDs. > Please explain how a national footprint helps ANY local > broadcaster or station group? That's obvious, Craig. The same way a supermarket can undercut a mom and pop store. It's called buying power. "Local broadcaster" may be nothing more than a local RF outlet of an OTA network. Bert ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.