Spiraling Retrans, Sports Programming Fees Take Big Consumer Toll

摘要

For members of the American Cable Association (ACA), reform of retransmission consent will remain a high priority in 2012. Our trade organization, which represents nearly 1,000 small and mid-size cable operators, is equally troubled by the soaring cost of sports programming, the bulk of which will be shouldered by nearly all pay-TV subscribers, including those with absolutely no interest in viewing televised sporting events. Twenty years ago, Congress passed the 1992 Cable Act with retransmission consent included.