The NAB, along with the affiliate associations for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, asked the FCC to deny a cable- and satellite-backed petition they believe would give pay TV providers increased leverage
during retransmission consent negotiations. "Without the ability to negotiate for fair retransmission consent compensation, local stations would have fewer financial resources with which to compete
with [cable networks] in the acquisition of quality programming, ultimately relegating the free, over-the-air television service to a non-competitive programming service."
The local
broadcast groups disputed cable claims that retransmission consent fees result in higher cable rates. "Retransmission consent fees paid to broadcast stations in 2008 constituted a mere 2.7% of cable
and satellite programming costs and less than 1% of the average $99 per month paid by subscribers to MVPDs for television service," the broadcasters said.
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