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More Retrans Disputes On The Horizon

Expect more fee disputes from local television stations on cable TV lineups. Broadcasters hurt by declining ad revenue are demanding more fees from cable and other subscription TV providers to carry the stations. The providers are resisting, which means more blackouts, like the Cablevision/ABC debacle on Oscar night, looms. Upcoming battles: ABCTime Warner Cable.

"There's a lot of money at stake," said Robin Flynn, an analyst at SNL Kagan. "There are a lot more fights coming up." Flynn expects fees for network-owned TV stations and affiliates combined to reach more than $1 billion this year. That's up from over $750 million last year and $500 million in 2008. But viewers may be the losers: finding themselves with smaller lineups. Higher retrans fees may mean dropping certain cable channels.

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