By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-11-21
A bipartisan pair of legislators have introduced a bill that would eliminate some “outdated” regulations including the must-carry/retransmission consent regime that broadcasters use to secure payments from MVPDs for their local programming/signals and the compulsory copyright license.
Broadcasters were not happy, while MVPDs were pleased with the prospect of must-carry going away, which they have long argued was a thumb on the scale for broadcasters, who can demand carriage, though it means they can’t negotiate payment.
Introducing the Modern Television Act of 2021 were Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), both familiar retransmission consent regime critics. » Read More