As the next round of retransmission consent approaches, there are FCC rules you should be familiar with. One of the most powerful rules for cable operators is the requirement that a broadcaster negotiate retransmission consent in good faith. Read more for key information.
The next round of retransmission consent negotiations is just a few months away. It will be the most difficult yet for small cable companies. The DTV transition, more media consolidation, cash for carriage demands, DBS competition and a process skewed in favor of powerful network broadcasters will all combine to make for tough negotiations. Now is the time to start planning. This article gives you some tips for how to prepare now for negotiations. Our next article will discuss key regulations governing the retransmission consent process and some recent FCC cases dealing with retransmission consent disputes.
This is the second in a series on considerations in selling and buying a small cable system. In last month’s issue of ICN, we discussed the first two steps that occur after you and your broker have found a potential buyer or seller – the letter of intent and due diligence. Here we focus on the purchase agreement.
As the economy firms up, we see increasing activity in the selling and buying of small cable systems. Clustering, spin offs, market reentry by cable veterans, all are resulting in more interest and action in small cable deals. While some parts of a small cable deal are like any other transaction, many aspects are unique. After all, cable is still a heavily regulated business, and a cable system has several types of assets that warrant careful consideration before and during the sale process. To help you better plan for a purchase or sale, we have prepared a two-part series on considerations in selling and buying a small cable system.