TV Station Members Won�t Pull Their Signals On Proposed Dates
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 8/12/2008 5:12:00 PM

Washington—In a controversial proposal, The National Association of Broadcasters on Tuesday announced that its TV station members would not pull their signals from cable systems from Feb. 4, 2009 to March 4, 2009 in an effort to ensure a smooth digital TV transition on Feb. 17, 2009.

NAB's commitment—which it said it vetted with Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin—was immediately questioned by the American Cable Association, a trade group for small cable operators that regularly complains about broadcasters’ hardball negotiating tactics.

From ACA's perspective, NAB's so-called quiet period commitment was deficient because if a TV station is legally withholding its signal on Feb. 3, the arrival of Feb. 4 would not require the station to give the cable operator quiet period carriage rights.


ACA Opposed To NAB’s Quiet Period Dates - 8/12/2008 5:12:00 PM - Multichannel News