PITTSBURGH, April 5, 2012 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement on the end of Tribune Broadcasting’s blackout of DirecTV consumers:
“ACA has maintained all along that the fact that retransmission consent deals eventually get done does not mean the market is working.
“ACA is certain that millions of DirecTV customers callously blacked out by Tribune Broadcasting since April 1 are now painfully aware that the current retrans regime is broken and no longer serves the public interest.
“To prevent further blackouts and collusive behavior by TV stations fixated on gouging consumers, ACA believes the Federal Communications Commission should complete action on the pending notice of proposed rulemaking and that House and Senate committees should start hearings for the purpose of designing a new retransmission consent system that treats consumers more fairly.”
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.4 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/