DISH Reiterates Stand on Retrans Quiet Period

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DISH Reiterates Stand on Retrans Quiet Period

Last week, DISH Network reiterated its opinion on a retransmission consent quiet period tied to the digital TV transition, suggesting that any proposed stay of retransmission consent matters should start at the end of this year.

There are separate proposals from broadcasters and cable operators for a quiet period that would ensure carriage of local TV stations by pay-TV services just before and after the DTV transition, despite any ongoing negotiations. In a filing describing meetings DISH representatives held with FCC staff, the company said a retrans quiet period should start Dec. 15, and that any broadcast stations carried on pay-TV platforms on that date should remain in place through the nation's digital TV switch, set for Feb. 17, 2009.

A quiet period should be "structured to capture as many potential retransmission consent disputes around the digital transition as possible to minimize any ill effect on a successful digital transition," DISH said in its FCC filing.

DISH said both the cable and satellite TV businesses have a sizeable number of retransmission consent agreements scheduled to end in December. DISH said it's in active negotiations with several station groups and hopes to have deals done well in advance of the transition.

"Come Feb. 17, however, retrans disputes may well be ongoing with programming unavailable to pay TV subscribers," the company said.

Last week, broadcasters offered a quiet period that would start two weeks before the Feb. 17 switch, and last for another two weeks after the transition. Small and medium-sized cable operators are pushing for a six-month quiet period, from Jan. 1 to May 31.