texascableguy’s Comments

• Apr 16th, 2013 @ 2:00am

  Re:

  on Hilarious And Ridiculous: Networks Threaten To Pull Channels Off The Air If Aereo & Dish Win Lawsuits
  No more affiliate stations? If CBS and FOX go cable-only, do you really think their non-O&O affiliate stations are just going to turn in their licenses and go off the air? There are plenty of other networks that would jump at the chance to grab a former FOX or CBS channel. Possibilities are endless: Bounce TV, This TV, Ion Television, Retro Television Network, foreign language, religious, home shopping. It's also possible that some current cable channel (CNN for example) would turn itself into a broadcast network. Never underestimate Ted Turner.
  
  Furthermore, if CBS and FOX go cable only, they lose all the cushy perks their affiliates got under the 1992 Cable Act. No more mandatory carriage, no more retransmission-consent, no more government-mandated geographic monopolies, no more mandatory access to the basic tier. From the cable TV operator's point of view, they'll become just two more advertising-supported video feeds competing for channel space in an already-crowded market.
  
  But their former affiliates will still have these perks!
  
  And do CBS and FOX really think the cable TV industry is going to welcome them with open arms? It would be a perfect opportunity for cable operators to play hardball after years of abuse.