DBS Update
Ann TuckerDirector, Digital Cable and DBS
Strategy
Upcoming DBS issues
> New must carry election cycle> DBS HD local channels> Change to DBS waivers
New Must Carry Cycle> New cycle start January 1, 2006> All stations must elect must carry – even if you
cannot get a GQS to the LRF!!!> Only applies stations in LTL markets > DBS must carry elections are due October 1, 2005> No designation letter> More details to follow this summer CONSULT YOUR DC COUNSEL!!!!
DBS Providers rolling out HDLTL> DirecTV and Echostar have
announced plans to provide local HD signals by end of 2005> DirecTV – 12 of top 13 markets by
3Q 2005 (33% of US)> HD only> MPEG-4 makes equipment obsolete> Free to LTL subs if they have the
equipment
•New York•Los Angeles•Chicago•Philadelphia•Boston•San Francisco•Dallas-Ft. Worth•Washington, DC•Atlanta•Detroit•Houston•Tampa-St. Pete
Carriage of PBS stations unclear> No FCC HD must carry on satellite> Unclear whether they will carry PBS stations> No national HD channel> PBS continues to talk with both providers to
push local HD carriage> Watch for more information
DBS waiver process is about to change!
NEWS FLASH
Current waiver process
> 30 days after LTL market launches, the National Feed is removed
> No waivers allowed> DirecTV - not technically possible> Echostar/DishNetwork – possible, but not
authorized> No waivers needed in non LTL markets
They done broke a good thing…> DirecTV’s “One size fits all” waiver process
is not working> No flexibility> RVs> Other unforeseen circumstances brought about
by ever-changing satellite technology
Forces causing the need for change> Use of satellites in low orbits> New class of “unserved” viewers in LTL markets> Congressional & FCC pressure> Smaller numbers of national feed markets> Viewer and station confusion> Need for stations to gain more control
Only two possible solutions
> Status quo……..or> Normalize the PBS waiver process
> PBS Board resolution> Waivers processed at the station level> Control over granting or denying waivers would
rest with the station> Same as commercial networks
Proposed waiver process
Viewer DirecTV Decisionmark Station
WaiverRequest
GRANT
DENYViewer Information
What does this mean for stations?> Station would have the obligation to log on
periodically to view queued up waivers> Station would determine policies> Control and flexibility would be at the local
level
• WaiverTV service provided by Decisionmark • Free for stations• Browser-based
• Provides information for station to make waiver decision• Name• Address• LR map
Station Implications
> All stations must participate> Resources – number of waivers?> Station must set its own waiver policies> Station coordination in multiple station markets> Some viewers may be unhappy with being told
no> Potential opportunity to talk with viewers
Tentative Timeline
> Summer, 2005 – PBS and Decisionmark hold web conferences
> Late summer, 2005 – Stations become familiar with the product and update their technical specifications
> Fall – DirecTV switches to individual waivers and stations begin using WaiverTV
Look for further information on all these issues in the coming months.
Questions on these or other DBS issues?Contact me, Ann Tucker, at
(703) 739-5237 or [email protected]
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