ACA: Comcast-NBC Merger will Affect Small Cable Operators Competitiveness

(Maribel Ramos-Weiner, Baltimore). The American Cable Association (ACA) panel discussion titled “ACA Update: Washington- Where change is constant!” took place on the first day of the Independent Show in Baltimore. At the event, Ross Lieberman, ACA’s VP of Government Affairs, talked about the effects that the Comcast-NBC Universal merger would have on the competitiveness of small cable operators. Lieberman noted one of the effects of this merger would be the reduced ability by small cable operators to negotiate distribution fees with these stations, which in the case of NBC Universal amount to about 14 channels.Another topic of concern for ACA is the re-broadcast agreements, which are the fees open-air TV channels charge cable operators per subscriber. Matt Polka, President and CEO of ACA, said that due to the enormous publicity this issue has been given in the media, the government, through the FCC, is finally starting to pay attention. Polka hopes this will spark a debate to modify the law that was created in 1992.It was also discussed that the FCC is seeking a less expensive device to replace the cable cards in which the industry has invested close to a billion dollars. The goal is to replace this adapter by late 2012.