Hoping to push the long-running NFL-cableco dispute over NFL Network carriage toward the end zone, the Federal Communications Commission has referred the matter to an administrative law judge for a hearing – and perhaps – resolution.
The FCC has ordered that the presiding administrative law judge “issue recommended decisions and remedies, if any, to the Commission as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the mandates of fairness and due process.”
The coveted content stage started well over a year ago, when some cablecos, notably Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) decided to charge extra for the National Football League’s NFL Network channel, one other providers began offering as part of expanded basic cable.
The sides claim they could not come to an amicable and mutually profitable carriage arrangement. Comcast ended up packing the NFL Network channel in with other sports and non-sports programming into a premium sports package that carries a $7.99 monthly fee.
The case is undoubtedly the longest-running and highest-profile example of the trials and tribulations operators and programming owners can face when it comes to providing coveted content. Not surprisingly, live professional sporting events fill up that category.
So it should come as little surprise that certain large operators were missing from the list of those carrying the Major League Baseball (MLB) channel when it launched this past January 1.
With analysts predicting a limited supply of truly coveted content – new programming in particular – carriers and content owners are both pulling out all the stops to cut deals that make business sense.
The NFL Network heavyweight bout has seen involvement by lawyers, legislators, fans, the FCC, and now back to lawyers.
It’s unclear when the content carriage issue may finally be resolved.
