HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 07 10 Bright House Networks Letter 2251 Lucien Way Diane Pickett Culpepper
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NETWORKS
July 10, 2012
Mayor and Commissioners VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS
City of Wi ter Springs
1126 East S.R. 434
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Dear Mayor and Commissioners:
I am writing to you today to share some unfortunate news. Hearst Television has chosen to black out their
signals from Bright House Networks customers rather than allowing customers to view their programming while
continuing retransmission consent negotiations. They have taken this action, despite Hearst Television's CEO
David Barrett acknowledging just two weeks ago in a congressional hearing that broadcaster blackouts are
unfair to consumers.
Many multichannel video programming distributors (i.e. oab|e, satellite and telephone companies alike) as well
as public interest groups have urged the FCC and Congress to review and update current legislation and
retransmission consent rules. Even with an FCC rulemaking undenway. Hearst and other broadcasters continue
to pull the plug on viewers unless multichannel video programming distributors agree to significantly higher
retransmission consent payments.
Even though the long-term solution to this problem is a federal issue, I thought you may want to know what we
are doing for our customers here locally. Even though Hearst has chosen to take away its programming from
our uuotomern, we have made arrangements to provide: WESH/NBC - WBRE/NBC (so that our customers will
not miss any NBC's primetime national network programming); WESH/NBH HD—WBRE/NBC HD; WKCF/CW—
TV Guide Network/HBO Family; WKCF/CW HD - TV Guide Network HD/HBO Family HD; WKCF/ESTRELLA—
INFOMAS. In addidon, customers will also still view their favorite NBC programming on our Primetime on
Demand service, channel 304 and HD channel 1506.
Regarding the 2012 Summer Olympics, we have NBC/VVBRE available for viewing, and NBC announced that
10096 of its Olympics coverage will be available online to cable customers. In addition to the NBC's Olympics
site to view the Olympics on|ine, or on your mobile device(s), Bright House Networks video customers may
access the coverage free of charge with an active Bright House Networks My Services account.
Fina||y, we believe broadcaster blackouts are wrong. Despite Hearst's b|aukout, we expect negotiations will
continue and hope that the channels will be returned to the lineup shortly.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
tAit,
Diane Pickett Culpepper
cc: Michel Champagne Bright House Networks