Why Do Cable Companies Carry Duplicate Broadcast Channels?
* If one network affiliate decides to carry a local sporting event or a charity telethon instead of the network feed, customers might miss the network programming. * Local broadcast news programs develop extremely loyal viewers. * Network affiliates often offer very different sports schedules, appealing to different segments of the viewing audience. A federal regulation called Must Carry/Retransmission Consent also affects a cable company´s channel line-up. If a local broadcaster exercises his or her right under the Must Carry rules, then the cable operator is required to carry the station. If a local broadcaster requests Retransmission Consent instead, the cable operator must negotiate with the broadcaster for the rights to carry that station. 12. What is considered a “local broadcaster?” A local broadcaster isn’t always the broadcast station that´s closest to the cable company geographically. The Federal Communications Commission defines a local broadcaster as one located in the same
