[BC] Can technology create a significant revenue source for radio?

[Barry Mishkind]

At 03:08 PM 11/21/2010, Tom Taggart wrote:
>places 85% or more use cable or satellite. The FCC is looking to take some of that bandwidth back. The TV industry
>doesn't want to give  anything up - even if no one is watching."
>
>Barry, this is a problem created by regulation.  The TV station has a marketable audience on cable (often satellite
>as well). 

        Yes, that is true ... and they now are
        exercising their muscles in that direction.

>But if they gave up their over the air bandwidth, they would no longer be a "broadcast station." The cable company--local advertising competitor to the TV station--would then no longer be obligated to carry that TV station ("must carry") and would drop them like a hot potato. 

        Not necessarily.
        The current silliness in NYC demonstrates that
        for most TV stations, "must carry" is being
        tossed for demanding of payments from the
        cable bunch. 

>Even (especially) a network affiliate--cable would just import from somewhere else or (sure to make a lot of
>station owners shudder) arrange for a direct network feed the cable company could sell.

        Not if there was a franchise exclusivity
        granted to an entity for an area.

>Never work, of course, since there is no way for the
>guv'mint to make money, and is way too simple.

        Well, the local franchisee doesn't want to 
        give up the local "rights" ...   and under
        the current contracts they can enforce that.

        Of course, the networks could change their
        approach, if they found they could pipe,
        for example, their product into a home by
        fiber and charge by the minute for each show.

        Think, too, of the metrics.

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