Inside The Beltway…

ACA To FCC: Treat NCTC Like Other Buying Groups
The American Cable Association (ACA) supports the FCC’s tentative move to revise its definition of a “buying group” to include groups like NCTC, cable’s largest buying organization. The group’s support came in reply comments filed with the commission related to the agency’s October 2012 decision to take a case-by-case approach to vetting exclusive contracts between vertically integrated cable operators and their affiliated cable networks. ACA also supports clarifying other aspects of the rules, including that NCTC is not required to assume full payment liabilities of its members or that each member agrees to assume the liabilities of all other members. This would allow NCTC to continue with its business model without subjecting programmers to any greater financial risk. ACA also points out defaults among NCTC members are rare.