No Go

Mediacom’s options are running out. The FCC denied its emergency petition to intervene in the MSO’s retrans dispute with Sinclair, which means some 700K subs could lose the broadcaster’s stations as early as Sat. The 2 agreed to an extension last month to keep negotiating, but that pact expires at midnight Fri. Mediacom argued to the Commission that Sinclair has not negotiated in good faith. It also has an antitrust suit pending against the broadcaster. "This decision represents a resounding victory not just for Sinclair, but for all broadcasters in their efforts to be fairly compensated by cable companies," Sinclair gen counsel Barry Faber said, adding the company was particularly pleased the FCC concluded that marketplace considerations for the value of broadcast stations can take into account the prices cable companies pay for nonbroadcast, cable channels. Mediacom could not be reached by press time.