Predictably, Viacom and Fox told the FCC Thurs that cable’s complaints about retransmission consent are in left field. "In light of the cable operators’ refusal to consider cash consideration 12 years ago, broadcasters have used the retrans process to negotiate for carriage of what are now some of the most popular, high quality MVPD networks available," Fox said in a FCC filing. Cox, Insight and Advance/Newhouse told the FCC in early Mar that the Big 4 broadcast nets are to blame for much of the rise in cable rates as they use retrans consent as leverage to gain carriage of channels of affiliated cable channels at higher rates and on more favorable terms. Viacom said that the growth in retail rates charged by cable and DBS have "far outstripped" programmers’ fee increases. Disney has asked for extra time (until Apr 15) to file its comments, saying it has retained an economist and needs additional time to analyze and refute a study presented by Cox, Insight and Advance/Newhouse. Time Warner reiterated its Thurs its belief that retrans consent has turned into an "onerous" burden. The FCC is studying the impact of retrans consent.

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