Blackout: FCC Rules Mandate that this Program be Blacked-Out in your Area

Date January 21, 2008

Flipping through the channels in my area, I came across this and paused for a moment trying to figure out what possible rule would mandate its removal from the air.

FCC Blackout

(forgive the crappy image)

I was unfamiliar with channel 74 in my area — It’s Cox Sports, or MASN2, referring to George Mason University. After a little digging, I found this post on another cable carriers page that seems like it may relate. Here’s a relevant snippet:

FCC regulations state that when there is a local full power broadcast station within a market … then that broadcaster has the right to enforce two FCCs rules: 1) network non-duplication and 2) syndicated exclusivity rules…

These FCC rules require that cable operators can not carry duplicate stations and that the cable operator must blackout any and all duplicated programming if it exists, on other stations.

On the other MASN channel, a game is in progress. Does this blackout rule cover the cable company’s own duplicate programming as well?  What other types of broadcasting, aside from sports, are affected by these rules?

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2 Responses to “Blackout: FCC Rules Mandate that this Program be Blacked-Out in your Area”

  1. D Sparks said:

    July 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am

    the local channels can refuse a waver even if you are not able to receive there NBC or CBS channels this is not fair to Dish owners that makes them use the Cable company’s shame on them

  2. D Sparks said:

    July 20th, 2008 at 9:02 am

    Channel 9 NBC an channel 7 CBS in Odessa Texas has blocked the request for NBC an CBS East for owners of Direct TV recivers