NRTC Offers Service to Telcos for Retransmission Consent Negotiations
NRTC’s Experience Benefits Telcos during Talks with Local Stations, Station Management Groups
For Immediate Release
DATE: Sept. 22, 2010
Contact: Chris Martin
703-787-7288
cmartin@nrtc.coop
September 22, 2010 [Herndon, VA]— The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative
(NRTC) announced today that it will offer a new service to assist telcos with retransmission
consent negotiations with local stations and station management groups. At a time when many telcos
and advocacy groups are reporting sharp increases in retransmission consent payments, NRTC seeks to
bring balance to negotiations that are increasingly driven by network demands for a greater share
of retransmission revenues.
“With broadcasters demanding larger retransmission consent fees, telcos are feeling the
strain and impact of these negotiations,” said NRTC Interim President and CEO Jack Harvey. “
NRTC understands how important and daunting this process can be, and we’ve expanded our service
offering to help telcos bargain more effectively with local broadcasters. The importance of these
negotiations cannot be understated since the rates telcos negotiate today will serve as the
foundation for the rates they’ll pay in the future.”
Broadcasters’ revenues from retransmission consent have quickly grown over the past few years
with many broadcasters stating publicly their intentions to continue growing that revenue stream.
NRTC’s experience in programmer negotiations can provide telcos with expertise to help obtain
better retransmission rates and terms.
NRTC has added this service to complement its TelcoVideo programming offering and to help
members offer a complete, competitive video lineup of national networks, local broadcast stations
and regional sports networks. The retransmission consent service provides telcos with help in
strategic planning, assistance during direct negotiations, market and ratings research,
negotiations with out-of-market and “significantly viewed” stations and other local contract
negotiations. These services are available to all NRTC telco members, regardless of their choice of
programming aggregator.
Assistance with retransmission consent is just one of the ways that NRTC is working to ensure
that telcos have access to affordable video programming. NRTC’s TelcoVideo offering gives telcos
access to hundreds of video and audio channels—including more than 90 high-definition (HD)
channels. With the powerful programming available through TelcoVideo, telcos can customize
programming packages to appeal to a wide range of customers—from residential subscribers to
commercial accounts. Packages are also divided into white-labeled, highly marketable tiers,
including the HD, Hispanic and Variety Tiers. Premium channel packages, including HBO, Cinemax,
Starz, Encore, Showtime and The Movie Channel complete this robust offering.
About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced
telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,500 rural utilities and
affiliates in 48 states. Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed
specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet
access via satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering
infrastructure, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone
service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and
programming distribution rights for video providers. For more information, visit
www.nrtc.coop.
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