Spectrum/Charter Cable vs NBC Boston

[Garrett Wollman]

<<On Mon, 19 Dec 2016 03:43:04 -0500, Kevin Vahey <kvahey@gmail.com> said:

> Charter is saying WWLP being in Massachusetts is a better fit than WJAR
> Providence. They carry WNEU 60.1 but do they have to carry 60.2???? WMFP
> falls into the same gray area.

> Legally what are the options?

Must-carry only applies to the "primary" video service.  Other
services are generally only carried when required by contract (usually
under the retransmission agreement for the primary service when the
licensee elects retrans consent instead of must-carry).

I'd consider this Charter playing hardball with NBC over the fees NBC
is asking for carriage of WBTS.  Because of the size and shape of
Worcester County they have other legal options for NBC, and presumably
the Peacock didn't write a non-consent clause into their affiliation
deals in Springfield and Providence.

-GAWollman