Page 3 - March 2016 Special Report

But without an over-the-air channel model to broadcast their media offerings, how will TV stations survive? The FCC “formally presented by FCC chairman Tom Wheeler in January, recognizes sweeping shifts in the television landscape including on-demand and streaming services. Wheeler's stated goal is to "tear down anti-competitive barriers" by giving new device makers access to programming with the potential for better ways to search and interact with content. The rule was adopted Thursday by a 3-2 vote” on February 18th. (4) The "device" here is set top tuning boxes. I call it a "Super Box."
What all this means is sports on live media has become - a commodity. The big money days for live sports have passed. A leaner, tighter and more cost effective way of doing things will be needed. Bunker shows, smaller trucks, leaner middle management configurations, and tighter crew levels will be the norm for all but the really large prestige shows like the Super Bowl.
The FCC rule referred to as “Unlock- the-box” means “that instead of having to rent the box from, say, Time Warner or ATT Uverse, you will be able to add that subscription onto your Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV and Roku boxes.” (5)
What all the bloggers seem to have missed is this: the FCC is regulating a “standard” for the future of television (Motion Image) distribution. “Under the rule, an independent, open standards body will come up with a format that programming is to be delivered. The FCC has tried to soothe industry concerns by insisting that device makers will have to abide by restrictions on what a device is allowed to do with content. The media agency is also looking to condition access to programming with compliance to privacy standards that cable and satellite companies must abide by.” (6)
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