USA Today reports that the ongoing CBS blackout has now prompted a couple of government figures to address both television network and cable communications companies to resolve their issues on their retransmission contract. 3.2 million subscribers in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas are still currently affected by the blackout.
California Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein sent letters on Monday, siding with the general public over the effects of the network blackout. "The status quo is unfair to the millions of your customers who are caught in the middle of your dispute, and we strongly encourage both sides to resolve it immediately," they wrote. The letters were addressed to Time Warner Cable (TWC) CEO Glenn Britt and CBS CEO Leslie Moonves.
National Consumers League, in a statement, have urged acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and incoming Chairman Tom Wheeler to intervene. Clyburn, meanwhile, said to a reporter last week that she will take action if the dispute continues to remain unresolved.
The dispute initially stemmed from both parties' disagreement over what CBS should receive for its television shows. At the moment, the new argument is about digital rights to shows streamed over the Internet. CBS broadcasts popular and award-winning tv shows like 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Big Brother', 'The Good Wife' and Stephen Hawking's new sci-fi series 'Under the Dome'.
Investors aren't wary about the ongoing squabble. The Street reports that since August 2, CBS has dropped 1.5%, rounding off 2013 to a still impressive 41% in gains. TWC gains are at 17%, factoring in a 3% decrease,
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