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Re: “Close the ‘streaming loophole’ and protect local broadcast news in WA” [Oct. 4, Opinion]:
The Op-Ed tries to alarm us into giving broadcasters more cash whereas failing to supply an inexpensive perspective of the problem.
Broadcasters began receiving retransmission charges within the Nineteen Nineties by lobbying Congress to drive cable/satellite tv for pc (and now streaming) operators to pay when together with content material accessible freely over the air. How anybody thought this made sense is past my comprehension.
In line with the Pew Research Center, annual retransmission charges have elevated dramatically from $1.8 billion in 2011, to $8 billion in 2016, to an eye-watering $14 billion in 2021.
The Op-Ed argues that streaming providers don’t pay. If that’s the case, why was ABC dropped during a dispute with YouTubeTV in 2021? Broadcasters now wish to double dip, saying it’s for native information. Aren’t they already greater than nicely compensated with ever ballooning retransmission charges?
Perhaps even worse, many broadcasters now encrypt their newest ATSC 3.0 over-the-air transmissions. Decryption requires an web connection! Think about all of the methods this may fail the Emergency Broadcast System. Why the necessity for encryption of over-the-air broadcasts? It’s simple to imagine it’s to push customers to “handy” cable/streaming providers, which can hold the retransmission charge gravy prepare operating at full velocity.
Dale Quigg, Bothell
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