Last week, Comcast, Disney, CBS, and Fox sued to block a new Maine law that would require cable companies to offer à la carte TV. Now, a second lawsuit filed by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association representing more than 200 cable networks, has been filed to block Maine’s new à la carte TV law.
Recently, Maine passed a law requiring that cable operators offer an à la carte TV option. The new law says that “a cable system operator shall offer subscribers the option of purchasing access to cable channels, or programs on cable channels, individually.” This would bring à la carte TV, which many have hoped for, to the state of Maine.
The fear of cable companies is understandable. Many have predicted that a lot of cable TV channels would not survive à la carte TV as they count on people paying for the channel who don’t watch the channel. The possibility of many profitable channels shutting down because most cable TV subscribers don’t watch them has prevented any hope of à la carte TV in the past.
This will be a major landmark case for both cord cutting and cable TV. If Comcast, Fox, CBS, Disney, and over 200 cable companies win, it will set back hopes for à la carte TV. If Maine wins, it could open the floodgates for other states to require a true à la carte TV option.
The new law is set to take effect on September 19, 2019. Those behind this lawsuit hope to block that from happening. Cord Cutters News will be keeping a close eye on this case and will post updates as we learn more.
Source Bangor Daily News
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