This week, Steve Scalise introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives that would make it easier for live TV streaming services to include local TV stations. According to the bill, it would remove any requirements to have retransmission consent from local broadcasters before streaming local TV online.
This would allow companies like Sling TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu, and others to stream locals without long contracts. It would also allow services like Areo to stream locals online.
“Innovation tends to follow the path of least government resistance,” Scalise said in a statement. “For proof, look no further than the growth of online streaming services that are operating in a completely free market, while competing against other platforms that are regulated as if they were still monopolies from the 1990s. My legislation will level the playing field so consumers can benefit from even more freedom in the video marketplace.”
Many have asked why services are barred from streaming free over-the-air TV. For now, the current retransmission laws bar anyone from rebroadcasting free over-the-air TV online. This bill would not only push streaming forward but also make cord cutting services cheaper.
Currently, $12 on average of your live TV streaming service bill goes to locals. If this bill goes forward live TV streaming would no longer have to pay locals. This could help push the cost of live TV services down to below $30.
The bill faces a hard, uphill battle. While cable industries may support it, look for local stations to fight back against the bill.
Source: Variety
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