Gregg Lengling
12-19-2003, 07:07 AM
According to sources, a decision is imminent - maybe as early as today - from regulators concerning News Corp.'s proposed takeover of Hughes and DirecTV.
As expected, conditions could be tied to the deal, including remedies that address access to News Corp.-controlled programming by competitors. Cable companies and EchoStar have been lobbying for a provision that would force News Corp. and Fox to provide programming to a pay-TV provider while a carriage dispute is in arbitration.
The Federal Communications Commission has been pushing to get its review of the deal done by the end of the year.
As expected, conditions could be tied to the deal, including remedies that address access to News Corp.-controlled programming by competitors. Cable companies and EchoStar have been lobbying for a provision that would force News Corp. and Fox to provide programming to a pay-TV provider while a carriage dispute is in arbitration.
The Federal Communications Commission has been pushing to get its review of the deal done by the end of the year.