AT&T is the latest multichannel-video provider to complain about Cablevision Systems.  Cablevision is accused by AT&T of withholding three regional sports networks that carry professional basketball and ice-hockey games. 

The Federal Communications Commission has program-access rules the typically bar cable operators from withholding satellite-delivered programming from pay TV rivals.  AT&T filed with the Federal Communications Commission, accusing Cablevision of program-access recidivism by refusing to license must-have sports-programming networks in an effort to raise entry barriers to new pay TV rivals.

Cablevision systems have said they have outstanding questions about At&T's violation of prior distribution agreements and about certain aspects of AT&T's technology and protection of their programming.

Verizon also filed an FCC complaint against Rainbow in March of 2006 over access to the same regional sports networks AT&T had problems with Rainbow.  When the two sides were close to announcing a comprehensive carriage deal, the complaint was withdrawn. 

The rules concerning program-access were put in place by Congress in 1992.  The reason was to ensure that newly emerging satellite-TV providers could distribute programming controlled by cable operators.

Just read today about a multiyear agreement reached between EchoStar Communications and Guest-Tek Interactive Entertainment to have Dish Network programming in some hotel properties.  Guests visiting hotels will get programming services called Free-to-Guest.  This programming will include a wide range of premium content with more HD channels available than ever before. 

Hotel visitors will have a choice of hundreds of all-digital channels including sports, movies, news, music and national HD channels in the country.

I cannot argue against the charge there is too much sex and violence on television.  Neither can Senator Jay Rockefeller who promises to push legislation to limit violence on TV "until something happens." 

The Senator believes children today are subjected to an unprecedented level of violent TV content that weakens our society as a whole by coarsening our culture.  He also attacked an industry public-service campaign promoting the use of the V-chip as an alternative to removing violent content.  As Rockefeller said, "Parents don't want more tools.  They want the content off the air."  He also added parents have too many other things to deal with than V-chips. 

Rockefeller says violent content is cheap to produce and is profitable.  He accuses the bid media companies of placing greater emphasis on their corporate short-term profits than on the long-term health and wellbeing of children.

Time Warner Cable in North Carolina is being pushed by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to broadcast Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals games.  The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is owned mainly by the Orioles and has launched a website, www.playballnow.org, to get North Carolina baseball fans to contact Time Warner, the FCC, and elected officials. 

North Carolina residents who currently subscribe to DirecTV and Dish Network have access to MASN, but not with Time Warner.  It has been pointed out that North Carolinians are also missing out on a lot of NCAA football, basketball, and lacrosse games on MASN.  The website allows North Carolina residents to send an already worded email to Time Warner, elected officials, and the Federal Communications Commission about their desire to receive MASN through Time Warner Cable.