§ 76.123 - Satellite syndicated program exclusivity.

§ 76.123 Satellite syndicated program exclusivity.

(a) Upon receiving notification pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, a satellite carrier shall not deliver, to subscribers located within zip code areas in whole or in part within the zone of protection of a commercial television station licensed by the Commission, a program carried on a nationally distributed superstation or on a station carried pursuant to § 76.54 of this chapter when the syndicated program exclusivity rights to such program are held by the commercial television station providing notice, except as provided in paragraphs (k), (l) and (m) of this section.

(b) Television broadcast station licensees shall be entitled to exercise exclusivity rights pursuant to this Section in accordance with the contractual provisions of their syndicated program license agreements, consistent with § 76.124.

(c) Distributors of syndicated programming shall be entitled to exercise exclusive rights pursuant to this Section for a period of one year from the initial broadcast syndication licensing of such programming anywhere in the United States; provided, however, that distributors shall not be entitled to exercise such rights in areas in which the programming has already been licensed.

(d) In order to exercise exclusivity rights pursuant to this Section, distributors of syndicated programming or television broadcast stations shall notify each satellite carrier of the exclusivity sought in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. Syndicated program exclusivity notices shall include the following information:

(1) The name and address of the party requesting exclusivity and the television broadcast station or other party holding the exclusive right;

(2) The name of the program or series (including specific episodes where necessary) for which exclusivity is sought;

(3) The dates on which exclusivity is to begin and end; and

(4) A list of the U.S. postal zip code(s) that encompass the zone of protection under these rules.

(e) A distributor or television station exercising exclusivity pursuant to this Section shall provide to the satellite carrier, upon request, an exact copy of those portions of the exclusivity contracts, such portions to be signed by both the distributor and the television station, setting forth in full the provisions pertinent to the duration, nature, and extent of the exclusivity terms concerning broadcast signal exhibition to which the parties have agreed.

(f) Television broadcast stations or distributors entering into contracts on or after November 29, 2000, which contain syndicated exclusivity protection with respect to satellite retransmission of programming, shall notify affected satellite carriers within sixty calendar days of the signing of such a contract. Television broadcast stations or distributors who have entered into contracts prior to November 29, 2000, and who comply with the requirements specified in § 76.124 shall notify affected satellite carriers on or before January 31, 2001; provided, however, that with respect to pre-November 29, 2000 contracts that require amendment in order to invoke the provisions of these rules, notification may be given within sixty calendar days of the signing of such amendment.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a television broadcast station shall be entitled to exclusivity protection beginning on the later of:

(1) The date specified in its notice to the satellite carrier; or

(2) The first day of the calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that begins 60 days after the satellite carrier receives notice from the broadcaster.

Provided, however, that with respect to notifications given pursuant to this section prior to June 1, 2001, a satellite carrier is not required to provide syndicated exclusivity protection until 120 days after the satellite carrier receives such notification.

(h) In determining which programs must be deleted from a television broadcast signal, a satellite carrier may rely on information from the distributor or television broadcast station requesting exclusivity; newspapers or magazines of general circulation; or the nationally distributed superstation whose programs may be subject to deletion.

(i) If a satellite carrier asks a nationally distributed superstation for information about its program schedule, the nationally distributed superstation shall answer the request:

(1) Within ten business days following the its receipt of the request; or

(2) Sixty days before the program or programs mentioned in the request for information will be broadcast; whichever comes later.

(j) In the event the exclusivity specified in paragraph (a) of this section has been limited or has ended prior to the time specified in the notice, the distributor or broadcaster who has supplied the original notice shall, as soon as possible, inform each satellite carrier that has previously received the notice of all changes from the original notice. In the event the original notice specified contingent dates on which exclusivity is to begin and/or end, the distributor or broadcaster shall, as soon as possible, notify the satellite carrier of the occurrence of the relevant contingency. Notice to be furnished “as soon as possible” under this Subsection shall be furnished by telephone, telegraph, facsimile, e-mail, overnight mail or other similar expedient means.

(k) A satellite carrier is not required to delete the programming of any nationally distributed superstation that is carried by the satellite carrier as a local station pursuant to § 76.66 of this chapter or as a significantly viewed station pursuant to § 76.54 of this chapter:

(1) Within the station's local market;

(2) If the station is “significantly viewed,” pursuant to § 76.54 of this chapter, in zip code areas included within the zone of protection unless a waiver of the significantly viewed exception is granted pursuant to § 76.7 of this chapter; or

(3) If the zone of protection falls, in whole or in part, within that signal's grade B contour or noise limited service contour.

(l) A satellite carrier is not required to delete the duplicating programming of any nationally distributed superstation from an individual subscriber who is located outside the zone of protection, notwithstanding that the subscriber lives within a zip code provided by the broadcaster pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section.

(m) A satellite carrier is not required to delete programming if it has fewer than 1,000 subscribers within the relevant protected zone who subscribe to the nationally distributed superstation carrying the programming for which deletion is requested pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section.

[65 FR 68101, Nov. 14, 2000, as amended at 70 FR 76530, Dec. 27, 2005]