enters into marketplace detemination of the value of the product and the sale of advertising. The following material provided by a major syndicator and supplier of network programming, contains pertinent information about those matters. (1) Definition Network Programming (Commercial) Network programming is television programming broadcast on one of the three commercial U.S. television networks on a national inter-connected basis. Most contracts between program suppliers and the three networks carry an exclusivity clause granting the network the exclusive right to broadcast the programming for a stated period of time. This exclusivity commonly prohibits the supplier from licensing the programs to the other television networks or to any television stations or CATV systems in the exclusivity area, which is usually the U.S., its territories and possessions, and English-language Puerto Rico. There are occasional minor variations among the networks as to the exclusivity area (e.g., to include Bermuda or Tijuana, Mexico). (2) Types of Programming (A) Prime Time-(7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., except Central and Mountain time zones: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) In prime time the most common types of programming are half-hour and onehour series. In addition, the networks program theatrical feature films, made-fortelevision feature films, entertainment specials, news and some public affairs documentaries and specials and some sports events in prime time. (B) Day-time Monday-Friday Programming.-The great majority of programming in this time period on the networks consist of game shows, quiz shows, talk shows and soap operas. (C) Saturday Morning Programming.-Most programming on Saturday morning on the networks is children's programming, a considerable portion of which is in animation. (D) Late Evening.-Each of the three networks takes a different approach to late evening programming (post-prime time). One network programs talk shows, another programs feature films and the third programs a mixture of various types of programming ranging from variety specials to dramatic shows produced especially for that time period. Most of the programming referred to in (A) through (D) above (except for sports, news and public affairs) is supplied to the networks by outside producers and suppliers. In addition, the networks themselves produce and broadcast news and public affairs programming and additional sports programming at various times during the week, with special emphasis on news and public events and sports on Saturday and Sunday afternoon as well as early evening news shows during each weekday. (3) The program suppliers As indicated above, most of the entertainment programming broadcast by the three national commercial networks are supplied by entities unaffiliated with the networks. These are primarily the major motion picture companies and independent producers. The networks in whole or in part finance the development of this programming by financing the cost of stories, outlines, scripts, pilot films and the like. In exchange for financing the various steps of development, the network receives an exclusive option to license the financed program or programs at agreed-upon license fees. In the case of television series, the network options can continue for from five to seven years of product. (4) Compensation As indicated above, the program suppliers are compensated by the networks for the programming they supply. The networks also compensate the individual stations across the country which carry the network programming in accordance with affiliation agreements which exist between each network and its affiliate stations. In addition, the stations sell local advertisers commercial time adjacent to network programming, which, because of the larger audiences generated by network programming, commands higher prices than other local time. The networks receive their compensation from national advertisers who purchase advertising time on the networks. Television syndication is the leasing of programming to individual stations on a city by city basis. Most contracts carry an exclusivity clause covering 35 miles from the city of license prohibiting other television stations or CATV systems from using the same material. The product is composed mainly of the following: 1. Specials. Usually first-run entertainment or documentary material with two telecasts over a year's term. 2. First-Run Series,—Primarily half-hours with 26 to 39 originals and sufficient repeats to fill out a 52-week telecast schedule on a once-a-week basis (1.e., 26 & 26 as in Ozzie's Girls, or 39 & 13 as in Price Is Right). Some strip programming is offered (What's My Line, Truth Or Consequences) running five a week with 195 new shows and 65 repeats being typical. Another major form is the talk/variety shows such as Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore. Because of the nature of the program content, very few repeats are produced. First-run contracts are usually for a one-year period of time. 3 Off-Network.-Those series which achieve network success and build up at least four years of production are valuable to the syndicated market. They are usually half-hour (Hogan's Heroes, I Love Lucy, Adam-12) or hour (Perry Mason, Ironside, Marcus Welby) in length. Contracts run anywhere from two runs to unlimited runs with six typical. Usual contract terms cover five to seven years. 4. Catalog Product.-This is older series product, mostly off-network, that is sold for a short duration (Honeymooners, Have Gun Will Travel). Usually one or two runs with contract term of one to two years in selective markets. 5. Feature Films,-Common trend is to sell the networks first and syndicate post network. Most popular packages carry 20 to 30 pictures and terms are five to seven years with five to ten runs of each feature. Older features recycled are replaced with the better titles continuing television exposure and the poorer titles going on the shelf. (B) Station scheduling of syndicated product 1. Affiliates.—Most affiliate stations (ABC, CBS, NBC) in the eastern time zone have the following local time periods to fill: 9:00 am to 10:00 am. 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. (with the exception of network news). 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm. 1:00 am to signoff. Local and network news usually fill the 6:00-7:30 pm time period and the 11:00 11:30 pm time period. Features are used afternoon and late night weekends, preemptions in prime time and as five-a-week early shows which are on a decline. The most valuable part of the day for the syndicator is 7:30-8:00 p.m. for firstrun once-a-week programming. The second most valuable part is 4:30-6:00 p.m. with talk/variety shows, off-network syndication and feature films taking time in that order. 2. Independent Stations.-Independents have a poorer circulation in the daytime and do not pay much for this area. It's primarily used for the multiple run feature films and live local shows. Since most affiliates attract an older audience with their talk/variety and news programming in late afternoon and evening (4:00-8:00pm), indies basically target their counterprogramming to the kidult audience. This material is primarily off-network series (I Love Lucy, Star Trek, Wild Wild West. Andy Griffith, Flintstones, Gilligan's Island). The 8:00-11:00 pm time period is comprised of ninety minute talk/variety shows, feature films, sports and off-network series. Most all Monday to Friday programming is "stripped" (same series each day in time period). (C) Price Negotiations Most rate cards are set on the philosophy that the biggest markets with the most circulation pay the biggest prices (New York) and the smaller markets pay a much smaller price proportionately (Zanesville, Ohio). This is tempered by historical price patterns and artistic merit of new program offerings (Mary Tyler Moore would be more desirable than the Doris Day series and thus sell for much higher dollars). Supply and demand, plus the skill of the negotiator, play a large part in arriving at a final price in each market. (D) Station Income The United States advertising-supported stations' basic goal is to attract a huge audience through the proper selection of programming. This audience is subsequently “priced” and resold to advertisers primarily through their advertising agencies. Value would be shown through the use of rating research material. To illustrate, each rating point represents 1% of the total market households. Therefore, in a million household market, a one rating would mean 10,000 homes. Ten rating points would thus achieve an audience size of 100,000 homes. Hypothetically, a ten rating would be worth $250 per 30 second spot. If the station could change its programming and increase the rating from a ten to a fifteen, it would automatically increase its price per spot by 50% making it worth $375. It obviously leads to the conclusion that successful programming is worth more money in net profits even though its cost might be higher than less effective programming. CATV is measured by the rating services in any county where there are over 10% cable homes. Since this viewing is listed in the research books, the station is getting credit and charges his rates accordingly. There is no separate breakout of CATV systems in the books. INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT Section 501 deals with infringement of copyright. Subsection (b) thereof entitles the copyright holder to initiate action for any infringement of his copy. right. That is as it should be. However, subsection (c) grants a television broadcast station rights as a legal or beneficial owner of copyright in the programs it transmits for purposes of instituting action for infringement against cable television systems. The rights to most television programs are held not by an individual broadcaster, but by a syndicator or other program owner. They are fully protected by subsection (b). In those cases where a television station does hold the copyright, it has every right to sue for infringement under subsection (b), too. Subsection (c) would grant to hundreds of broadcasters the ability to institute harassing suits against cable operators for minor or even inadvertent violations of FCC rules. This creation of private attorneys-general is unprecedented in copyright law and should be stricken from the bill. Infringement of copyright is fully actionable under Section 501 (b), and adequate remedies for violations of FCC regulations are available to broadcasters under the Communications Act. More specifically, under the FCC's rules cable television systems are permitted to carry both “local” and “distant” television signals. Under certain circumstances the rules also require these systems to delete or black out certain programs from the distant signal. These exclusivity rules are based on unfair competition and copyright related concepts. Because the rules are quite complex, a cable system even in good faith sometimes fails to delete a program which should have been deleted. Causes for this include inadequate program schedule notices, last minute schedule changes by either the distant or local station, equipment malfunctions, power outages and program overruns. Furthermore, given the small size of most cable television operations and the vast number of programs involved (the average CATV system carries over 9 television broadcast stations), unintentional errors can and do occur. It can thus be seen that there will be many instances where under the terms of Section 111, the cable system would be guilty of prima facie copyright infringement. The FCC has remedies for the willful and repeated violations of these rules by cable system operators. These remedies include cease and desist orders and revocation of operating authority. In addition, the FCC has asked Congress to include cable systems in the section of the Communications Act dealing with forfeitures. Thus adequate remedies are available without resorting to copyright i ringment suits in the courts. Section 501 (c) should therefore be deleted. CABLE TELEVISION UNDER THE 1972 FCC RULES AND THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE COPYRIGHT FEE PROPOSALS AN ECONOMIC ANALYS IS by BRIDGER M. MITCHELL in Association With ROBERT H. SMILEY 3.30 1079 September 20, 1972 INTRODUCTION Final rules of the Federal Communications Commission governing cable television service in the 100 largest television markets went into effect March 31, 1972, following six years of FCC proceedings during which development of CATV service in major cities has been effectively blocked by interim regulations prohibiting the importation of distant television signals. The rules as effective allow limited importation to occur, varying with the size of the market and the locally-receivable signals, but at the same time provide broad "exclusivity" protection to local stations for their programs, thus requiring cable systems to delete programs from the imported signals. No provision for payment of fees by cable systems to the copyright owners of television broadcast programming shown on those systems is included in the FCC rules, and under the Fortnightly decision cable systems are not liable for copyright. Nevertheless, the Commission anticipates congressional legislation to require copyright payments and would regard its enactment as a reaffirmation of the FCC's regulatory program toward cable tele vision. 1/ Fortnightly Corporation v. United Artists, 392 U. S. 390 (1968) |