Adelphia Merger Conditions -- The Power Of A Tangible Example

As expected, the FCC approved the acquisition of Adelphia's assets by Comcast and Time Warner with a couple of conditions designed largely to ensure that content providers can get their programming to consumers.

Sounds pretty vague, right? Here in DC, however, a real world example exists to highlight the carriage issue. Namely, Comcast and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network have been in a dispute about the terms (ok, price is the big item) that Mid-Atlantic must pay Comcast to carrier Nationals games and other content over Comcast's cable system.

Had this issue come in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, or some other market, it very likely would not have gained the pominence it has in DC -- the home-away-from home of national politicians, many of whom have been personally frustrated by not being able to watch the Nat's at home because of the carriage dispute. As we've said before, where you stand depends on where you sit.