News pushes for end to DIRECTV conditions
October 6, 2008
News Corp is pushing for an end to conditions placed on the media giant after its acquisition of a controlling stake in DIRECTV, asking the Federal Communications Commission to move on its petition on the matter.News Corp. acquired the DIRECTV stake in 2003, but sold its ownership in the DBS platform to Liberty Media in February. When News Corp. acquired the DIRECTV interest, the FCC tied a number of conditions to the deal, such as allowing unaffiliated pay-TV companies access to News Corp.-controlled regional sports programming and local broadcast signals. Now that News Corp. doesn’t control a pay-TV platform, the company has asked the FCC to drop those conditions.