US House to consider future of video
June 25, 2012
By Colin Mann
The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology is to hold a hearing on ‘The Future of Video’ on Wednesday June 27.
Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden said that since the passage of the 1992 Cable Act there had been a sea change in the way that consumers gain access to video content. “The subcommittee will examine how advances in consumer electronics, broadcasting, cable, satellite, the Internet and other platforms are changing how consumers access video content, how those changes are impacted by existing regulations, and what type of regimes should apply going forward,” he advised.
Eight witnesses will appear to present varying viewpoints on the topic, including David Barrett, president of Hearst Television, representing the broadcasters. Charlie Ergen, chairman of Dish Network, and Michael Powell, president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association – a former FCC Chairman – will appear for the pay-TV industry.
Michael O’Leary, the vice president for global policy for the Motion Picture Association of America, will represent content producers, while online technology representatives include David Hyman, general counsel for Netflix, and Jim Funk, a vice president for Internet streaming device manufacturer Roku.
Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, will appear for consumers and Robert Johnson, CEO of Sky Angel, will represent the interests of religious programming providers.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held its own hearing on the future of video in April.