Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) is urging resolution in the latest licensing dispute between a television provider and a network. The current problem would result in New Yorkers losing access to ABC-TV on Sunday due to the licensing issues with Cablevision. This occurs not long after a similar dispute between Fox and Time Warner, and Cablevision and Food TV.

“As the executives from Cablevision and Disney (parent company for ABC) go back and forth trying to find ways to split millions of dollars in revenue, it is the viewers at home who will be punished by missing their favorite programming and news. We cannot continue to allow constituents to be held hostage during business negotiations over retransmission consent. I am asking that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigate the current system, and provide a regulatory fix that will allow broadcasters to receive fair compensation for their product, while not charging cable and satellite providers outrageously high rates. The current situation is harmful to cable and satellite providers, harmful to broadcasters, and most of all, harmful to viewers,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

By removing the signal, Disney would prevent residents from seeing the annual Academy Awards telecast on Sunday, along with popular ABC programming such as Nightline, Desperate Housewives, This Week, Lost, World News Tonight and Good Morning America. “It is ludicrous that consumers not subscribed to cable will be able to watch the Academy Awards while those with Cablevision will not. Sadly, it is no coincidence that this deadline coincides with the morning of the Oscar broadcast, annually one of the most watched programs. Again, the consumer winds up held hostage as a result,” added Rep. Engel.

“As millions of Americans struggle to emerge from their recent financial hardships, or simply try to find employment, it is distasteful to see consumers used as pawns in a squabble over money. Especially since Cablevision customers, and ABC viewers, will eventually wind up shouldering the load. I urge both sides to put the families subscribing and watching their programs first, and come to an agreement as soon as possible without any lapses in broadcasting,” added Rep. Engel.