Can’t view Rudolph tonight on directv stream

[Joe The Dragon]

Having the streaming rights is a seperate thing between the networks/stations and the rights holders along with the contracts between the studios and the cast and crew, or their estates for older content.

but if they are ruled as cable MUST carry rules then can't they block some content?

 

[KyL416]

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction over studios or their contracts with the networks, so they can't force studios to grant stations streaming rights to their content. If the FCC still somehow passed a rule requiring the streams to be a 100% simulcast of their on air signal or face a fine, the stations just wouldn't air that programming at all anymore and the telecasts would only be available on cable channels as they are not regulated by the FCC.

The Frosty/Rudolph streaming rights issue isn't a US only thing either. This past Sunday CBC had to blackout their airings of Frosty and Rudolph on CBC Gem's live streams and replaced them with The Great British Baking Show's Christmas specials as filler.


Also that's not what must carry status means. It's a provision that lets stations opt for free mandatory carriage, which is how local stations that show nothing but religious, shopping or brokered ethnic programming get carried, along with truely independent broadcasters that don't have a Big 4 affiliated sister station. Right now that provision only applies to cable, satellite and telco/fiber providers.

 

[trainman74]

Here's a recent article about the Rudolph/Frosty streaming situation. Apparently, the big sticking point is the rights to the music in both specials (as is often the case when a particular show isn't available for streaming).

Nobody Thought to Update the ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ Rights for the Streaming Age

Every year, fans of classic Rankin/Bass specials "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman" are baffled by their lack of streaming.

www.indiewire.com