Broadcast

• FCC regulatory matters such as license renewals, political broadcasting, children’s programming, closed captioning, and other matters;
• digital television implementation;
• network affiliation and syndicated programming agreements;
• retransmission consent negotiations and disputes;
• mergers, acquisitions, local marketing agreements and other collaborative ventures and sharing arrangements;
• pre-publication review of news and other content and libel defense;
• protection of broadcasters’ intellectual property; and,
• new media ventures for alternative distribution of broadcast content and utilization of digital technology.

Representative Matters

• We represent the CBS Television Network Affiliates Association, the NBC Television Affiliates and the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance on a wide range of legal, policy and business issues concerning network affiliates and the broadcast industry generally.  For our stations’ clients, we have extensive experience advising on and negotiating affiliation agreements with all of the major television networks and a number of emerging or niche networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, MyNetworkTV, the CW, and Spanish-language networks Univision, Telemundo, and LATV.
• On behalf of MSTV, representing the television industry on key legislative, FCC and industry issues, including, for example, negotiating a template agreement with Sprint Nextel for the migration of broadcast ENG services out of the [2 GHz] spectrum, the implementation of a “hard date” for the transition to a digital-only television service, and designing the process for electing and assigning final DTV channels.
• On behalf of the NBC Television Affiliates, negotiating and implementing joint ventures with the NBC Television Network, including the NBC Weather Plus digital multicast network and the National Broadband Company, an online digital syndication company. Assisting Raycom Media in its purchase of Liberty Communications and its 15 television stations, and in the subsequent sale of 12 stations to Barrington Broadcasting, Inc.
• Libel defense litigation and prepublication review of news and other content for broadcasters in some 35 states, including First Amendment, newsgathering, copyright, defamation and privacy advice and opposing subpoenas from prosecutors and others.

Accolades

• Chambers USA, leading Communications practice (2004-2007).
• Chambers USA, leading Communications Finance practice (2006).
• Chambers USA, leading Media and Entertainment practice (2006-2007).
• Practical Law Company, leading Communications practice (2005-2006).
• International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, two attorneys recognized for Regulatory Communications (2005-2006).
• Best Lawyers in America, Covington partners are listed for First Amendment and Media law (2006).
• Our partners have significant experience outside of the practice ─ for example, on Capitol Hill, where they were deeply involved in the development of telecommunications legislation, and in the executive suites of major and highly visible media companies.
• Our partners have over the years held leadership positions in major associations in the media field ─ including the Federal Communications Bar Association, the International Radio and Television Society Foundation, the Media Institute and the Media Law Resource Center. 
• A Covington partner has recently served as president of the Defense Council Section of the Media Law Resource Center, the national organization of media defense attorneys, and as president of the First Amendment Advisory Council of the Media Institute.
• A Covington partner received the Sprague Award and the President’s Medal from the National Press Photographers Association for service to the First Amendment.