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CableFAX Daily, 10/10/2007

Hallmark's push for higher affiliate fees in light of its top-10 prime status "could provide meaningful information" on distributors' willingness to offer "competitive rates and carriage terms," the net told the FCC last week in a filing. Hallmark endorsed "baseball-style" mandatory arbitration provisions comparable to those adopted in the FCC's decision to allow America Channel to pursue arbitration with Comcast. Hallmark wants programmers to be able to institute a mandatory arbitration period if a renewal agreement hasn't been reached once a set number of days (perhaps 90) have passed after a deal's expiration.

"No one on any side, I don't think, wants govt intervention in any form," said Crown pres/CEO Henry Schleiff , adding that Hallmark is engaged in "good faith and cordial" negotiations with distributors. "We didn't ask for this new rulemaking proceeding. The FCC initiated it. .. If there's going to be some rule change and we can be helped, yes, we'll take advantage of it."

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