The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the FCC Program Access Ruling among TV providers last March 12, 2010.

This is to ensure that programs owned by cable TV companies are made available on quid pro quo basis to other service providers, like satellite TV companies. The program access rules will help in having diverse and attractive video programs for both cable and satellite TV viewers. 
 
This is the second victory this year by satellite TV companies over the cable companies.  Last January, FCC ruled the closing of a “terrestrial loophole” which cable companies use to get around the program access rule.  They air shows such as sports programs through landlines instead of using satellite connections.  Direct TV, Dish Network, AT&T and Verizon are happy with this decision, as Dish Network for instance, includes sports channels in its wide selection of program packages.

Comcast and Cablevision on the other hand are particularly not pleased with the decision.  Comcast, who owns TV programs like E! Entertainment, Versus and the Golf Channel is required by law to make these available to other providers like Direct TV, Dish Network, AT&T Inc.'s U-Verse video service and Verizon's FiOS video service. 

Verizon, who had been investing on fiber-optic network for its video content and internet service, says that this ruling favors the consumers in having new choices among video providers.

This decision was released amidst the recent unison of TV providers against broadcasting companies due to the thirty minute signal disruption that happened in the recently Oscars.

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