AD WEEK's Katy Bachman reported Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is working on a bill that “would require cable and satellite companies to offer customers the option of buying individual channels, rather than packaged bundles.” The bill is expected to be introduced this week and “is a retread of a bill McCain put forth” in ’06. Sources said that the bill will “take away the compulsory programming license from cable and satellite companies that don’t offer a la carte to consumers.” The bill also would repeal the sports blackout rule that “prevented some stations from airing a major sports game because of low attendance” (ADWEEK.com, 5/8).
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament reported Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret confirmed that he "will be back in the TV and radio booth" next season. Jeanneret said, "I don't know how many games I'm going to do. I'll do most of them. It depends on the schedule." Jeanneret worked "44 of the 48 games in the just-completed shortened season, missing the first four games because of an illness." His return would "appear to put an end to speculation that the Sabres are considering having different announce teams work radio and TV" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 5/7).
PAYMENT PLAN: MULTICHANNEL NEWS' R. Thomas Umstead noted the number of PPV buys for last Saturday's Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Roberto Guerrero fight has yet to be announced, but some cable execs are "already hoping that Mayweather’s next PPV fight will feature a marquee opponent with greater name recognition." Industry observers are "pointing to a potential Sept. 14 Mayweather bout with Canelo Alverez as a mega PPV event that could pull more than 1 million PPV buys, as well as help to build a future PPV star in the young Mexican fighter." If the Mayweather-Guerrero PPV numbers "fall short of expectations," Showtime may want to "consider an opponent for Mayweather with more box office appeal for the second of its six-fight deal" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 5/7).
