New York S 4653: Relates to agreements between multichannel video programming distributors and video programmers

Bill Text

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S04653 Summary:

BILL NOS04653 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A05870

&nbsp

SPONSORCOMRIE

&nbsp

COSPNSRJACKSON, MARTINEZ, PARKER, SCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §5-338, Gen Ob L

&nbsp

Enacts the "television subscriber choice act" to enhance consumer choice and ensure that multichannel video programming distributors have the flexibility to offer programming packages that best meet the needs and preferences of their subscribers; requires that a video programmer shall offer each channel for license to a multichannel video programming distributor without requiring channel bundling requirements as a condition of carriage of such channel; makes it unlawful for a video programmer to demand unreasonable fees or other financial obligations for channel carriage; defines terms; makes related provisions.

Go to top S04653 Actions:

BILL NOS04653 

&nbsp

02/10/2025REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Go to topS04653 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04653 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS04653 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4653

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 10, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

 AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to agreements
 between multichannel video programming distributors and video program-
 mers

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "television subscriber choice act".
 3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that the
 4 practice of channel bundling and the imposition of minimum penetration
 5 provisions by video programmers can limit consumer choice, increase
 6 costs, and stifle competition among multichannel video programming
 7 distributors including cable, satellite and other distributors. This act
 8 aims to enhance consumer choice and ensure that multichannel video
 9 programming distributors have the flexibility to offer programming pack-
 10 ages that best meet the needs and preferences of their subscribers.
 11 This legislation will foster a more competitive and consumer-friendly
 12 market for video programming distribution, ultimately benefiting the
 13 public by providing greater access to diverse and affordable programming
 14 options.
 15 § 3. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new section
 16 5-338 to read as follows:
 17 § 5-338. Agreements between multichannel video programming distribu-
 18 tors and video programmers. 1. For the purposes of this section, the
 19 following terms shall have the following meanings:
 20 (a) "cable television company" shall have the same meaning as in arti-
 21 cle eleven of the public service law.
 22 (b) "video programmer" means any entity that provides video program-
 23 ming that is intended for distribution to residential, multi-dwelling or
 24 commercial units including, but not limited to, broadcast or non-broad-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08764-01-5

 S. 4653 2

 1 cast television networks and the owners and licensors of such program-
 2 ming.
 3 (c) "channel bundling" means any provision as part of an agreement
 4 between a multichannel video programming distributor and a video
 5 programmer that requires the multichannel video programming distributor
 6 to distribute an additional channel or channels owned by such video
 7 programmer or an affiliate as an explicit or implied condition of enter-
 8 ing an agreement with such video programmer.
 9 (d) "minimum penetration provisions" means any provision as part of an
 10 agreement between a multichannel video programming distributor and a
 11 video programmer that requires the multichannel video programming
 12 distributor to distribute one or more channels in certain packages or to
 13 a minimum number or percentage of subscribers.
 14 (e) "broadcast satellite service provider" means an entity that oper-
 15 ates a channel of communications for point-to-multipoint distribut