The FCC should preserve the current retransmission consent...

The FCC should preserve the current retransmission consent regime, said CBS President Les Moonves in a meeting with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Friday, according to an ex parte filing (http://bit.ly/1jBu7bp). Retrans revenue is “critical” to CBS’s ability to produce programming, Moonves said. He also asked the FCC not to eliminate the sports blackout and network non-duplication/syndicated exclusivity rules, the filing said. The rules help broadcasting remain “a vibrant platform” for sports and preserve localism, Moonves said. He also told Wheeler that if the FCC eliminates the UHF discount, it should also raise the national ownership cap, and that some broadcasters need joint sales agreements to remain economically viable, the filing said.