Hearst Seeks Forfeiture Order Against Florida Cable

The FCC should issue a forfeiture against Florida Cable for unauthorized retransmission of three Hearst TV stations, Hearst said in an enforcement complaint posted online Friday. Florida Cable “repeatedly ignored Hearst’s numerous requests” to stop retransmitting WESH Daytona Beach, WKCF Clermont and WMOR-TV Lakeland, the complaint said. The companies had a retransmission consent agreement from January 2012 until December 2014, but Florida Cable defaulted on its monthly fee payments starting July 2014, Hearst said. Since Hearst sent the cable company retransmission consent election notices, Florida Cable isn’t allowed to transmit them as must-carry stations, Hearst said. The stations are still being retransmitted on Florida Cable, and none of Hearst’s overtures yielded a response, the complaint said. Florida Cable didn't comment.