Starz Urges 'Substantial Fines' for Blackout, Claiming Rules Violations

Cablevision's blackout of 16 Starz channels Jan. 1 (see 1801020039) without the required 30-day notice to subscribers, and its subsequent silence to subscriber complaints, warrants the FCC issuing a declaratory ruling restoring carriage, Starz said in a docket 12-1 petition for declaratory ruling posted Friday. Starz said "substantial fines and forfeitures are appropriate" given Cablevision's intentional violation of agency rules. Cablevision parent Altice USA didn't comment Tuesday.