FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 5, 2014
Contact: Gretchen Kirchmann
Director of Public Relations
gretchen@rfdtv.com
402-779-8101 or 406-396-7316
RFD-TV invited to testify before Congress on proposed Comcast/Time Warner merger May 8, 2014 in Washington D.C.
Patrick Gottsch will present the rural America perspective for Independent Channels and Programmers to the House of Representatives subcommittee
OMAHA, Neb. (May 5, 2014) – RFD-TV has accepted the formal invitation to testify before Congress on presenting the rural perspective to The Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law with regards to the Comcast/Time Warner merger. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2014 in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. at 9:30 a.m. in room 2141. To view online, click here.
“I look forward to appearing before this important Congressional hearing to present the rural perspective on the proposed Comcast/Time Warner merger and its potential effect on independent channels,” stated Patrick Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc. “With Comcast controlling the access to 30 million cable homes post-merger, 23 of 25 of the top urban markets, and have a presence in 40 of 50 states, this is a critical time for not only our own programming, but the 146 independent program producers who depend on our networks for their distribution. The flow of information between urban and rural America must be a two-way pipeline so there not be a barrier between the city and country interests.”
The oversight hearing “Competition in the Video and Broadband Markets: the Proposed Merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable.” Among those testifying are: Robert D. Marcus, Chairman and CEO, Time Warner Cable; David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation; Matthew M. Polka, President and CEO, American Cable Association; C. Scott Hemphill, Professor of Law, Columbia Law School; Allen P. Grunes Esq., Geyer Gorey LLP; Patrick Gottsch, Founder and Chairman, Rural Media Group; Dave Schaeffer, Founder and CE, Cogent Communications; Craig Labovitz PhD, Co-Founder, CEO and President, DeepField Networks, Inc.
For more information www.rfdtv.com and @OfficialRFDTV
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Notes to Editors:
About Rural Media Group, Inc.: Rural Media Group, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and western lifestyle. RMG is the parent company of RFD-TV, FamilyNet, RURAL TV, RURAL RADIO on SiriusXM channel 80, RFD-TV the Magazine and RFD-TV the Theatre. RFD-TV, the flagship network for RMG, launched in December 2000. RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine and the rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. RMG acquired FamilyNet, America’s trusted entertainment network dedicated to providing wholesome and responsible viewing choices for today’s diverse family. RURAL TV produces rural business news covering commodity markets for both cash and futures. Daily productions include Market Day Report and the Rural Evening News. RMG networks are distributed into more than 63-million homes worldwide by DBS, telco and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Charter, Brighthouse, Suddenlink, Time Warner, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. RFD-TV The Magazine is the print programming guide for the networks, which has attracted over 200,000 paid subscribers. RFD-TV The Theatre is a 2000 capacity soft seat venue in Branson, MO where entertainment programming is produced. Corporate headquarters are in Omaha, NE, and production operations are in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.rfdtv.com, and www.familynet.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @OfficialRFDTV @RURALRADIO80 @WesternSportsUP @RFDTVAmerican