Revised Children's Television Obligations Are on the Way
At the Open Meeting on September 26, the Commissioners unanimously adopted a Second Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order resolving several issues regarding the children's television programming obligations for television broadcasters. Specifically, the Order modifies the children's rules to clarify the FCC's rules regarding host-selling, the definition of commercial matter and the display of website addresses during children's programming, . The Order also eliminates the cap on the number of preemptions that are permitted for a qualifying core program, and clarifies the limits on the repeat of core programs on multi-cast DTV channels. The Order is a result of a Joint Proposal of Industry and Advocates that sought reconsideration and clarification of the Commission's 2004 Children's Television Order. A copy of the Joint Proposal is available on the FCC's website here. The Commission's News Release provides some details regarding the forthcoming Order, and we will post the full details of the modified rules once the text of the Order is released.