TV blackouts could head list of new seasonal traditions

To everything there is a season. Unfortunately, if things continue the way they're going, the end of the year could become what TV Watch has labeled the "retransmission blackout season." Unless, of course, viewers take their own action.

"Some believe the Federal Communications Commission should step in to stop transmission blackouts, forcing these powerful companies into a cooling-down period or mediation," wrote Wayne Friedman. "Why bother? We can do our own voluntary cooling-off period (and) shut down our TVs for a winter snooze."

In friendlier news of a tradition-making nature, ABI Research, for the sixth consecutive year, has issued a white paper forecasting what's not going to happen in 2011. It's only a guess, but one could speculate that turning off TVs is now going to be on the list.

For more:
- see this story
- and ABI's news release

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