Broadcasters getting 50% more money from distributors, report says

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

ESPN is not the only culprit driving up the cost of cable television.

A new study from media industry consulting firm SNL Kagan said broadcasters have increased the fees they receive from cable and satellite distributors by almost 50% over the last few years.

SNL Kagan compared the so-called retransmission consent fees received by 16 big broadcasters in the third quarter of 2009 with the third quarter of 2011 and found the current average amount up 50% to 33 cents per subscriber, per month.

That’s a far cry from the more than $5.00 per-month, per-subscriber fee SNL Kagan says ESPN gets, but it is not chump change either.

Small broadcasters in smaller markers get much lower rates, but Spanish-language broadcaster Univision is averaging a fee of 61 cents, Kagan said. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is one of the nation’s biggest owners of local television stations, is averaging 49 cents. CBS is at 45 cents.

RELATED:

Broadcast networks will rake in retransmission consent fees

Broadcasters and distributors debate retransmission consent rules at FCC

FCC votes to revisit retransmission consent rules

-- Joe Flint