Bill > A05870

This bill, known as the "Television Subscriber Choice Act," aims to enhance consumer choice and increase flexibility for multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) like cable, satellite, and online video services by prohibiting certain restrictive practices by video programmers. The bill defines key terms such as channel bundling (requiring distributors to carry additional channels as a condition of agreement) and minimum penetration provisions (requiring distributors to carry channels in specific packages or to a minimum number of subscribers). Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for video programmers to: set subscriber number conditions, dictate service tiers or packages, impose rates not based on viewing subscribers, or restrict packaging and pricing. Video programmers must now offer each channel for license without bundling requirements and cannot demand unreasonable fees for channel carriage. The legislation allows MVPDs to enter agreements with volume or viewership incentives and provides a mechanism for legal action if video programmers do not comply. The bill is designed to foster a more competitive and consumer-friendly market by giving distributors more freedom in creating programming packages and potentially reducing costs for subscribers. The law will take effect on the first of January following its passage and will apply to contracts entered into on or after that date.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5870