83 FR 5424 - Video Description: Preliminary Nonbroadcast Network Rankings

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 26 (February 7, 2018)

FCC announces the top national nonbroadcast network rankings from the 2016-2017 ratings year, and gives networks the opportunity to seek exemption from the July 1, 2018 update to the Commission's video description requirements.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5424-5425]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02471]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MB Docket No. 11-43; DA 18-42]


Video Description: Preliminary Nonbroadcast Network Rankings

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FCC announces the top national nonbroadcast network rankings 
from the 2016-2017 ratings year, and gives networks the opportunity to 
seek exemption from the July 1, 2018 update to the Commission's video 
description requirements.

DATES: Published January 12, 2018. Exemption requests are due March 9, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Filings should be submitted electronically in MB Docket No. 
11-43 by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS) at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Filers should follow the 
instructions provided on the website for submitting filings. The full 
text of this public notice is available for public inspection and 
copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS 
(http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/). (Documents will be available 
electronically in ASCII, Word 97, and/or Adobe Acrobat.) The complete 
text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 445 12th 
Street SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. To request these 
documents in accessible formats (computer diskettes, large print, audio 
recording, and Braille), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Lyle 
Elder (202-418-2120; [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Video description makes video programming 
accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired through 
``[t]he insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a television 
program's key visual elements into natural pauses between the program's 
dialogue.'' As of July 1, 2018, the Commission's video description 
rules will require multichannel video programming distributor 
(``MVPD'') systems that serve 50,000 or more subscribers to provide 
87.5 hours of video description per

[[Page 5425]]

calendar quarter on channels carrying each of the top five national 
nonbroadcast networks. The rule requires that 50 hours per calendar 
quarter be provided in prime-time or during children's programming, 
while the additional 37.5 hours may be provided at any time between 6 
a.m. and 11:59 p.m. local time. The top five national nonbroadcast 
networks are defined by an average of the national audience share 
during prime time of nonbroadcast networks that reach 50 percent or 
more of MVPD households and have at least 50 hours per quarter of prime 
time programming that is not live or near-live or otherwise exempt 
under the video description rules. The nonbroadcast networks currently 
subject to the video description requirements are USA, TNT, TBS, 
History, and the Disney Channel.
    In accordance with the Commission's rules, the list of top five 
nonbroadcast networks will update at three year intervals to account 
for changes in ratings, and the second triennial update will occur on 
July 1, 2018, based on the 2016 to 2017 ratings year. According to data 
provided by the Nielsen Company, the top ten nonbroadcast networks for 
the 2016 to 2017 ratings year are: Fox News, ESPN, USA, MSNBC, HGTV, 
TBS, Discovery, History, Hallmark, and TNT.
    If a program network believes it should be excluded from the list 
of top five networks covered by the video description requirements 
because it does not air at least 50 hours of prime time programming 
that is not live or near-live or is otherwise exempt, it must seek an 
exemption no later than 30 days after publication of this Public Notice 
in the Federal Register. The Media Bureau will promptly evaluate 
requests for exemption and will provide notice of any resulting 
revisions to the list.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2018-02471 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P