The nation's top broadcast regulator on Thursday urged Time Warner Cable and the Fox television network to agree to a temporary deal that would keep football games on cable TV systems as the companies settle differences over fees.
A failure to agree before a midnight Thursday deadline could mean Friday's Sugar Bowl between the Florida Gators and the Cincinnati Bearcats would be dropped for more than 6 million cable customers in markets such as New York, Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla. The Cotton Bowl on Saturday, the NFL's final regular season contests on Sunday and "The Simpsons" and other Fox shows were also at risk.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski called for a temporary extension of the expiring deal so cable customers could continue to watch Fox programming.
"Companies shouldn't ***** cable-watching football fans to scramble for other means of TV delivery on New Year's weekend," he said in a statement.
Time Warner Cable is open to a temporary extension, but Fox owner News Corp. has said that would just prolong what it terms an unfair deal.
