Additional conditions include requiring the conglomerate to offer new and existing cable programming on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions to rivals and permit small cable providers to collectively bargain for programming. DirecTV will also have to offer local channels in 130 markets by end of next year.
However, the conditions were not enough to satisfy all.
"News Corp could be in a position to raise programming prices for consumers, harm competition in video programming and distribution markets nationwide, and decrease the diversity of media voices," said FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.
Adelstein was perturbed that DirecTV will not offer all consumers local channels through the satellite system, noting that all rural consumers will not receive those channels because the company will use an antenna.
"For those who live in outlying rural areas, tough luck," he said. Adelstein, who at one point was considering voting for the deal, also complained that the arbitration requirement went away after six years.
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