The company refused to pay, prosecutors said, and was not awarded a franchise.

Under Federal law, any city that awards a franchise to a cable company is not permitted to take its content into account.

On March 9, 1995, Arizona was awarded a franchise to begin play for the 1998 season.

On April 11, 1936, Pittsburgh and seven other cities were awarded franchises.

But it did not entitle architects to assume that they had been awarded a special franchise to answer the call.

Buffalo was officially awarded a franchise on October 28.

Recognizing the white bonanza, the Russian government awarded franchises to entrepreneurs.

When awarded a franchise, the city of Nashville paid 31.50% of the $80-million fee to join the league.

It is an event that Canadian basketball fans have anticipated since the league awarded a franchise to Toronto in 1993.

Orlando was awarded a franchise for the UFL's 2009 season.