The danger is that retransmission fees could loom large, threatening subscribers with large rate hikes or diminished offerings.

Sinclair and Dish Network were both in a brief dispute over retransmission fees on May 17, 2005.

Cable companies have argued that paying the retransmission fee would almost certainly force them to raise their rates.

According to Time Warner Cable, the dispute stems from Hearst's demand of a 300% increase in its retransmission fees.

The two companies could not reach agreement over retransmission fees.

He said viewers were likely to blame cable operators, not broadcasters, if stations were dropped in a fight over retransmission fees.

And there are no clear guidelines on what an appropriate retransmission fee would be.

But many say that the deal with Fox avoids retransmission fees in name only.

But after that, consumers can be asked to pay for the increased costs that the cable companies will incur from retransmission fees.

But by offering a service that has the potential to dilute ad revenues, programmers have all the more reason to charge Cablevision higher retransmission fees.