The FCC ended exclusive contracts between video operators and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) properties today. These exclusivity agreements allowed video operators to be the sole choice for multichannel video service within MDUs, effectively denying any competiton. The ruling is seen as a blow to the cable industry, whose operators maintained the overwhelming majority of these agreements. Telecom operators with video operations may benefit from the ruling because they conceivably gain access to these previously inaccessible properties to market their video offerings. But before telcos get too happy, odds are this ruling will be challenged in court. These exclusive agreements are just too lucrative to give up without a fight.
