For years, the phrase "triple play" has been used to describe cable's bundled service offering. While catchy, the term never quite fit MSOs – until now, thanks to the Federal Communication Commission's recent dual-carriage decision. (See FCC OKs Dual TV Carriage Rules.)

In baseball jargon, a triple play is "a defensive play that suddenly ends an inning by executing three consecutive putouts." In other words, a batter is at the plate with at least two of his teammates on base. Rather than gaining a standing ovation after racking up some RBIs, a single swing turns cheers into jeers, ending the team's scoring opportunity.

This is precisely what happened to the cable industry as it stepped up to bat with the FCC over digital must-carry. You can almost hear the announcer now. "It's bases loaded and the bottom of the ninth. The MSO batter swings..."

But, rather than knocking the ball out of the park for a grand slam, the ball dribbles into the infield. The broadcaster shortstop flips the ball to the third baseman who whips it around the diamond, retiring the cable side in a single at bat. Holey Moley! What a triple play!

Once again proving that the broadcast industry has the FCC in its back pocket, the commission ruled that cable operators will need to carry local broadcast TV signals in both analog and digital formats starting in 2009.

Adding insult to injury, MSOs must carry broadcasters' high-definition signals, too. In other words, cable operators are required to transmit the same TV programming in three formats. Now, that's a triple play! And a tremendous waste of privately owned cable spectrum.

MSOs tried to put a positive spin on the decision, noting that the FCC agreed to sunset the rules in 2012. But that's like an innocent man celebrating after receiving a three-year prison sentence.

Today, there are just under 112 million U.S. television households. Of this total, about 95 million subscribe to television through a cable TV or direct satellite provider. Thus, not much more than 15 percent of TV homes watch the tube with antennas.

One has to wonder: Why exactly is the FCC continuing to set aside massive slices of precious over-the-air spectrum for a service needed by 15 percent of the population? It would probably be better economically for the feds to auction the spectrum for broadband wireless services and offer a cash grant to the remaining 15 percent of consumers so they can buy limited basic cable TV or satellite service for broadcast reception.

Inquiring minds also want to know: How is it that the cable and satellite industries, which deliver broadcasters 85 percent of their viewing audience, consistently fail to find leverage with the feds? Compared to broadcasters, when it comes to lobbying, cable is still stuck in the minors.

— Michael Harris, Chief Analyst, Cable Digital News