The deadline for television stations to make their election between must-carry and retransmission consent for cable, satellite and other multichannel video program distributors is October 1, 2008. A station that fails to make a timely election by October 1 will be deemed to have elected must-carry with respect to cable systems, and retransmission consent on the satellite systems. This is an especially important must-carry/retransmission consent cycle because of the transition to digital television (DTV). Stations should take immediate steps to navigate the various complex issues related to retransmission consent during the DTV transition.