On Monday, September 22, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is hosting an educational briefing for congressional staff to further educate Capitol Hill on the current system of the television markets. The goal of this congressional briefing is to help create a stronger understanding of the current system and the significance of the existing designated market areas (DMA).

The panelists, listed below, will work to provide congressional staff with a better understanding of the current system, explain how the system works and shed light on the benefits to the viewing public. Additionally, NAB will be working to enable congressional staff to further educate their respective members of Congress and respond to constituent questions or concerns.

Panelists include:

• Diane Pizetoski, senior vice president of Ratings Methods for Norman Hecht Research, will describe how television markets are composed, designated and refreshed each year.
• Jim Yager, president of Barrington TV, will explain how the public is served by the present system and the harms that would ensue if the government intervened in ways currently under consideration.
• Jon Blake, of Covington and Burling law firm, will explain how the present system works and will also explain how the system supports the principles of localism.