Diller visits FCC

By VARIETY STAFF

QVC chairman Barry Diller paid a visit to the FCC Friday in what was described as a "courtesy call" by agency sources.

Lobbyists for QVC are seeking clarification on whether the network's plan to entice cable operators to carry the new Q2 home shopping channel runs afoul of FCC rate-regulation rules.

Diller has hatched a proposal to lure cable systems into carrying Q2 by offering a one-time $ 3 to $ 5 per customer launch fee. But the marketing gimmick may have hit a major snag: under FCC cable rate regs, cablers may not be allowed to keep the coin.

Instead, the FCC's rules may require cable operators to refund such revenues to their customers.