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YeaButIwould
Anon
2005-Dec-15 1:10 pm
FCCThe FCC also said it would not approve the sale of Adelphia to Comcast/TimeWarner unless they put an effot to start "cleaning" up violence and sex on CABLE TV! A Pay service remind you!
What right do they have to do this to a PAY service? | |
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| hobgoblinSortof Agoblin Premium Member join:2001-11-25 Orchard Park, NY |
Re: FCCsaid by YeaButIwould :
The FCC also said it would not approve the sale of Adelphia to Comcast/TimeWarner unless they put an effot to start "cleaning" up violence and sex on CABLE TV! A Pay service remind you!
What right do they have to do this to a PAY service? Link? Hob | |
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| Zoder join:2002-04-16 Miami, FL |
to YeaButIwould
That's nothing new for the FCC.
Back in the 90s they wouldn't approve the purchase of radio stations by Infinity Broadcasting or approve license renewals for existing stations until they paid the fines for Howard Stern broadcasts.
CEO Mel Karmazin wanted to fight the indecency charges in court but decided to pay up once they began extorting him with his licenses. | |
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| | | hobgoblinSortof Agoblin Premium Member join:2001-11-25 Orchard Park, NY |
Re: FCCAs I thought the OP was wrong "The Federal Communications Commission has warned the nation's two leading cable TV companies that unwanted conditions could be imposed on their proposed acquisition of a rival if they do not agree to curb the proliferation of sexually explicit programming, according to company sources" Unwanted Conditions.....not "The FCC also said it would not approve the sale of Adelphia to Comcast/TimeWarner " Thanks Hob | |
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| | | | calvoiper join:2003-03-31 Belvedere Tiburon, CA |
to hobgoblin
Re: FCCYeah, big effing difference.
It's like the difference between your mother saying "you can't go out," and having her say "you can go out, but only after you mow the yard at the community center for free, donate 40 charity hours to the library, agree to join the junior choir at church AND you have to take your little sister and her friend along and help them buy clothes."
Some conditions just aren't worth it--especially when they involve the questionable expansion of the underlying agency's jurisdiction.
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| | | | | Hickerx2God Bless The U.S. Military join:2001-03-04 Franklinville, NY |
Re: FCCYou'll find that he loves to argue semantics.
In any event, the FCC is blackmailing CC and TW. It's no doubt politically motivated.
As a business owner, I can understand that true "al a carte" pricing probably won't work. I think that the cable co's should become a "carrier", much like the utility co's and force the ESPN lovers to pay a subscription directly to ESPN(for example). | |
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| | | | | | hobgoblinSortof Agoblin Premium Member join:2001-11-25 Orchard Park, NY |
Re: FCCHicker wandered in to post
"You'll find that he loves to argue semantics."
I like accuracy.
Hob | |
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| | | | | | | calvoiper join:2003-03-31 Belvedere Tiburon, CA |
Re: FCCI like accuracy when it makes a difference. When it doesn't, it's as annoying as having someone correct my statement that they showed up at a quarter after two by telling me that they arrived at 2:15 and 27 seconds.
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| | | | kamm join:2001-02-14 Brooklyn, NY |
to hobgoblin
said by hobgoblin:As I thought the OP was wrong "The Federal Communications Commission has warned the nation's two leading cable TV companies that unwanted conditions could be imposed on their proposed acquisition of a rival if they do not agree to curb the proliferation of sexually explicit programming, according to company sources" Unwanted Conditions.....not "The FCC also said it would not approve the sale of Adelphia to Comcast/TimeWarner " Thanks Hob Classic BS. There's no real difference in their case. | |
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yeabutiwould to Zoder
Anon
2005-Dec-15 4:34 pm
to Zoder
Thanks for the link. | |
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NaturallyThey are looking to appease the Religious Right under the guise of ala carte.....FCC must have got a call from W at the White House........"take care of my peeps" he said. Since I bungled the war I need some redemption........ | |
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YeaButIWould
Anon
2005-Dec-15 1:18 pm
Re: NaturallyExactly. This is more about the FCC appeasing the Parent council and those 'extremists' aka : holier-than-thou Christians who think they know what is good for everyone. Where do these people get off? It is PAY SERVICE. if you don't like it, CANCEL!
P.S.
I think this is just the beginning, the first step because now some senator/congressman/con wants to regulate Satellite Radio too, from what I hear.
Now, I don't listen to Howard Stern, but I would defend him. And now they want to chase him over to Sirius to regulate him there too. Dont they have anything better to do? | |
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Re: NaturallyI prefer the term "Jesus Freaks" myself | |
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| Scilicet (banned)Spaced Out join:2005-04-11 Aurora, CO |
to sweepy4
You've got to be kidding! The non-religious right likes to claim their 1st amendment rights for their special issues, so why can't another group have their rights presented as well? I think that it is just the term religious, which you apparently disagree with, is the real problem here. | |
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LookNow
Anon
2005-Dec-15 2:24 pm
Re: NaturallyLook, I don't want to get into a pissing match. I do what I like, and whats good for me. I mind my buisness. I don't moan and preach about what someone should do/listen to/watch. Do you?
Do you think that pay TV should be censored? I don't. I just wouldnt watch it. I'm not left or right. The majority of both are full of it. I don't agree with a group of anyone telling me "You shouldn't be able to see/hear that because it's obscene." | |
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to Scilicet
I don't see how it is legal for anyone to express their opinion by silencing everyone else's. That's exactly what 'the right' is doing. You know, religious freedom means freedom FROM your religion, too. If you're so worried about your family being affected by violence, etc. on TV, then why not raise your kids to know right from wrong? It shouldn't be the rest of the nation's burden to make sure your kids never see anything bad in their lives so your faulty parenting doesn't show. I don't care for the trash on TV, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to push my likes and dis-likes upon everyone else. | |
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Hi.I live in Morgantown too.
Carry on, Mark P | |
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to sweepy4
So anyone who opposes violence and sex on TV is part of the religious right? That's a gross generalization. | |
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| | Scilicet (banned)Spaced Out join:2005-04-11 Aurora, CO |
Scilicet (banned)
Member
2005-Dec-15 2:17 pm
Re: NaturallyAnd I agree! | |
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fundamentalsThe Basics Premium Member join:2004-04-30 Moorpark, CA
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CorruptionThis FCC administration has to be one of the most corrupt government entities i have ever seen. Every ruling and decision they make seems to be as anti-competitive, anti-consumer as they can make it. The worst part is that, since companies like Time-Warner own the content as well as the infrastructure, Joe average will never hear about any of this. | |
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cdruGo Colts MVM join:2003-05-14 Fort Wayne, IN |
cdru
MVM
2005-Dec-15 1:21 pm
You know you're not going in the right direction.....when you give the PTC what they want ("family" tv) and you still piss them off. | |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
FFH5
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 1:24 pm
a la carte never coming from the FCCThe FCC is never going to force a la carte on cable or telco TV providers. If that is to happen, it would have to come in a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. And even then I suspect the cable and telco industries would get the law declared unconstitutional as an interference in the rights of private corporations to set prices as they see fit. | |
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| jsimmons MVM join:2000-04-24 Falls Church, VA |
Re: a la carte never coming from the FCCI can't wait for the day I go to the grocery store and try to buy a loaf of bread... only to find I have to also buy milk, a dozen eggs, and a pound of bacon to get it (I'm sorry sir, bread is only sold as part of the "breakfast" bundle). Cable co's say they do this to save the consumer money. Maybe so... but that doesn't make it right. They can sell bundled packages all they want, but they should still offer ala carte (like the phone companies do for phone service). | |
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| | fiberguy2My views are my own. Premium Member join:2005-05-20 |
Re: a la carte never coming from the FCCsaid by jsimmons:I can't wait for the day I go to the grocery store and try to buy a loaf of bread... only to find I have to also buy milk, a dozen eggs, and a pound of bacon to get it (I'm sorry sir, bread is only sold as part of the "breakfast" bundle). Cable co's say they do this to save the consumer money. Maybe so... but that doesn't make it right. They can sell bundled packages all they want, but they should still offer ala carte (like the phone companies do for phone service). You're being ridiculous. | |
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to FFH5
As usual, your script has no bearing on reality. You should call your pimps over at adelphia and ask them to send you an updated script so you can astroturf better, all these lame old arguments get no mileage anymore. You've got to earn the kickback money somehow.
Show me where it's 'unconstitutional' for the government to interfere with the rights of a private corporation to set prices? They do it ALL the time. The do it right now to my electric bill! They do it to my gas bill! They do it to my telephone bill! ANY time there is a monopoly/duopoly situation, the government has a right, nay, an OBLIGATION to step in and ensure the customer benefits. The FCC was created to SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD. The FCC as it exists today is a bastardized mouthpiece for the corporate shills. | |
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| | jsimmons MVM join:2000-04-24 Falls Church, VA |
Re: a la carte never coming from the FCCsaid by G_Poobah:The FCC as it exists today is a bastardized mouthpiece for the corporate shills. Sad, but true. | |
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Re: a la carte never coming from the FCCBUZZZZZ! Incorrect.
The FCC was formed, in the beginning, to address massive interference problems when radio was just beginning in the 30's and all broadcast stations were operating on 813 Khz.
Which is where the "Communications Act of 1934" came from, creating what was then known as (if memory serves) The Federal Radio Agency. It is the communications act, as amended, that gives the FCC it's authority to regulate OVER THE AIR radio and TV in the form of licenses to use said airwaves. The FCC does not have the authority to force cable companies to do much of anything, as they only carry TV signals and swatellite signals that are encrypted and not, therefore, available to the public and, certainly not to hold up mergers unless they bow to what amounts to extortion, which would set a precedent....and we know about precedents, dont we?
But then, as the article in the link pointed out, there allready IS a precedent from the last time the FCC tried this sort of thing and the Supreme court said no, no, you naughty boy. Cant do that.
Martin, if he is half smart, which he obviously is, knows this. He is just pounding his chest in the hopes that the companies will cave in, and then, not go to court later (which they will).
Bottom line in any industry is that if you do not cater to your customers, you do not survive and, as much as one might not like the current structure, the underlying fact is that it works and suits most customers. As the article points out a number of times, a large part of the current structure/costs is contractual between program providers and cable companies.
If this serves to do anything, it should be to rattle the cages and when contract renewal time comes, changes will be a coming and, hopefully, dumb marginal channels (such as Trio recently) will go bye bye to the relief of all.
No matter what happens, dont expect your cable TV bill to go down any time soon. | |
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IanR join:2001-03-22 Fort Mill, SC |
IanR
Member
2005-Dec-15 1:28 pm
We are in an interim periodWe are in an interim period for the Satellite companies as they have been slow to upgrade their video images to a decent standard and add HD content. Once they get this online properly and the hardware becomes reasoably available at decent prices then we will see competition hold down consumer prices and see decent offerings. Right now the "industry" can dress up these changes and claw more revenues. That won't last when we get real competition between IPTV and Cable and Satellite. Well thats' my sincere feeling and part hope. | |
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Ack.Well Comcast is about to lose an expanded basic customer with these rate hikes. With the iTunes store carrying Battlestar Galactica the day after it airs goes my only reason for having expanded basic cable: to get the SciFi channel. Comcast must hate NBC now. Buh bye dinosaur.
I'd love to have a la carte. I get 3 PBS stations, at least 4 shopping channels, a gaggle of Spanish language channels and Chinese language channel, too many CSPANs and too many sports channels that I don't want. Stop telling me programming costs are going up. I don't care. Do we really need a golf channel? Why not a paint drying channel too? Give me only what I want and have some kind of flat rate per channel selected instead of charging me for all the superfluous programming. | |
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Re: Ack.Forget packages with pre-set channels I was thinking of something like: Choose your own (mix and match) channels/video/music first 10 channels @ X$$ first 20 channels @ Y$$ first 30 channels @ Z$$...
With a discount the more channels you get. My family really only watches 10 or less channels. I don't get why I have to pay for 30 to watch 10? | |
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Doesn't sound like such a great deal to me.My "a la carte" is dumping cable tv all together. I did it years ago. I'd like to watch some things, but as long as I can't just get the channels I want at a reasonable price (lower than what I was paying before, since I'd have less channels), I don't see any reason to pick cable tv back up. | |
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WHAA? MENS PACKAGEAll I watch is sports and movies.
I want a sports package and movie package. I want the "MENS" package.
ESPN ESPN2 NFL Network SPEED TNT USA TBS WGN ABC CBS NBC FOX HBO Networks Showtime Networks Comcast Sports Net Chicago
I would pay $40 to $45 for this. I do not want shopping channels, music channels, CSPAN NETWORKS, GameSHOWs, Nickforkids, Disney channels, and BET | |
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Conspiracy TheoryCome on, Karl, the idea that the FCC gets together in a smokey back room with the cable companies and finds ways to get prices up is silly.
Yes, full ala carte would probably decrease prices, but there would be a bunch of cable networks going out of business if people had to explicitly choose them. I know I only consciously watch about 10 of my Comcast Digital channels. I would not choose the rest from a list and without subscribers they won't exist.
FCC is sensitive to losing those channels and is trying to find a middle ground. I'd be happy with more tiers, and fewer "basic" and "extended basic" channels, as a compromise.
And, if that keeps the Christian Right's fingers off my cable box, better yet. | |
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pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 2:13 pm
Why wait for the FCC?Anyone who waits for the government to solve his/her problems will always be disappointed. If you hate how your cable company has hiked rates, then you should cheerfully respond by cancelling their service. | |
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| Alpine6 Premium Member join:2000-01-11 Atlanta, GA 1 edit |
Alpine6
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 2:42 pm
Re: Why wait for the FCC?said by pnh102:Anyone who waits for the government to solve his/her problems will always be disappointed. If you hate how your cable company has hiked rates, then you should cheerfully respond by cancelling their service. By FAR the most intelligent thing posted on this subject. The difference in tone is hilarious here. Two weeks ago everyone was cheering the FCC and saying how good a la carte would be for consumers. The more far-sighted amongst us warned that the cable and telcos would never let their revenues drop but people were very giddy about the possibilities. Now, the predictions have played out and people are back to cursing the FCC and accusing the corporations of incredible greed (as if they're supposed to be non-profit organizations.) Like the man said - if you don't like it, cancel. I tell you - the ridiculous comments around here are always good for a nice laugh... Adam | |
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ButtButtNoNo
Anon
2005-Dec-15 2:18 pm
God is in my TVAlacarte won't work. There would never be any new channels. If you subscribe to only a few channels, how will a new channel get off the ground? Also, what would you pay for a single channel? What channel should cost more than another? Or would they all be the same price?
Cable isn't that bad IMO, my bill is roughly 140 a month. So thats like what, 4.66 a day??? Not bad, I pay more in tolls going to work a day.
But, this is just my opinion. | |
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JTRockvilleData Ho Premium Member join:2002-01-28 Rockville, MD
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Let Your Voice Be HeardHearUsNow.org, a project of the Consumer's Union, has a message you can send to Congress and the FCC regarding a la carte cable: » secure2.convio.net/cu/si ··· y&id=313 | |
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TechyDad Premium Member join:2001-07-13 USA |
TechyDad
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 2:59 pm
Think of the children?Apparently, this time "Won't someone please think of the children" is working for something I support. I'm not sure how I feel about that. | |
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Zoly join:2004-01-04 Houston, TX |
Zoly
Member
2005-Dec-15 3:10 pm
a-la carteok then. I want this package: Deutche Welle, CBC MTV Europe MTV Hits TVM3 TV1000 Sky News CNN International Comedy Central MGM VH1 Europe TV1 NTV Rambler TV Corbina TV BBC Prime BBC One BBC World Tennis Channel LOGO TV Here TV
and for HBO I pay anyway
What? I have a right to pick only those channels I want to pay for!!! | |
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WHy do we need FCCWhy do you libs want to evolve government when thing do not go your way. Frankly you all are a bunch of hypocrites. On one hand you want government to get involved when you own ox is gored by rising rates or not providing A La cart pricing, then turn around and scream free speech when then same FCC want to ban indecency.
Do you be like the BBC where at onetime a government regulated broadcast system only gave you 4 channels? I do not want FCC or any government to tell private businesses what channels to carry or their price. There is no constitutional right to cheap cable. If you do not like the new pricing then take you cable box back and go get a the dish.
For me I will re assess the situation. If the price is too high I am going to end my cable subscription and go back to Verizon for my broadband. If Comcast start losing customers for jacking up prices then believe me they will start listening. | |
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GreggELet me think.. Premium Member join:2003-06-01 Mid Tenn |
GreggE
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 4:47 pm
How bout this? They should set up a standard price like iTunes does. Maybe a $1 a channel for regular and $1.50 for premiums and you pick from a list of say 200 channels. If the cable companies want more money, offer better channels - if the channels want more money, offer a better product. I've got probably 200 channels and watch maybe 30 of them...some I have never watched and have no intention of ever watching.
Some channels should be a credit on your bill as well. Like home shopping networks. They are the ones that benefit from being in my home. | |
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gwionwild colonial boy
join:2000-12-28 Pittsburgh, PA |
gwion
2005-Dec-15 11:27 pm
Hey... let's just change the subject ! Yeah !... that's the ticket, yeah.
Well, it would be just great if family friendly programming were ever the main issue at the core of the ala carte push. Since it isn't, I think this goes down as the world champion of diversionary tactics. If you don't like the possibilities, tacitly and completely reframe the initial question into something altogether different, then answer it... when I use a word, Humpty Dumpty said, it means precisely what I choose it to mean, no more and no less... Really, I wonder if they get it, at all, or not?
It's a great idea, but it's not an "alternative" to ala carte, in addressing the underlying issues... it's a diversion, at best, from ala carte, or a bargaining chip, offered instead of, not as a way of providing a different solution to the same problem; it's simply a fantastic solution, to a different problem. An answer to a question we never asked... great. | |
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MacLeechThe one and only Premium Member join:2001-07-14 SoCal
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MacLeech
Premium Member
2005-Dec-15 11:33 pm
Cable should go IPTV ASAP.Cable should just become the pipe to the content providers and maybe a bundle reseller of the more popular channels.
Let the customers buy the content direct from the producers of it, stream it down the pipe, to an IP enabled TV or DVR.
The cable companies could become resellers if enough interest is shown in certain channels to offer discounted bundles. Allow cable companies to do local add insertion on those resold bundles and the price may come down even more. | |
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fcc2step
Anon
2005-Dec-16 4:53 am
a la rip offCable TV is going the way of the dinosaur anyways. Loads of content will be freely available on the internet already. If the cable industry doesn't realize this reality and give consumers what they want, then the internet will run roughshot over them and devalue their content. People think it's only singe vod type content that can be xmitted, but entire framed streams of cable channels could be streamed, real-time xmitted with ZERO revenue to a cable company for that stream. SO, hold price hikes and bad service over the consumer's head for too long and another industry will LOSE its bread and butter. | |
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