kubus
join:2000-12-22
Irwin, PA | reply to SKYWARP
Re: Broadcasters share a good amount of the blame Almost got it right Skywarp, it's the networks that come to MSO's for the carriage deals. But yes, ESPN and ESPN 2 are the staples, and then as part of the package, MSO will have to carry News and Classics, the College Sports Network. ABC Family is treated somewhat separate from ESPN, and it holds it's own with pretty good ratings.
The most recent ESPN carriage deal with Comcast, called for about $3.70 per subscriber. ESPN has grounds to charge that much, they pull in strong ratings and have nice local avials package.
In any case, a la carte is BS. It is not a solution (solution is in your damn remote) and will cause even more problems and will run up the cost of cable. Not to mention that niche channels will never have a chance to develope and we are all going to be stuck with more of the same, which is pretty much crap. The only solution, and something pretty much every MSO jumped on is VOD push. With VOD, each network has additional outlet for commercial inventory, it will offer an engaged viewer (a lot of agencies will be asking for guarantees on engaged viewer, so far only Court TV has done it), and most of all, it will offer the choice for people that don't know how to use their remote.
All McCain is doing is trying to make himself look good, however to me he looks like a control freak, taking away the choices. |
