| When broadcasters are pressured to do so. In this case competition hurts us.
Cable Operators sign contracts for retransmission rights which include certain caveats. For example offering the HD version of their channel even though it's 480i upscaled such as QVC. Another example is the Discovery bunch. Have to take Discovery/History/TLC/Animal Planet and they all have to be sequential.
Currently depending on the retransmission contract offering a la carte would land the MSO in legal hot water. Here is where competition hurts us. If there were one national player that muscle could be leveraged to break these deals. But as it stands if one MSO or satellite operator picks a fight with a broadcaster another player steps in and then advertises that they carry the channel.
A la carte may raise prices on some channels but if you enjoy a lesser watched channel I bet you save money. |
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KearnstdElf WizardPremium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | but i wonder if the FCC made it a requirement would that not override any legal contracts since a contract cannot override the law.
though id imagine it would have to have a grandfather clause like building codes, where you only have to follow the new regs when you rebuild.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Comcast
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Sounds like you want Comcast...
Seriously, if people didn't want the channels that are yanked, they wouldn't get them and go on with their day. The thing is that the channels people want are bundled with channels that people don't want, and those channels are required over the breadth of TV offerings rather than just a premium package.
FWIW, GVTC (nearby telephone cooperative with lots of FTTH) carries Versus while TWC doesn't. Grande Communications carries NFL Network, but they aren't the dominant provider in San Antonio (TWC is).
Another FWIW: niche IPTV provider SkyAngel (want some Faith Healing?) has ultra-cheap packages available, albeit standard-def only and with no ESPN in sight. Their non-religious TV package, complete with Fox News and the NFL network, runs around $20 per month.
Also, it's been while but at my grandmother's house in Florida on Comcast (expanded basic analog) HIST was channel 39, DISC was channel 27, ANPL was 48. Then again, we're talking about Comcast, the 800 pound gorilla of cable companies nowadays. |
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 hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | "FWIW, GVTC (nearby telephone cooperative with lots of FTTH) carries Versus while TWC doesn't."
TWC carries Versus in every market.
Direct TV currently does not.
Hob
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"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | You're right. Got confused there...in my defense I;ve never had pay-TV in my life. |
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hobgoblinSortof AgoblinPremium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:4 | said by iansltx:You're right. Got confused there...in my defense I;ve never had pay-TV in my life. I am surprised that you would then take any interest in this discussion.
Hob
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"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | If TV was offered a la carte with HD channels then I might actually buy it  Not paying $60+ per month for service I don't need though. |
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