said by nunya:I think the only reason cable TV subscription rates remain so high is that they are in collusion with content providers to keep prices artificially high.
Here in the Los Angeles area, its sports. We have 2 MLB teams, 2 NHL teams, 2 NBA teams, and 2 MLS teams, and with the exeption of the latter (MLS isn't that big money yet), that means there are 6 teams with big media contracts. TWC bought an exclusive deal with the Lakers last year and are charging other TV operators $4 per subscriber, which most have paid. (this region has U-Verse, FIOS, Cox, Charter as well, and of course DirecTV and Dish) - They did the same thing with the Dodgers when their contract was up, and are again charging $4 per subscriber. No one has signed them yet, but at some point they will have to because they have a deal for 20 years.
And what does that leave us subscribers? Even if you are a hardcore sports fan.... if you are a hardcore Angels or Ducks fan, you might not even care about the Dodgers and Lakers, yet you are still required to pay that $8 a month, as you cannot buy a package without sports (besides the basic broadcasts), let alone a package that allows you to pick you sports teams.
ESPN charges $5 per subscriber, and in recent years there have been various new sports channels from CBS (college), NBC, Fox, and newcomers like BeIN, PAC12, etc.... all wanting big money from carriers. I am estimating that Sports alone...... is more then a THIRD of your monthly cable/satellite/whatever bill.
And if you are not a big sports fan at all, you are basically paying your carrier a lot of money for channels you will never watch.