spdickey
join:2002-11-17
Pacific Palisades, CA
kudos:1  ·Time Warner Cable
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Why You Shouldn't Celebrate The Collapse Of Comcast's Bid For TWCCelebrations of the collapse of Comcast's CMCSA +0.49% $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable TWC +3.17% may prove short-lived. Instead of a cable sector with lower debt loads and more cash available to bear the brunt of falling subscription prices or added capital investment, U.S. consumers are now likely to get their service from increasingly leveraged providers who may not have the financial wherewithal to handle the industry’s continued upheaval and its chronic spending needs. [more] » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/ |
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 ARGONAUTHave a nice day.
Premium Member
join:2006-01-24
New Albany, IN
kudos:1 |
ARGONAUT
Premium Member
2015-Apr-24 1:11 pm
Forbes always serves corporate interests never working people. » www.techdirt.com/article ··· ad.shtml |
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to spdickey
I know I am not celebrating, but the people have spoken and made it clear they don't want a bigger Comcast.
Guess we will see what happens next, have no idea what Comcast will do with it's limited data plans. With the 2Gbs fiber I think they will likely end up facing even greater pressure to end the limits on data in the so called "test" markets.
TWC might just build out the 2015 Maxx markets and then call it a day. I have no idea and I guess we will see shortly what the CEO of TWC is like when finding out he can't sell out. He seems to be open to buying or selling, I find that interesting. I just wonder if the shareholders will push him to raise the Internet pricing or not. Or even to put in caps with overages like they did in 2009 or like Comcast is "testing" now. |
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spdickey
join:2002-11-17
Pacific Palisades, CA
kudos:1 ·Time Warner Cable
1 edit |
to ARGONAUT
Now that the deal's fallen apart, those celebrating its death knell may wind up finding that the alternatives don't look so great.
Those in fear of a cable monopoly or oligopoly will claim victory now that Comcast's formally abandoned its Time Warner Cable bid in the face of un-winnable regulatory hurdles. But, they'll then have to hope service and pricing improves at a time when the finances of the cable industry are becoming far more stretched.
That's not a sure bet, especially in an era of cord cutting and spiraling content costs, particularly in sports programming. » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/Corporate interests are the ones bringing you your high-speed internet. Giving it away cheaply doesn't make for a long term winning business decision, rather its a political move to gain entitlements from the regulators. Shareholders won't push for caps on internet. Rather they want to see a strong balance sheet and good revenue streams. How an operator does that is open for discussion, but caps on bandwidth are purely a revenue move, see wireless. And I don't see a short term fix for the LA Dodgers mess in Los Angeles since TWC has to somehow pay off a multi-million dollar contract. |
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 ·Fairpoint Commun..
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Reselling Internet (what ISP's do), is incredibly profitable. A few years ago the numbers were something like 90% profit on each customer... edit: according to below....97% profit. » www.huffingtonpost.com/b ··· 916.html |
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 maartenaElmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
kudos:5 |
to spdickey
said by spdickey:Celebrations of the collapse of Comcast's CMCSA +0.49% $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable TWC +3.17% may prove short-lived. Instead of a cable sector with lower debt loads and more cash available to bear the brunt of falling subscription prices or added capital investment, U.S. consumers are now likely to get their service from increasingly leveraged providers who may not have the financial wherewithal to handle the industry’s continued upheaval and its chronic spending needs. [more] » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/ Comcast and other cable providers are being held in a stranglehold by the media companies. See what is happening to Verizon FIOS. Verizon is starting to let consumers more choices, and the media companies are protesting immediately and in big numbers. They are forcing cable providers to take on all 10 channels a media company may own, and forcing cable companies to carry them in certain packages. These kinds of mergers are attempts to consolidate costs. Cable companies are making less and less profit because they don't want to pass on a huge increase of costs on to the customers. And although they could be managed a WHOLE LOT better, especially in the customer service department, the reality is that departments that do not make any money (such as customer services) are seeing their budgets cut to help pay for expensive programming. And THAT is what should be regulated. Media companies should not be allowed to force bundles on us, and consumers should have a clear CHOICE in the type of programming they want to pay for. If they don't do that, eventually more and more customers are going to walk away. And that only makes it more expensive for other customers that are staying. People say a-la-carte type selections is going to make cable more expensive. I am saying that if they don't start regulating this right now, cable will be more expensive simply because in the choice of "All" or "Nothing", more and more people are choosing "Nothing". If they had a choice of "A Few Channels" they may still be a customer. Bandwidth is not a big cost anymore. Companies like TWC have huge, huge fiberoptic networks, and huge, huge fiber handoffs to all the major backbone players. Although infrastructure needs to be maintained and operated, there is no cost for the content served over that infrastructure. Not like cable, where every channel comes with behind-the-scenes re-transmission costs. But don't be fooled: Part of the profit on broadband is used to off-set the loss they are making on "first 12 months" specials and such to lure customers in, so the 97% isn't strictly true. |
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 Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
kudos:1
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to why60loss
said by why60loss:TWC might just build out the 2015 Maxx markets and then call it a day. twc is still behind most other coax/fiber providers with it's video transmission quality, so they'll either have to continue spending or give up video and convert it all to streaming. |
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said by Packeteers:said by why60loss:TWC might just build out the 2015 Maxx markets and then call it a day. twc is still behind most other coax/fiber providers with it's video transmission quality, so they'll either have to continue spending or give up video and convert it all to streaming. Well if Charter gets TWC they won't have the funds to upgrade more stuff with so much debt the merged business will have. |
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Satch
Member
2015-Apr-24 5:38 pm
My feeling is that although in my area of Wisconsin, TWC customer service and technology has been stable and reliable.
However, globally, both companies have such a poor record of customer service rapport with the general public, that they don't deserve to merge. Relationships and customer good-will would need to be about 500% stronger. Too many people hate both Comcast and TWC as stand-alone companies, with surveys often citing the worst customer service records.
If neither company can improve that relationship on their own, the public believes that it would be impossible for them to work together to create a better company. If shareholder investors actually used TWC products and services, and dealt with customer service, they would have a better global understanding of the global consumer negativity associated with both of these companies.
Satch |
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to spdickey
Most people were against the merger. For me I was for it because Comcast had more revenue to be able to invest in areas that are less profitable. Places like Maine where Time Warner Cable has a monopoly suffer from poor speeds, customer service and end up paying more for broadband than any other state. Right now with taxes and everything I pay 110 dollars for just Internet 50/5. I do not get their television service nor any other service. I have friends who live in other areas of the country that get faster speeds and pay much less than I. Time Warner Cable is going to continue to milk places like Maine and we will see much less in advancements and technology. I remember we were one of the last areas to deploy DOCSIS 3. A few months ago we went from 4 bonded downstream channels to 8 and from 1 bonded upstream channels to 4 so now we have 8X4. And yes Maine has converted over to digital as TWC requires people to utilize those convert boxes if they do not get their expensive DVR service. People think that with this merger it will create a lack of competition. There is already a lack of competition in many rural markets. Maine does have its own fiber network that was created through multiple companies but it is limited in its areas as it links the hospitals/university systems and other public/private institutions. The cost to expand its foot-print is too costly and I doubt it would ever offer direct competition to TWC. No one wants to invest money in areas like rural Maine and they want to bring in more expensive options such as through the use of Satelites or LTE which are costly and have ridiculous caps. |
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Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
kudos:1 ·Time Warner Cable
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I'm sorry, but every rural area suffers the same way as long as they are being served by private companies. If you want better, you need municipal fiber - which means everyone including people who don't need better end up paying more taxes, which may also be unfair to them.
I'm in Queens NY and went from 4:1 to 8:4 less than a year ago - so consider yourself lucky. In coastal NY/LI areas where hurricane Sandy ruined cables, these private companies didn't even bother to rebuild - instead they offer wireless at a modest discount to impacted residents. |
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to spdickey
What ever, We will go Charter anyway. |
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 hobgoblinSortof Agoblin
Premium Member
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
kudos:14 |
to Packeteers
said by Packeteers:In coastal NY/LI areas where hurricane Sandy ruined cables, these private companies didn't even bother to rebuild - instead they offer wireless at a modest discount to impacted residents. What does this have to do with Time Warner Cable? Hob |
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nony
Premium Member
join:2012-11-17
New York, NY
kudos:1
3 edits |
nony
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 12:24 am
said by hobgoblin:What does this have to do with Time Warner Cable? » www.bloomberg.com/news/a ··· -serviceNo mention of TWC in the Bloomberg piece. » www.publicknowledge.org/ ··· ager.pdfNo mention in this piece either.. TWC: Don't ever try to pull a Verizon on us! -nony |
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 OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2
 ·Verizon FiOS
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to spdickey
said by spdickey:Celebrations of the collapse of Comcast's CMCSA +0.49% $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable TWC +3.17% may prove short-lived. Instead of a cable sector with lower debt loads and more cash available to bear the brunt of falling subscription prices or added capital investment, U.S. consumers are now likely to get their service from increasingly leveraged providers who may not have the financial wherewithal to handle the industry’s continued upheaval and its chronic spending needs. [more] » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/ No way I will deal with Charter. Now my 2 options is shit. |
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said by OpTiC :said by spdickey:Celebrations of the collapse of Comcast's CMCSA +0.49% $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable TWC +3.17% may prove short-lived. Instead of a cable sector with lower debt loads and more cash available to bear the brunt of falling subscription prices or added capital investment, U.S. consumers are now likely to get their service from increasingly leveraged providers who may not have the financial wherewithal to handle the industry’s continued upheaval and its chronic spending needs. [more] » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/ No way I will deal with Charter. Now my 2 options is shit. I hope this doesn't happen as well, the newly merged ISP will be loaded with debt and unable to pay for any more upgrades for many years to come. |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
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·Charter
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OpTiC
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 9:57 am
said by why60loss:said by OpTiC :said by spdickey:Celebrations of the collapse of Comcast's CMCSA +0.49% $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable TWC +3.17% may prove short-lived. Instead of a cable sector with lower debt loads and more cash available to bear the brunt of falling subscription prices or added capital investment, U.S. consumers are now likely to get their service from increasingly leveraged providers who may not have the financial wherewithal to handle the industry’s continued upheaval and its chronic spending needs. [more] » www.forbes.com/sites/ant ··· r-cable/ No way I will deal with Charter. Now my 2 options is shit. I hope this doesn't happen as well, the newly merged ISP will be loaded with debt and unable to pay for any more upgrades for many years to come. I will wanted Comcast for TiVo XOD and 2 GBPS. Charter stop being like Frontier. |
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to Packeteers
They won't upgrade. They're decades behind other MSOs and that's the problem. They do NOT want to upgrade. They want out.
In the end TWC will either run themselves out of business or sell to whoever. |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
·T-Mobile US
·Charter
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OpTiC
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 4:02 pm
said by Hmm :They won't upgrade. They're decades behind other MSOs and that's the problem. They do NOT want to upgrade. They want out.
In the end TWC will either run themselves out of business or sell to whoever. I think you have no idea you are talking about. Most TV provider are still running Mpeg-2. If they don't want to upgrade why is TWC is rolling out Maxx. |
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said by OpTiC :said by Hmm :They won't upgrade. They're decades behind other MSOs and that's the problem. They do NOT want to upgrade. They want out.
In the end TWC will either run themselves out of business or sell to whoever. I think you have no idea you are talking about. Most TV provider are still running Mpeg-2. If they don't want to upgrade why is TWC is rolling out Maxx. They only did it because before they did that Charter/Comcast did not see the value in paying for such "outdated" systems. Because NYC and LA were two of TWC's golden eggs the value to buyers went up by a lot. The next year will be the real test to see what TWC really intends to do now they don't have an easy way out. Charter is an option, but clearly not the one TWC really wanted. |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
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·Charter
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OpTiC
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 4:16 pm
said by why60loss:said by OpTiC :said by Hmm :They won't upgrade. They're decades behind other MSOs and that's the problem. They do NOT want to upgrade. They want out.
In the end TWC will either run themselves out of business or sell to whoever. I think you have no idea you are talking about. Most TV provider are still running Mpeg-2. If they don't want to upgrade why is TWC is rolling out Maxx. They only did it because before they did that Charter/Comcast did not see the value in paying for such "outdated" systems. Because NYC and LA were two of TWC's golden eggs the value to buyers went up by a lot. The next year will be the real test to see what TWC really intends to do now they don't have an easy way out. Charter is an option, but clearly not the one TWC really wanted. Now I do see Charter buying TWC. I don't want to deal with Charter but still live in LA. I really want Cox try to purchase TWC. |
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said by OpTiC :Now I do see Charter buying TWC. I don't want to deal with Charter but still live in LA. I really want Cox try to purchase TWC. Now that would be interesting. I see Charter buying TWC and I really hope that doesn't happen so Cox would be better. I still wish Comcast did it for the 2Gbs fiber and other upgrades but that deal is dead. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC
kudos:2 |
to maartena
said by maartena:But don't be fooled: Part of the profit on broadband is used to off-set the loss they are making on "first 12 months" specials and such to lure customers in, so the 97% isn't strictly true. So, if they would stop being so sweet on the "First 12 months" they could put more money into taking care of other things. After all, there IS alot of churn on these (also for Dish and DirectTv). If the specials weren't so sweet people would be less tempted to move |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
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·Charter
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to why60loss
said by why60loss:said by OpTiC :Now I do see Charter buying TWC. I don't want to deal with Charter but still live in LA. I really want Cox try to purchase TWC. Now that would be interesting. I see Charter buying TWC and I really hope that doesn't happen so Cox would be better. I still wish Comcast did it for the 2Gbs fiber and other upgrades but that deal is dead. I really want Tivo XOD, X1, and 2GBPS internet. I heard one time that Comcast is licensing X1 to Cox. Cox should atleast buy TWC. Cox is the only company that can afford TWC. » www.cnet.com/news/comcas ··· val-cox/ |
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said by OpTiC :I really want Tivo XOD, X1, and 2GBPS internet. And rainbows and unicorns. said by OpTiC :Cox is the only company that can afford TWC. You have no idea what you are talking about. |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
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·Charter
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OpTiC
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 7:14 pm
said by cousintim:said by OpTiC :I really want Tivo XOD, X1, and 2GBPS internet. And rainbows and unicorns. said by OpTiC :Cox is the only company that can afford TWC. You have no idea what you are talking about. Charter doesn't have the $$ for TWC. They would have lots of debt. |
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silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA |
to Hmm
said by Hmm :They won't upgrade. They're decades behind other MSOs and that's the problem. They do NOT want to upgrade. They want out.
In the end TWC will either run themselves out of business or sell to whoever. No they won't. That is not how public companies work. said by OpTiC :said by cousintim:said by OpTiC :I really want Tivo XOD, X1, and 2GBPS internet. And rainbows and unicorns. said by OpTiC :Cox is the only company that can afford TWC. You have no idea what you are talking about. Charter doesn't have the $$ for TWC. They would have lots of debt. Charter is not afraid of debt. If they want Time Warner bad enough, they will make it happen. |
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OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA
kudos:2 ·Time Warner Cable
·Verizon FiOS
·T-Mobile US
·Charter
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OpTiC
Premium Member
2015-Apr-25 8:02 pm
said by silbaco:No they won't. That is not how public companies work.
Charter is not afraid of debt. If they want Time Warner bad enough, they will make it happen. Charter is going to repeat 2009 all over again. |
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spdickey
join:2002-11-17
Pacific Palisades, CA
kudos:1 ·Time Warner Cable
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Charter is going to repeat 2009 all over again. I'm more worried about them repeating 2001 when they asked us back then to hold the disconnects of non-pay customers to keep the subscriber numbers up for Wall Street. Our leaders at the time served 14 months in prison for their actions. Barford and others at Charter instructed employees to stop or postpone for longer than normal the disconnection of subscribers who had not paid their bills or subscribers who requested that their service be terminated. McCall and Smith were directed to use these manipulative means to meet the forecasted subscriber numbers and in turn, they instructed Charter employees to hold disconnects.
»www.sec.gov/litigation/l ··· 9240.htm At least Charter is moving toward a better box experience with a cloud based UI. » gigaom.com/2014/07/31/ch ··· by-2015/ |
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to spdickey
Does Charter have the financial resources to upgrade TWC systems or is this proposed acquistion going to be like "Adelphia" on steroids? I remember when they bought LA and it was a disaster. |
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