rugbyI think I know it all.VIP
join:2000-09-26
Indianapolis, IN | reply to Nightfall
Re: Somewhere in between lies the truth.... If these sports channels are getting too expensive, then offer a package WITHOUT them. That would be actually DOING something to help consumers instead of just making them pay more. I personally don't watch sports on tv and haven't in years. |
|
 MaxoYour tax dollars at work.Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL | Hear, hear. If they said they'd cut my cost in 1/3 if I didn't have ESPN and such channels I'd say good riddance. Well, I don't really have cable but I might consider it if it was cheaper. There's no way I'm going to pay all that money for something I'd only watch about 5 hours a week max. If it was only like $10 or $15 I'd definitely be more interested.
--
Today I didn't even have to use my AK, I gotta say it was a good day. - Ice Cube www.maxolasersquad.com |
|
DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | I too would be happy to buy cable without sports. I guess it's like their internet package though - just as you can't buy internet without TV, you can't buy TV without sports. |
|
 HallPremium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | reply to rugby
said by rugby:
If these sports channels are getting too expensive, then offer a package WITHOUT them.
Exactly my thoughts too. See how quickly the sports channels change their tune when people start choosing these packages and their advertising revenue, where they really make the $$$, falls off.
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =- |
|
 compugeekI love making my own beer.Premium
join:2002-07-30
Pickerington, OH | reply to rugby
Part of the problem with that is that the channels tell the cable companies where to put the channel. Even if you do not watch it they charge the cable company as if you were watching it. Part of the channel, say ESPN, as being a Monopoly... Cable is not a monopoly, there are other choices out there that some even consider better. There are also other choices for channels, but they charge the same way and are not as popular.
Geek |
|
vfpguyAlias Dotnetguy
join:2001-07-21
Wayne, NJ | said by compugeek:
Even if you do not watch it they charge the cable company as if you were watching it.
That's funny. That's the stated reason Cablevision refused to carry YES on the basic tier. I guess George Orwell didn't know how far doublethink would go.
--
"...a great, serene and peaceful future can slip from us quite as irrevocably by neglect, division and inaction, as by spectacular disaster." -- H. Truman, 6/21/56 |
|
HallPremium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
kudos:1
| reply to compugeek
said by compugeek:
Even if you do not watch it they charge the cable company as if you were watching it.
Didn't Microsoft get in trouble for charging PC makers for a copy of DOS or Windows on every PC the company built whether or not they installed Microsoft's software on it ?? quote:
Cable is not a monopoly, there are other choices out there...
I don't think you can call cable companies a monopoly when other companies *choose* not to offer service in an area already served by another, but in MOST cities, there is NO choice. Even in Columbus, I know there's TW, Insight, and WOW. But can you get two or all three of those at your home ??
For reference: Story on DSLR's front page, »Cable Execs Face Congress, links to a Washington Post article, »www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar···ay6.html. That story says:...a General Accounting Office report showing that, in markets where cable companies compete with one another, monthly rates are 17 percent below the national average. But that is in a minority of markets. Less than 5 percent of the more than 70 million cable consumers have a choice of providers. Emphasis added by me.
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =-
[text was edited by author 2003-05-07 13:10:12] |
|
 herdfanPremium
join:2003-01-25
Hurricane, WV | reply to Hall
Here's the problem with that. I believe that ESPN's contract REQUIRES their service to be part of the basic package, the exception being a package of the local networks.
Also ESPN's contracts allow them 20% per year increases for the term of the contract.
The cable companies are between a rock & a hard place to keep revenue up to meet these costs. The major cable channels all do the same thing. TNT threaten to withhold NASCAR races for operators that didn't agree to higher fees, the Disney/Comcast issue and there are others.
So they came up with internet service to raise revenue with lower costs, and then Verizon cut its rates for DSL. The only thing saving the cable co's is that DSL is not available everywhere there is a phone line or at $29.95/mo, DSL would be king.
--
DRS 3.0(Gray)G3C 1210 Host: Dell 4100 PIII 933mzh, 512, 40 XP Pro SP1, Clients: Dell 8250 P4 2.8, 512 1066 RDRAM, 120, XP Pro SP1 Sony Vaio Laptop, 1G Athlon, 256,40, XP Home(Never Again)Wireless thru Orinoco AP-200 to Orinoco Gold Card /Using DPC Manager |
|
 72276539Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA | reply to Hall
Well said, right now I cannot call up Time Warner and tell Charter to packsand. |
|
