Cable Fears Rupert MurdochClaim Hughes deal could spell trouble ( old news - 01:04PM Monday Nov 10 2003) tags: prices · satellite · cableWhile News Corporation's acquisition of Hughes and DirecTV waits approval from the FCC, the cable industry warns that such a deal would "inflict higher prices on cable operators and their subscribers". As this Skyreport article examines, the cable industry is afraid that News Corp., which controls Fox content, could make life unpleasant for the industry. Controlling both the delivery mechanism and the content would give DirecTV an unfair advantage, claims cable operators, who already claim that networks like Fox Sports are costing them an arm and a leg. The deal is particularly relevant since DirecTV has many broadband bundling deals in place with the majority of the baby bells, who could also benefit from the purchase.
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ArchAngel21x
MacFan Pro
Premium
join:2001-10-28
Lincoln, NE
| Nevermind Deleted by user.
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Death Is Irrelevant. | |
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Rambo76098
join:2003-02-21
Pataskala, OH
| Re: I was understand that's what Cable Companies do! said by inciter  :
I thought the main reason for them being the Cable company is so they can raise the rates!
Yeah thats what i thought too... thats the only thing that they are good at anyway | |
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Sisqo
World Champs. Babe Who?
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Methuen, MA
| It Figures! Cable companies do not know what the meaning of competition means!
As soon as they face a little competition they will hike up their prices.
I just can't wait till I can get Directv, it's incredible how they deal with competition & how cable price hikes are just not justified. | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Qwest.net
| Re: It Figures! Go Dish Network instead. Look at what Direct TV is doing to people who have purchased flash card burners for whatever reason, they are sending letters to them demanding
large sums of money to settle out of court, they are worse then the RIAA.
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I love Irish Terriers, Low Brass, and the electric blue glow of an 866 mercury vapor rectifier tube at night. | |
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inciter
Noobie
Premium
join:2000-08-30
Rohnert Park, CA
| Re: It Figures! I think Dish is one of the most Hacked Sat companies at this point. Cable was but the digital screwed up the pirates.
DTV now is protecting it's customers by stopping the pirates! Yeah mistakes will happen but! Unloaders and other pirate tools are not being used for valid reasons! I would dare to say the amount of unloader owners ripping off DTV are high and the amount that have ligit reasons for owning one are like 1 out of 100.
Give it a rest! 9 years and no rate increase? Maybe DTV is doing the correct thing. Dish is not going after pirates they would loose out on all the basic customers that are ripping them off. 
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A SUCKER is born every min. On the Internet a SUCKER is born every Sec. | |
| | | | 2farfromCO7
join:2000-10-14
Farmington, MI
| Re: It Figures! Don't kid yourself. That statement is a total lie. DirecTV is 10x more hacked than Dish. Dish isn't going after their hackers because they don't have to. Their system is simply far more hack-proof. The biggest reason being that their smart cards are wedded to their receivers. There's no swapping and selling of smartcards like there is with DirecTV. With Dish, you must successfully hack the entire receiver with the smartcard or nothing. You can't just swap the smartcard and hack it or buy smart card. You sound like and clueless DirecTV shill who simply doesn't know the facts. | |
| | | | | BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Re: It Figures! correct me if i am wrong here but wouldn't this deal make Directv the supplier of the programming as well as the medium and the system used to encrypt/decrypt ??
i think NDS is owned by Murdoch and Then if he owned directv he would own all 3 portions of a system???
I have been reading lots of news on some of the places like slash dot and the register about people being accused of being satelite "pirates" but they are just security people doing a job for thier companies. I guess directv being in the same boat as the RIAA is what the country is coming to they can't secure thier systems and they can't secure their medium so they bring you to court to do it. Doesn't this hamper the technological process ??? Don't people learn from others mistakes and such ??
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This package does not contain a winner... | |
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Jmartz
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ
| Double Standard! What a bunch of crap. Your rates are going to go up no matter what. The Cable companies are just setting up the scape goat to instantly raise prices the day the merger is approved.
Cablevision, through Rainbow networks owns tons of channels as well. They also own a delivery system. So what are they complaining about? Oh wait! Competition!
Same goes with Comcast... who is already bullying DirecTV by not allowing DirecTV customers in Philadelphia to get the Comcast Sports Network because they hold the sole rights to one of the local sports teams broadcasts... so they are playing hard ball with DirecTV... god forbid someone does it to them!!
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[BetaNews | phpBB |MSN TerraServer |Space Imaging] | |
| | | | | | | djoropallo
join:2003-10-20
Maple Shade, NJ
| Re: Double Standard! I was so happy when I changed from Comcast to DirecTV. Comcast took over our town's cable system, promised no rate hikes and yet our prices went through the roof! They had to "bring us inline" with their normal rates. We we paying $43/mo for cable WITH HBO. Comcast comes in and just their expanded basic is $43/mo., then $17 for HBO and $4.20 for any set I wanted to watch HBO on, because I would need their box. Now I am 100% digital at a much lower price.
The biggest hold Comcast has down here is Comcast Sports Net, which carries the Sixers, Flyers and Phillies. Somehow a "loophole" remains where they don't have to put their signal on a satellite. When Cablevision wouldn't carry the YES network a new law went in and they had to settle. Yet Comcast, who has Arlen Spector in their pocket, doesn't have to comply. I don't like being bullied so I no longer watch or root for any of those teams. Screw Comcast, big bullying thieves! | |
| | | | | | Cod
join:2000-07-05
Greensboro, NC
| said by Transmaster :
Look at what Direct TV is doing to people who have purchased flash card burners for whatever reason, they are sending letters to them demanding
large sums of money to settle out of court
What other legitimate reason whould a person have a flash card burner for? Yes, there is probably a .05% of people who purchase flash card burners for legitimate reasons but don't patronize us. Almosst all flash card burners are used for illegal practices like hacking DirecTV cards. | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| Re: It Figures! Doesn't matter, it's not just flash card burners, anyway.
The point is they are going after people who aren't even pirating anything, and they are willing to drag people into court that they have no evidence against---- EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN DTV systems!
Sure, the judge dimisses the case, but the people get stuck with legal bills and that doesn't excuse the harrasment.
And if you do happen to have DTV equipment, then you're *really* screwed, because they won't let up at all.
These lawsuits are no different then as if someone tried to sue every gun owner claiming they owned something that could be used to commit a crime--- even if there was no evidence the legal gun owner ever had committed a crime.
It's just WRONG.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
| | steven s
Premium
join:2002-09-14
Dearborn, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| said by Sisqo :
Cable companies do not know what the meaning of competition means!
As soon as they face a little competition they will hike up their prices.
Not really. Being in an area with CABLE competition (WOW and Comcast), it can really make a difference. Because of competition, basic cable is only $32 in my neck of the woods. So.. I wouldn't even consider dish, because for me, cable is a better deal. Comcast does know what competition is.
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BUSH/CHENEY 2004 | |
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Hank
Its all relative
Premium
join:2002-05-21
Burlington, WV
| Re: It Figures! With DirecTV I get TIVO, three receivers and more channels than Cox Communications offers in my area for a much lower price than Cox. Plus I only have one or two disruptions a year during heavy thunderstorms. The DirecTV equipment was free, no monthly charge for a cable box. An even bigger plus is that DirecTV treats their customers with dignity and respect, something that is a hit or miss thing with Cox. | |
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Sisqo
World Champs. Babe Who?
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Methuen, MA
| Not for me basic cable is $42.93! I can get just the local channels for about $13+.
It's a total rip off but there is not much I can do until I purchase my house. You know what really stinks my price went up from $34 to $42 once Comcast took over.
So I don't really hold them up in high regards this switch happened within two months. | |
| 
BrandxXx
join:2001-01-20
Okinawa
| Im all for it Sounds good to me i dont like paying what i do for cable and switching to direct TV has been in the back of my mind for a while. I already have SBC DSL and if i can get a better price and more content with having both direct tv and sbc dsl im all for it. | |
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footballdude
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO
| Re: Im all for it said by amenite :
Get yourself a $99 deal with a DirecTivo unit and you'll not regret it. Just make sure you buy your system from a known reputable vendor, there are plenty of shady DBS vendors out there, but there are good ones too that will take good care of you.
Just order from the DirecTV web site and they'll assign some dealer to install it for you. I've never had a deal go easier than when I did that and got the Tivo. And, WOW, do I love the Tivo! | |
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borborpa
Slipping Slowly Into Oblivion
Premium
join:2002-02-20
New Cumberland, PA
clubs:
·Speakeasy
| Expect a higher bill next month... I'm sure they'll just use this as an excuse for another rate increase. Of course, they'll raise the prices before anything is approved, and then again once it is, and maybe a few months after, just for good measure.
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There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.[AIM - BoyBandsMakeUGay] | |
| 
kba4
join:2001-10-23
Akron, OH
·RoadRunner Cable
| really of course the cableco's are innocent on such charges. let's just ignore the fact that after aol bought tw, their stock fell over 85% in two years; forget that the cableco's have steadily increased their rates, more often faster than 'inflation'. the only thing cableco's are afraid of is a more level (albeit still very unfair) playing field for them to force to compete on. they'd rather have a few mid-sized or even similar players (dish, dtv) than have to face an opponent that is more equal in size. as a customer of dtv, all i can do is drop dtv if anything got out of hand; this is similarly true if i were on cable or dishnet. it seems the BUD (c/ku-band) is the only way to go if you really want a value. otherwise, you're forced to endure whatever these huge entertainment companies demand.
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the USA is a weapon of mass destruction. | |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| Funny... How Murdoch was so opposed to the DTV/DN merger...now we see why.
Now we'll see what the FCC does against this new market manipulation as Fox Sports and other Fox owned channels (eg FX, local rebroadcast rights etc) suddenly skyrockets in price to all distributors.
Fox has a history of this manipulation...we saw it with Fox Sports vs. Cox Communications and even between Fox and The X-Files' David Duchovny claiming that Fox underpriced the series in which Duchovny was partial owner for sale to Fox's FX Networks instead of letting it up for bid to competing networks who were interested (and most certainly would have paid much more than FX ended up paying).
Cable distributors aren't the only ones who need fear Murdoch...consumers too should be concerned.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network »www.theanimenetwork.com/index.html | |
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J D McDorce
Premium
join:2001-12-29
Westland, MI | Re: Funny... Maybe I'll believe the cable community's position when Advance/Newhouse, AOL Time Warner, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, and Vulcan divest themselves from programming. Until then, this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. | |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| Re: Funny... It's no secret that a lot of programmers are price gouging. The fact that Comcast owns the E! Network doesn't change that fact nor preclude Murdoch from continuing his gouging if we see this purchase go through.
Fox has a history of gouging and that isn't disputable.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network »www.theanimenetwork.com/index.html | |
| 
panth1
The Coyote
join:2000-12-11
Boca Raton, FL
| Money, Money, Money! "...who already claim that networks like Fox Sports are costing them an arm and a leg"
That is one of the reasons why my local cable company, Bright House Networks, does mot carry our reginal FSN.
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ISPs: Road Runner/Powerlink Status: Road Runner | |
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Ianguy
join:2002-06-09
Tehachapi, CA | Re: Money, Money, Money! and who owns Bright House Networks? | |
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panth1
The Coyote
join:2000-12-11
Boca Raton, FL
| Re: Money, Money, Money! Advance/Newhouse
Programming is still managed by Time Warner. | |
| djrobsd
join:2002-01-24
San Diego, CA
| I hate cable companies It really pisses me off that cable companies raise our rates and continue to give us a bunch of channels that we will never watch.
I am not a sports fan, and I never watch Fox Sports Network. Why should I have to pay an increased cable bill over this issue?
Cable companies need to get with the program and offer ala-carte tiers of service - i.e. news and information, music videos, variety, etc... There's just no reason for me to pay a rate hike for a sports network that I'll never watch. | |
| | 
Jovi
join:2000-02-24
Mount Joy, PA
| Re: I hate cable companies said by djrobsd :
Cable companies need to get with the program and offer ala-carte tiers of service - i.e. news and information, music videos, variety, etc... There's just no reason for me to pay a rate hike for a sports network that I'll never watch.
Yup. Then when customers pick what they want, and certain channels do poorly(in a certain market area), then they can ditch them and save a buck here and there.
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What was that? | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: I hate cable companies said by Jovi :
said by djrobsd :
Cable companies need to get with the program and offer ala-carte tiers of service - i.e. news and information, music videos, variety, etc... There's just no reason for me to pay a rate hike for a sports network that I'll never watch.
Yup. Then when customers pick what they want, and certain channels do poorly(in a certain market area), then they can ditch them and save a buck here and there.
Actually for a cable company to get a channel most people want, they are forced into 'must carry' channels (home shopping, golf, lifetime, other worthless channel here) in effect the crud pays to help lower the price of what you really watch.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| raye
Premium
join:2000-08-14
Orange, CA
| How is this different than AOL-Time Warner? Time Warner (formerly AOL-TW) has tried and failed to combine content and delivery. Time Warner Cable will soon be spun off, and the AOL portion they would very much like to get rid of. They are also trying to shed the music part of TW.
I suspect that the DirectTV/Fox merger will not realize the profits that are expected. Content and delivery never mix, unless you want ALL of your content from one company, which most people do not.
I wish Rupert luck; better men have tried and failed. | |
| DennyK321
join:2003-04-15
Belton, MO
| Where did DTV's Programming Come From? Let's not forget that without the initial risks taken by the cable-cos, Direct and Dish would not be around to begin with. Ever see any local origination from DTV?
In addition, your cable-co is regulated or can be by your local community, where it should be regulated.
When a biz is regulated, they will take every rate increase allowed. Only makes sense to me. If not regulated, then marketplace will set the price in time. Drill down deeper and you'll find that, channel per channel, rates have stayed even or have dropped.
Name one cable-co that requires a minimum 12 month committment. They are all month to month with no dumping penalties.
A-la-carte will never happen with the majority of programmers. If you can't tell your advertisers who they are reaching and a good projection, they don't buy advertising.
This is a never-ending discussion that will never be answered. | |
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footballdude
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO
| said by DennyK321 :
Let's not forget that without the initial risks taken by the cable-cos, Direct and Dish would not be around to begin with.
Without the initial risk taken by Henry Ford, there wouldn't be any cars. Does that mean I can't buy a Mercedes? | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by DennyK321 :
Name one cable-co that requires a minimum 12 month committment. They are all month to month with no dumping penalties.
That's FUD.
The 12 month commitment you're referring too is required because you're being GIVEN several hundred dollars worth of equipment for Free (or rebated) and free install and you need a one year contract to offset the cost.
Cable doesn't come in and give you a bunch of expensive equipment, and if you cancel cable, anything they do "lend" you, they demand back!
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
| 
JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL | phhh Let 'em raise the rates, I'm not going to leave DTV and subscribe to CATV or D-CATV anytime soon...
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King of BB... Bling-Bling, that is! | |
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AMDUSER
Premium
join:2003-05-28
Earth
clubs: | Re: Give me a Break I know what you mean. Hopefully this will bring some meaningful competition for the
Cable Companies and have to reduce their prices.  | |
| | Xsk8er
join:2001-01-02
Columbus, OH
·RoadRunner Cable
·WOW Internet and C..
·AT&T Midwest
| boo hoo to cable Boo hooo to the cable companies. I cant have no pitty, speically for Insight where in my area they have "exclusive" control over the cable coming into my apartment and wont let the other provider in town in, plus they also monkey rench the managment of the apartment complex to not support satellite dishes, and every 3 months they bring their truck over tryin to sell the latest digital offerings and local phone service.
I dont have no pitty for them.. Their service is more expensive then satellite and they dont offer the same channels.
Plus we all know specially those that follow satellite that Cable has the ablity do to things like HDTV in local markets that satellite doesnt have the bandwidth to do. | |
| | Nightstick
join:2000-09-21
Philadelphia, PA
|  Competition Makes Cable Companies Wet Their Pants
In Philadelphia, Comcast owns the Flyers and Sixers (content), as well as Comcast Sportsnet (delivery mechanism) and they REFUSE to let DirecTV have access to the channel. By doing this, they effectively have a STRANGLEHOLD on Philadelphia sports fans.
What hypocrites!
I look forward to the day when Murdoch and DirecTV spank Comcast and the other cable companies like the little girls they are. | |
| 
VeriZo
@uu.net | Rupert's gonna kick ass? Bend over Comcast! Rupert's comming! I hope he runs
the greedy comcast corp into bankruptcy! | |
| 
Stewy85
Premium
join:2003-01-16
Sharon, WI
clubs: | Lower Rates Here is an idea.... The Cable companies lower their rates to compete with sat, not raise them.
But I know that will never happen. | |
| IAmTheEvilest
There Is Nothing Like A Restart
join:2001-01-03
Santa Barbara, CA
clubs:
| Let Cable suffer... Well first of all, I have no idea why anyone subscribes to cable in the first place. I recently went to a friend's home and the quality of cable TV is horrible. If you look at their rates, the quality simply doesn't match up.
When I subscribed to DirecTV, I had to pay for the equipment and would happily do so again and again. It is one of the decisions that I have not regretted. In addition, my rates have only gone up $2 in the six years I have had the service. And they added more content to more than justify the increase. I think that my rate is actually lower than most cable subscribers and I get more programming.
Down with cable, in with satellite TV. Personally, I see no reason why the cable companies can't offer the same type of service. Since they have a wire, it is much easier for them to add programming when compared to satellite TV. Not to mention, the rates cable subscribers are paying should buy quite a bit more stuff.
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The two biggest things: the universe & human stupidity --Albert Einstein | |
| | stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA
| Re: Let Cable suffer... Hehehehe..
My take is this: Having the "dish" is a good thing, only because it's still a immature market. Think about it, the majority of people have cable, because they cannot/willnot get the "dish". This is why there are such great deals out there now if one decides to get the "dish".
Once the "dish" market matures(over 30-40% saturation rate), then those monthly bills will go up faster than a Minuteman missile launched from Vanderburg A.F.B. With cable going more and more into digital broadcasting(I.E. HDTV), as well as offering local home channels, AND community channels(which you can't get on a "dish"), then pricing will end up being more on par with cable.
But that aside, the "dish" is STILL the best offering for digital/Dolby Surround television.
From one that mourns the loss of his 12' C/Ku band dish-like the old days when NFL football was "in the clear"....sigh... | |
| | gpancner
join:2001-09-27
Nine Mile Falls, WA | The last two words of your Einstein quote represent the amount of knowledge most people have of bandwidth and operational costs (see your last paragraph). | |
|
Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net
| Who owns the content Here is a small example of one of the major content providers. Look who are the share holders. It is the Major Cable providers who are the major stockholders. Cable
fears Rupert Murdoch because they would be going up against some one who would be able to give then real competition. Look at the top most name listed Remember DR. John C. Malone, hint TCI
As a privately held company, Discovery benefits from the unified vision of our shareholders, which gives the company the foundation to grow with confidence well into the future. Discovery's shareholder representatives are the following:
Dr. John C. Malone - Chairman
Robert R. Bennett - President and CEO
Liberty Media Corporation owns interests in a broad range of video programming, broadband distribution, interactive technology services and communications businesses in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. In addition to its ownership in Discovery Communications, Liberty Media's interests in video programming include numerous nationally recognized entertainment networks such as Encore, STARZ!, QVC, Court TV, and Game Show Network.
James O. Robbins - President and CEO
With one of the highest-capacity and most reliable broadband delivery networks in the world, Atlanta-based Cox Communications, Inc. is among the nation's largest broadband communications companies, serving 6.3 million customers in more than 20 states. Building on its core business of delivering cable television programming, Cox Communications, Inc. also provides advanced communications services including digital video, local and long-distance telephone, and high-speed Internet access.
Robert Miron - Chairman and CEO
Advance/Newhouse Partnership owns minority interests in Discovery Communications, Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse (a cable partnership with Time Warner, serving over 6 million subscribers), and Time Warner Telecom Inc. The Newhouse family's other interests include Condé Nast Magazines, PARADE Magazine, daily newspapers serving 22 cities and the America City Business Journals.
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Discovery Communications, Inc.
John Hendricks launched the Discovery Channel in 1985 as America's first cable network dedicated to providing world-class documentary programming. As one of the leading visionaries in the media industry, Mr. Hendricks has been honored with a Primetime Emmy® Award and with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences highest honor, the Governors Award, for conceiving the TLC series, Great Books. The Ark Trust has awarded Mr. Hendricks a Genesis Award for lifetime achievement for his efforts raising awareness around the globe about animal issues. Mr. Hendricks has also been honored as the first corporate leader to receive the National Education Association's Friend of Education award for "innovations in education and technology and greatly expanding educational opportunity for America's schoolchildren."
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I love Irish Terriers, Low Brass, and the electric blue glow of an 866 mercury vapor rectifier tube at night. | |
|
Isles 03
@optonline.net
| Hehe Rot Cablevision | |
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