Consumer Groups Fear TVEverywhere's Anticompetitive Combined power of cable, phone and satellite companies a problem? According to the Washington Post, consumer group Free Press and other consumer groups are writing the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission -- looking for an investigation into anti-trust issues posed by the cable, phone and satellite Internet video ambitions. Dubbed "TV Everywhere," the plan aims to stop cable customers from cutting the cord and moving to Internet video alternatives, by offering paying customers free access to a catalog of online video content. According to the groups, the combined power of the cable, phone and satellite companies could helped them "unfairly maintain dominance over the burgeoning online video industry by elbowing out online video competitors such as Apple, Hulu and Vuze."
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  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
2 edits |  Like Apple needs gov't help to succeed ??
And let's not forget Google's YouTube which is now moving in to TV & Movie distribution. Somehow I don't think the cable companies and telco will scare Google away.
»www.multichannel.com/article/442···lace.php | |
|  |  Thrudd
join:2004-06-21
Mississauga, ON | Re: Like Apple needs gov't help to succeed ?? It is not so much Apple et al need the help so much as the sheeple er consumers, can have ready access to the competition for content. What you are.touting is an expansion of the monopolists power over content.
Would you want the post office supply / filter your mail?
Do you want to go back to the good old days where your electrical utility was also your one and only power generator?
How about the road system 100% under private ownership?
To the vast mojority of sensible people, the changes from those times is a good thing for everybody but the monopolists.
Just remember that you can have it any colour you like as long as it is black. | |
| | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | Re: Like Apple needs gov't help to succeed ?? Wait, my electrical utility ISN'T my one and only power generator (except for whatever I have on my property)? | |
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| | There is hidden compeition The hidden competition is of course piracy.
Admit it or not, piracy is, and always will be more convient for consumers than anything the cable companies have to offer. Think Napster and how fast that took off.
If they riddle their online content with DRM or exclusive browser use (think IE only), then it only a waste of their time and money because consumers will just head for th pirated content in droves. You dangle a little carrot in front of consumers and they are going to want a t-bone steak.
The cable companies can do whatever they want in my opinion, as long as they aren't pro-consumer they won't ever see my money  . | |
| | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | Re: There is hidden compeition Agreed. All your major programs (except sports) will be on torrents within a few hours of release, without ads. That's soon enough that people aren't going to shell out for a cable plan for TV Everywhere access. | |
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