 
NOZIREV
join:2008-07-10
New Bedford, MA
 ·Comcast
| Good hopefully this guy will leave and if he does get his way with the a la carte deal that will probably make it more expensive for consumers in the long run to get the channels they want. Bundling seems like the way to go IMO but who knows maybe it will be a good thing.
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"Citius, Altius, Fortius" [Faster, Higher, Stronger] | |
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LiamJunket
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Ocean City, NJ
·Comcast
| Re: Good For Martin to make a la carte work he needs to get control over the big Hollywood studios that provide most of the networks on cable.
»www.multichannel.com/article/CA6···topstory
quote:
Martin is looking to expand that power to include independent networks for the first time. If that happens, “he may bring Hollywood under FCC regulation under the unbundling rules. That would be a very dubious achievement,” said James Gattuso, senior research fellow in regulatory policy at the Heritage Foundation.
And to do that he has a BIG problem. The Democrats depend on Hollywood big time for political contributions. I doubt the 2 Dems on the FCC will go along with Martin on this issue like they have on other anti-cable efforts. And Martin has no support from the 2 other Repubs on the FCC for any more regulation.
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Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk? | |
| | EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | If you read the article, it talks about "wholesale a la carte", forcing cable channels to stop bundling of their channels to distributors, i.e., about allowing Comcast to buy just ESPN without getting forced to get ESPN8 as part of the bargain. | |
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LiamJunket
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Ocean City, NJ
·Comcast
| Re: Good said by EPS  :If you read the article, it talks about "wholesale a la carte", forcing cable channels to stop bundling of their channels to distributors, i.e., about allowing Comcast to buy just ESPN without getting forced to get ESPN8 as part of the bargain. But to do that Martin has to regulate Hollywood studios. And I don't think he has or will get the backing to do that.
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Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk? | |
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MrMoody
Liberal Capitalist
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
 ·Skype
·magicjack.com
| Re: Good said by LiamJunket :But to do that Martin has to regulate Hollywood studios. And I don't think he has or will get the backing to do that. said by KrK :What would happen is that the pricing on the popular channels would become very expensive, the net result would be even if you selected just a few channels, your monthly bill would still be about the same as a bundle now. There's no way they are going to give up that revenue. Yes, both of these points are correct, and Martin, not being stupid, knows them. Therefore, this is just political smoke-blowing and won't go beyond empty talk.
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Electile Dysfunction: the inability to become aroused over the choice for President put forth by either party. | |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
·Optimum Online
| Re: Good said by MrMoody :said by LiamJunket :But to do that Martin has to regulate Hollywood studios. And I don't think he has or will get the backing to do that. said by KrK :What would happen is that the pricing on the popular channels would become very expensive, the net result would be even if you selected just a few channels, your monthly bill would still be about the same as a bundle now. There's no way they are going to give up that revenue. Yes, both of these points are correct, and Martin, not being stupid, knows them. Therefore, this is just political smoke-blowing and won't go beyond empty talk. What a great post. Combining those two quotes, considering where they each came from, really illustrates just how horrible a commissioner Martin is. | |
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY | Utter nonsense.
He IS Big Money - why would he watn to regulate himself na dhis overlords? | |
| | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO
| You are incorrect that it would be more expensive and many studies already show this.
Not only that there are many mom and pop cable providers that provide al la carte and if it was more expensive they certainly wouldn't be able to do it before the big monopolies could. | |
| backness
join:2005-07-08
K2P OW2 | I'll fix it for ya... "Kevin Martin could be leaving his position as head of the FCC within a couple of months for a position with AT&T..."
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| nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
·Comcast
| probably won't make a difference the broadband industry is too much under the control of the incumbents for anything to happen anytime soon. although a democratically controlled FCC could always mandate line sharing (I think), it would be tied up in litigation for years. and since congress is owned by the telcos and cablecos, I wouldn't expect line sharing to happen legislatively either.
the U.S. is screwed for years to come. | |
| 
skuv
@rr.com
 from:
LiamJunket
| Well... If he wants "a la carte" programming, then he needs to stop going after the cable companies for it.
You don't see Sat providers, AT&T, or Verizon offering "a la carte." Do you?
Do you know why? Because of the CONTENT providers, not the service providers. If you want ESPN, then all of your subscribers have to pay for it, not just the ones that want to buy it "a la carte" or in a sports package. And if you want to carry ESPN, then Disney wants to you carry ABC Family, and ESPNU, and ESPN Classics. And collect a fee for every single channel for every single subscriber.
Can Martin be so stupid as to not realize that it is the CONTENT providers holding EVERY service provider hostage and not just cable at fault here?
Just like when DirecTV goes ahead and pays a fee for each subscriber to the NFL for the NFL Network, even though, obviously, not all of their subscribers watch the NFL network... they are giving into the NFL's demands just to carry that one channel. Just so they can make cable companies that have refused to pay look bad. DirecTV is not helping the problem. But the CONTENT providers are the ones to blame.
And just like Kevin Matin, DSLR continues to push "a la carte" as if it's entirely up to the cable companies.
The content providers don't want to go "a la carte." Why would they? Do you think they want to lose all that free money? And cable companies are, basically, forced to carry the channels under these demands, because if they don't, then Satellite will, and the content providers will advertise on behalf of the Satellite providers as being the only ones to carry a channel in that area.
If only cable companies are forced into "a la carte," how is that fair? | |
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LiamJunket
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Ocean City, NJ
·Comcast
| Re: Well... said by skuv :
If he wants "a la carte" programming, then he needs to stop going after the cable companies for it.
Do you know why? Because of the CONTENT providers, not the service providers.
Can Martin be so stupid as to not realize that it is the CONTENT providers holding EVERY service provider hostage and not just cable at fault here?
If only cable companies are forced into "a la carte," how is that fair?
Good summary of the problem. It also makes Martin's motives obvious - a grudge against cable. If he really wanted a la carte to work, he would have to take on Hollywood studios and the telcos and the Sat TV providers.
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Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk? | |
| | | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO | Re: Well... Both industries want it because it increases the profits of both. | |
| Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
| channels one at a time. It will need to be all digital cable or maybe just have a few locals in non digital.
channels one at a time may be too much. How about mini groups?
like a ESPN group that has all the ESPN channels. Like how HBO, MAX, SHO is set up. Or make ESPN and ESPN 2 count as 1
The base level should have the locals + the free shopping channels + the weather channel with weatherscan + the local sports channels.
HD NET + HD NET MOVIES can be in the base HD level or in a HD NET pack.
There should be 1 HD fee and 1 DVR fee with the same per box fee for each box / cable card.
maybe even make HD free
The HD fee should give you the locals in HD + any channel that you are paying for that is in HD.
BIG TEN should get you BIG TEN + ALL OVER FLOWS. | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Whatever happens.... ... regarding bundling/a la carte etc etc is:
Consumers WILL pay more. Period. | |
| | Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: Whatever happens.... said by KrK :... regarding bundling/a la carte etc etc is: Consumers WILL pay more. Period. If that were true, then cable wouldn't be squawking about à la carte. Cable TV, when you come right down to it, is a luxury, and in bad economic times, those rabbit ears don't look quite as bad.
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"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
 ·AT&T Southwest
| Re: Whatever happens.... Yes, I agree there, but what I am saying is, in reality, despite the objectives, it will never result in cheaper pay TV.
If for example, A la carte was passed into the rule of the land (and I don't think it will be)
What would happen is that the pricing on the popular channels would become very expensive, the net result would be even if you selected just a few channels, your monthly bill would still be about the same as a bundle now. There's no way they are going to give up that revenue. Consumers will be made to pay one way or the other.
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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!) | |
| | | | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO
| Re: Whatever happens.... Really? You are so full of it.... there is yet a study to be done that shows the average household would pay more. Big dish services have done al la carte for years and yet they make money don't they? How are they able to do it if your "keep the rates high" stance is so important?
The channels would be priced at market rate, not at a forced rate as they are now. If they aren't able to sell the channel because it is overpriced, then they will lower the price. The subscriber base dictates their advertising rates just as much as anything else. | |
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY | He should stand trial... ...for all the criminal activites he commited at FCC including but not limited to lying to the Congress. | |
| | Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL | Re: He should stand trial... They should let you get CLTV on direct TV, dish, rcn, and WOW! cable in the Chicago area. | |
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Kevin Martin’s Four Fall Priorities for Cable