[opendtv] Re: How Do I Keep My Favorite Shows?

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:06:48 -0400

At 3:13 PM -0700 8/20/10, Dale Kelly wrote:
Craig wrote in reply:
It is not going to happen, but broadcasting would die rather quickly if
the MVPDs pulled the plug and broadcasters had to rely on homes with
antennas.

But, my reply was to this argument:
2. (what) If the MVPD did not exist?
The dynamic is significantly different under that scenario, clearly viewers
would then have no source other than FOTA.

And I noted that there's no going back to four program choices...


The reality is that the MPVDs do exist and they do utilize and benefit from
broadcast carriage. Would they not suffer significantly were they to "pull
the plug on broadcasters" and isn't that why "It is not going to happen"?
They receive fair value for these programming purchases.

It's hard to know how much they would suffer. For our household it would not make a big difference, except for some sporting events, which are moving away from FOTA because of the high cost for rights.

Clearly the broadcasters would suffer far more, as they would lose 90% of the audience they have left.

It is also equally clear that Dale is right, this is not going to happen; the MVPDs are able to pass the cost of retrans consent to the consumer. Most of the noise they make when these deals are negotiated is to leave the impression that they are trying to control costs and protect their customers. However, despite re-regulation in 1992, which was passed in part because of soaring cable rates, the cost of MVPD service has been growing far faster than the rate of inflation.

The real threat is when the congloms decide to go direct with the MVPDs.

Regards
Craig


----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: