[opendtv] Re: News: NBC chief says Apple 'destroyed' music pricing

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 08:02:45 -0500

At 10:07 AM -0800 11/5/07, John Willkie wrote:
There is no content oligopoly.  There are limited numbers of distribution
companies.

Sorry John, but you are wrong on this one.

These are the same companies (now consolidated into about five) that fed us free music via the radio to promote and sell LPs and cassettes. These are the same companies that STILL run a feudal system for talent. These are the same companies that once bought more than half of their programming from unaffiliated independent producers, who now have a controlling interest in virtually everything their distribute.

These are the same companies that PAY for distribution in other countries, but expect to receive subscriber fees from EVERY U.S. consumer, whether they watch the programs they pay these fees for or not.

It's a stretch to say that this raises prices.  Compared to no product?

In essence you hit the nail on the head. You must turn to packaged media or the Internet to find alternative programming...

THEY control what you get to see via Broadcast, Cable and DBS, and most of what shows up in theaters and at Blockbusters.

And yes, distribution is ALSO limited to several oligopolies that are more than happy to play this highly profitable game.

Regards
Craig

P.S. Why are we having discussions about content management issues on this list (copy protection for OTA broadcasts). The reason is that the content oligopoly has the politicians in their pockets, and they are able to use this political clout to further strengthen their market position to the detriment of would be competitors. How did these companies ever survive the VCR?


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