[opendtv] Re: HDTV DVB-T receiver for the UK
- From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 09:12:55 -0500
Most of the cable channels are owned by the networks, and most already
have commercials. I don't know why the networks would want to pull them
off cable but it would seem to make sense to instead make some of them
non-cable-exclusive and also offer them as sub-channels. They wouldn't
need must carry to keep them on cable, though a little renegotiating
would maybe be needed.
IOW, I don't understand why economies of scale don't suggest making all
national channels potentially available in all venues.
- Tom
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> At 11:55 AM -0500 2/2/05, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
>
>>But as ABC has proved by pulling ABC News Now as a
>>separate cable channel, broadcasters can achieve this
>>goal regardless. Why can't they gradually pull back
>>their cable-only channels and stick them on their OTA
>>multicasts? Then cable systems will want to provide
>>those multicasts, or risk losing subscribers.
>
>
> ABC News now WAS NOT a separate cable channel. It was delivered as
> part of a multicast by ABC stations based on a negotiated
> re-transmission consent agreement. ABC pulled the news channel from
> their O&O stations and AFFILIATES!
>
> The apparent plan is to lay low for a short period of time, then to
> re-introduce ABC News Now as a CABLE CHANNEL, that will compete with
> CNN, Fox News, etc. ABC will charge cable operators/consumers a
> monthly subscriber fee for this channel as they do now for ESPN
> 1/2/HD, ABC Family, The Disney Channel, etc.
>
> Why is ABC doing this?
>
> Because they KNOW that the FCC is NOT going to extend Must
> Carry/Retransmission Consent to broadcast Multicasts. The
> "experiment" that ABC orchestrated by beginning this service as part
> of a broadcast multiplex was just a stunt; it was intended to give
> the impression that the networks would create new content for
> multicasts, rather than pulling existing cable channels and letting
> their O&Os and affiliates deliver them.
>
> There is no question that subscribers want many of the existing cable
> networks. It is ABSURD to think that the media conglomerates would
> pull existing networks for which they are receiving DOUBLE
> compensation (commercial revenues and subscriber fees), and reduce
> the audience to the small number of homes that can receive OTA DTV
> broadcasts.
>
> The only way that this CAN happen is if broadcasters are granted Must
> Carry/Retransmission Consent for the entire multicast. IF this
> happens - it will not for many reasons - then the conglomerates would
> move some networks from cable to broadcast in order to take control
> of local commercial insertion revenues; those revenues would need to
> exceed the subscriber fees that are now flowing to the conglomerates.
> Thus it is likely that ESPN would remain on cable since Disney gets
> nearly $3/mo per subscriber for these channels; but ABC family or ABC
> News Now would likely move to broadcast since the subscriber fees are
> very low.
>
>>What you keep repeating, that broadcasters are
>>perfectly happy to see a non-viable DTT solution,
>>seems way too preposterous and self destructive.
>
>
> "Broadcasters" are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They exist
> at the mercy of the media conglomerates, who are using them -
> actually the Must Carry /Retransmission Consent regs that "protect"
> broadcasters - to take total control of both content and carriage.
>
> Follow the money Bert.
>
> Regards
> Craig
>
>
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