Craig Birkmaier wrote: > The congloms no longer need the OTA pipes because they > control 90% of what people watch via the multi-channel > pipes, and they rake in billions in direct payments > from consumers (via the multi-channel services) for > advertiser supported content. SWEET! > > What this story tells us its that the conglomerates have > enough power now to have it both ways. They can go direct > to the consumer, even as they use the multi-channel > services to collect subscriber fees. The tipping point > will happen when it is cheaper to buy the content you > want via the Internet than to pay for extend basic cable. > And we are ALREADY very close. So what you SHOULD be claiming, if you want to sound consistent, is that both the OTA and the MVPD model are doomed. And by the way, you seem to ignore that congloms are streaming shows over the Internet now for merely 5 ad spots per show, where each is only 30 seconds long. No one can possibly object to a 30-second ad interruption. So your idea that it "is cheaper to buy the content you want via the Internet" should be reworded "easier to watch over the Internet than it is OTA. Over the Internet, the congloms have already adopted a more attractive model than their FOTA model, let alone the MVPD subscription model. Or are you saying that this doesn't work? I doubt your pay-per-show idea will work for anything but the occasional viewing of an old episode. Very simply, the conglom that chooses NOT to charge per show will get the advantage. It's obvious. Bert ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.