[opendtv] Viewers File Suit Over Bundling
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:14:19 -0400
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6480856.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP&nid=2228
Viewers File Suit Over Bundling
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/24/2007
Some cable subscribers are suing major cable programmers and
operators to get their programming a la carte, as well as for
millions of dollars in damages.
The multimillion-dollar class-action suit, filed by veteran antitrust
attorney Maxwell Blecher on behalf of 14 cable and satellite
subscribers from a variety of cities, says the companies violate
antitrust laws by bundling programming in expanded basic tiers. The
plaintiffs asked the federal district court in Los Angeles to stop
the firms from "bundling expanded basic-cable channels and ordering
defendant cable providers and direct-broadcast satellite providers to
notify their subscribers that they each can purchase 'a la carte'
[separately] except for 'basic cable.'"
That basic-cable caveat covers the lifeline basic package that
includes the TV stations cable must carry per government mandate. The
subscribers say they have been injured because they have been
"deprived of choice, have been required to purchase product they do
not want and have paid inflated prices."
The suit seeks treble damages, citing the alleged antitrust
violations and arguing that "contracts between the programmer
defendants and the cable and direct-broadcast satellite providers
constitute a combination among and between the named defendants to
monopolize trade and commerce in the relevant product market," in
violation of the Sherman Act. It also alleges restraint of trade.
National Cable & Telecommunications Association spokesperson Joy Sims
says the group's view of a la carte hasn't changed. "Several
government and private studies have shown that required a la carte
would lessen programming choice, decrease diversity in programming
and raise prices for most cable customers," she said.
The suit names NBC Universal, Viacom, Disney, Fox, Time Warner,
Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, EchoStar Communications,
Charter Communications and Cablevision Systems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
