[opendtv] news: Martin Slams Cable on Pricing, Bundling
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:23:47 -0400
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6609840.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP&nid=2228
Martin Slams Cable on Pricing, Bundling
FCC chairman backs Consumers Union complaints to Congress about cable industry
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/30/2008 9:33:00 AM
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin took the opportunity of a letter to
Congress from Consumers Union to hammer the cable industry over rates
and put in yet another plug for a la carte, at least obliquely, and
using the tanking economy to drive home the point.
In a statement commenting on a letter from the consumer group to the
Senate Commerce Committee about cable systems moving channels out of
their analog packages and onto the digital tier, Martin said they had
it right.
"We agree with Consumers Union. Over the last decade average cable
rates have more than doubled," he said in a statement Wednesday
afternoon. "And now cable companies are charging consumers more but
consumers are receiving less.
"We have also received complaints that cable companies are moving
channels to a digital-only tier and charging consumers the same
monthly rate for a reduced number of channels. If consumers wish to
continue watching the same channels that they were before, they must
now buy a more expensive package or rent more expensive equipment.
This is an unfortunate trend for families facing increasingly
difficult economic times."
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association saw it
differently. Calling the group "off base," NCTA said: "CU completely
misses the real reason that more consumers are enjoying digital cable
- because it provides a valuable and diverse range of programming,
high-definition video and interactive services that the entire family
can enjoy. During today's tough economic climate, the significant
price savings offered by cable's triple play bundle of video,
broadband and phone service is even more valuable to consumers."
NCTA said it would have more to say on the issue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
