Willner (Insight Comm.) Calls for Tax to Aid TV Stations

Multichannel News ^ | 3/12/2007 | Ted Hearn

[AT7Saluki]

Washington -- A federal tax designed to subsidize local TV stations should replace the current system that allows TV stations to help their finances by demanding cash for carriage from cable operators, Insight Communications CEO Michael Willner (pictured) said Monday.

Willner said his TV tax proposal would ensure a second revenue stream for broadcasters while relieving cable operators from having to pay for programming that is offered to the public free-of-charge.

[AT7Saluki]

So many things wrong here. "They do it in Britain." Federal tax to help private business. When exactly did we cede the "free market" concept.

[NonValueAdded]

It might be an improvement over "must carry," though.

[Kimmers]

I do like TV but if it died because there was not enough money to keep it running, the world would still go on in fact life might be a little better.

[P-40]

collect it from everybody evenly.

No thanks. I pay to throw away garbage, not bring it into my home.

[Leisler]

When I was a kid, we got two stations, one of which poorly. Now there are hundreds, and large screen High Def and I hardly watch tv, Fox included.

It's odd, the best reception, most channels and...well...last night I fell asleep watching Bernard Lewis talk about Islam on my laptop.

I could well live without TV, just broadband. Often now instead of surfing the tv channels, I surf YouTube. Last night I learned how to pick locks. I heard that MIT is putting it's entire curriculum on the web. I suppose for a few hundred billions the Dept. of Edjamakation could get a 1-12 curriculum up on the web. Maybe. In twenty years.

[Mack the knife]

Don't tax me ... Don't tax thee ... Tax that man behind the tree!