Big Cable's Package-Pricing Ploy

BusinessWeek ^ | 11/6/02 | Jane Black

[alex]

-SNIP-... a federal rule took effect in early October, 2002, that could let savvy cable customers cut their monthly bills in half. ... The rule, a provision of the 1992 Cable Act, says cable operators can no longer require subscribers to buy multitier packages of programming to get pay-per-view events and premium channels, such as as HBO, Starz, and Showtime.--SNIP--

[alex]

Yet another great news.

[lelio]

I would gladly drop the dozens of sports channels I have never watched. In fact my viewing is limited to:
the news stations (FOX, CNBC, CNN, etc)
HBO for their Sunday night programs
Educational channels like TLC and Discovery and Home & Garden
Local news

So I can drop MTV, ESPN, "international" channels, the dozen QVC knockoffs, etc.

[mlo]

bump for later

[NEJake]

In order for me to get High Speed Internet, I'm forced into a package that includes everything on the dial, including music.

I asked for basic + internet and was told that it "can't be done" because that's the way they get the signal package. Hmmm...

Guess I'll be calling Charter Communications(aren't they parented to Cox?)

[w_over_w]

Very cool . . . I'm going to look into this. Thanks.

[cpprfld]

I wish that they would allow consumers to pay for only the stations that the consumer wants to watch.

[apackof2]

BUMP FOR INTERESTING LATER READ

[reegs]

I read the article, and I'm wondering if this applies only to premium channels such as HBO, Showtime, and other "premium" movie channels? If I could I would only get the very basic, plus FoodTV and HGTV.

[reegs]

To answer my own question, it appears, according to AT&T Broadband Cable, channels like FoodTV and HGTV are "extended basic." What the hell does that mean??? Doesn't "basic" mean "basic??" If I have to pay more to get certain channels, isn't that fee a "premium???" How we allow these cable monopolies to exist is amazing.

[Grit]

Anyone know if this applies to sat? (DirecTV, Dish). About a year ago I got a solicitation to join a class action lawsuit against DirecTV because they only sold the NFL Sunday Ticket as a season-long pass and not game by game. I'm not sure if this is related or not.

[spycatcher]

bttt