QuoteSkyBOX: Will They Or Won't They
by Evie Haskell evie@Mediabiz.com
Here's the anticlimatic question for the week: Will the folks at the FCC approve the Comcast/Time Warner absorption of Adelphia at their open meeting on Tuesday? Or will they not?
Well, of course they will. Despite reports of a lone Democratic holdout, the Republication majority will almost certainly rule in favor of the cable big boys. At worst, the vote is predicted to be four to one, with the Commission's two Democrats splitting, one for, one against.
But that's not the real question. Nope. The news that multiplatformdom really wants to hear is: Will the Comcast Regional Sports Nets past muster as legitimately exclusive programming ... ie something that the Philadelphia-based mega-multi does not have to sell to competitors.
For those of you who have missed the ins and outs of this one, a quick recap: Long, long ago (about 10 years) Congress decreed that the cable operators could not withhold satellite-delivered programming that they owned from their competitors. You no doubt caught the "satellite-delivered" catch. So did Comcast. They promptly began delivering their popular regional sports nets via terrestrial means. So when DirecTV and DISH (and others) came a'buying, the blue bloods said NO. When DirecTV complained to the Commission, Comcast pointed to the DBS big gun's exclusive relationship with the NFL Sunday Ticket, to which DirecTV replied that they don't OWN that programming, they just paid an oil-sized ransom for exclusive rights so it's not like they're withholding anything. Unlike those guys in Philly who ....
You get the drift. Back to our question: Will the FCC impose conditions on the Comcast/Time Warner takeover of Adelphia, saying in effect that the "terrestrial loophole" is a nice try but no dice? We think that one's a toss up ... but if forced to bet, we'd say they'll leave the wormhole alone. If they do, that will effectively, massively up the ante for cable owned local and regional programming. Which will not only pressure DBS players but could also put a big crimp in the local card of local broadcasters which ...
Ah, the joys of multiplatform mayhem.
Do you have a comment or letter for SkyBOX? Write the editors at: editor@skyreport.com. Please note, your comments may be used for our Web site.
QuoteNext Big Portals Battle: Media Ownership
The next big item on the Federal Communications Commission's agenda could be the agency's re-write of broadcast ownership rules. And most expect fireworks when debates tied to the contentious issue surface at the Portals.
Last month, the commission began a process to seek comment on how to address issues raised in an appeals court ruling that stayed and remanded several media ownership rules adopted in 2002. Specifically, the FCC is looking at the number of TV stations a broadcaster can own in a single market, if the commission should revise those numerical limits or justify them, and how the agency should address radio/television and newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership issues.
Commenting on the endeavor, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said the commission would take into account "the competitive realities of the media marketplace while also ensuring the promotion of the important goals of localism and diversity."
Some are gearing up for a battle, including the Consumers Union.
The same week the FCC began its broadcast ownership inquiry the group unleashed a campaign it called "Resist the Tower, Fight Media Power," which can be found at a Web site detailing the push at http://www.HearUsNow.org. Consumers Union also is putting efforts into http://wwww.stopbigmedia.com.
Gene Kimmelman, vice president of federal and international relations for Consumers Union, said there's widespread concern about concentration and bias in the media.
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of Media Access Project, said the organization is disappointed that Martin "continues to ignore public and Congressional requests that he complete the FCC's long delayed localism inquiry. Broadcasters can best serve the public by addressing local needs."
Given the current state of Philly sports, are people outside this area really missing out on anything?
Good point Ed, but i would still rather suffer getting to watch my teams than on a boxscore from espn news.
I Emailed the head of the FCC last week, have heard absolutely nothing as i figured. Most likely its going to end up w/People outside 100 miles of Philly will get Comcast Sportsnet, within that figure your screwed.
so the head of the FCC hasn't emailed you back yet?
unbelievable.
The sad part is when you submit a request it says they will be read w/a response w/in 3 days. I knew nothing would come from it but figured it was worth a shot.
not only is the head of the fcc not going to email you back hes not going to ever see your email
you might get a auto reply or a pre written reply from a secretary
i'm still waiting for my letter from the president.
Is that the Secret Service knocking on your door?
No, that's the male strip-o-gram I sent him.
QuoteDISH Pushes FCC on Adelphia, Program Access
Companies, organizations and others continue to make last-minute pushes at the Federal Communications Commission concerning the Adelphia takeover by Comcast and Time Warner Cable. The efforts included EchoStar, which recently joined others in voicing concerns about the billion-dollar deal.
In a joint letter sent to the Portals, EchoStar and others involved provided an outline of what they called principles for access to programming. Their concern is ensuring cable competitors can obtain content that's affiliated with an MSO.
The companies said program access should apply to the entire country and not to individual markets, such as Philadelphia, home to Comcast's exclusive regional sports network. "Carving out individual markets - in particular markets in which the parties have a dominant share of the market - does not serve the public interest because it harms consumers in those markets by effectively eliminating competitive alternatives," the filing stated.
Also, program access should apply to any "must have" programming, including regional sports and publicly-funded programming, such as PBS. And any pay-TV service should have the ability to initiate arbitration to obtain both affiliated and un-affiliated "must have" programming if program access is denied, the filing stated.
Joining EchoStar in the letter were RCN, The America Channel, Center for Creative Voices in Media and Media Access Project.
Also, EchoStar representatives last week met with staff working for FCC Commissioner Michael Copps about the Adelphia deal.
The FCC is meeting today, its expected they will approve the Merger of Adelphia to TW/Comcast and Comcast will not have to share Comcast Philadelphia Sportsnet.
Im waiting to hear it so i can go on a rampage >:D
there were articles a few weeks ago that the only way the FCC would approve the merger is if Comcast shared SportsNet, outside of the Philly region. i don't know what would make things change.
:deion :deion :deion :deion :deion :deion :deion :deion :deion
I am curious what they would consider outside the Philly region. Maybe just the communities not offered CSN on their Comcast programming?
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on July 13, 2006, 01:15:52 PM
I am curious what they would consider outside the Philly region. Maybe just the communities not offered CSN on their Comcast programming?
yeah. in other words, they would be forced to offer SportsNet to everyone except satellite companies in the area where you could watch SportsNet on Comcast.
when you say everyone outside the philly area youre speaking only of satelite cutomers correct?
for example i wouldnt be able to get csn philly on my cable right?
i don't think so, but i really have little knowledge about the subject. i just pick up tidbits here and there
you may depending on if you cable carrier is willing to pay to add it their packages
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on July 13, 2006, 01:15:52 PM
I am curious what they would consider outside the Philly region. Maybe just the communities not offered CSN on their Comcast programming?
there's a certian range that is considered the philly area but only are reachable via satelite. and if comcast offered CSN there, they would have to transmit via satelite. and that would pretty much give CSN to everyone. since the loophole comcast is using now is that CSN is a landline broadcast only.
i farging hate comcast. highest cable and internet rates in the country...yet the strongarm philly into letting them build a skyscraper virtually tax free while they have their customers by the balls. i dont buy from them now, and i never will.
Quote from: ice grillin you on July 13, 2006, 01:27:36 PM
when you say everyone outside the philly area youre speaking only of satelite cutomers correct?
for example i wouldnt be able to get csn philly on my cable right?
you not being able to get csnphilly is a decision that comcast has made. for example...i live in king of prussia pa. and if i so desired, i could call directv and ask them to add the local sports package for chicago, and i would have it in 10 minutes.
the only market where you can not get this option is anything from the philly market, because comcast chooses not to allow it. and it's no coincedence that philly cable rates are ranked among the highest in the nation while people generally have little choice in their carriers.
you may depending on if you cable carrier is willing to pay to add it their packages
my cable carrier is comcast but im in md
what im basically asking is if there is a chance csn philly would be on comcast cable systems outside of philly
even the possibility of that would cause me to jerk stain my pants
I'm in Harrisburg, and we get CSN as part of the tier ("ripoff level 1") package. So I'm guessing that technically, I am already in the Comcast Philly service region, and therefore I cannot get the channel via satellite.
What really fries my bacon is that I think I could get CSN Baltimore on DirecTV back when I had it. Only the Philly version was not offered.
WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - A U.S. Federal Communications Commission meeting on Thursday to consider the sale of bankrupt Adelphia Communications Corp. (ADELQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) to the two biggest cable operators was delayed and officials could not say when it would start.
The monthly open meeting had been scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT), then was pushed back to 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT).
The delay was due to commissioners wrapping up details on the items to be voted at the meeting, including the merger, according to an FCC official.
The FCC is expected to conditionally approve the approximately $17.6 billion deal in which Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and Time Warner Inc. (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will acquire Adelphia, sources have said.
Quote from: ice grillin you on July 13, 2006, 01:56:36 PM
you may depending on if you cable carrier is willing to pay to add it their packages
my cable carrier is comcast but im in md
what im basically asking is if there is a chance csn philly would be on comcast cable systems outside of philly
even the possibility of that would cause me to jerk stain my pants
for them to do that, they would have to transmit the station via satelite. which would mean every carrier in the country will be, by law, allowed to show CSN as part of their sports packages.
something comcast will not do. it's their meal ticket in the philly region and for dish network and directv to have access to it, would eat in majorly to the philly subscriber base.
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on July 13, 2006, 02:08:45 PM
I'm in Harrisburg, and we get CSN as part of the tier ("ripoff level 1") package. So I'm guessing that technically, I am already in the Comcast Philly service region, and therefore I cannot get the channel via satellite.
What really fries my bacon is that I think I could get CSN Baltimore on DirecTV back when I had it. Only the Philly version was not offered.
You're right, Sus. I have gotten feeds from CSN Baltimore and Chicago for various games (Orioles, Cubs-White Sox). Just not Philly.
Screwed by our government as usualQuoteFCC Approves Adelphia Deal
By John Eggerton Broadcasting & Cable 7/13/2006 (John Higgins contributed to this report.)
As expected, the FCC Thursday approved--by a 4-1 vote--Comcast and Time Warner's $17.6 billion purchase of bankrupt Adelphia Communications, with the two dividing up the systems.
Democrat Jonathan Adelstein joined the Republicans in voting for the deal, leaving only Democrat Michael Copps opposing. Adelstein did dissent in part, saying the commission should have imposed network neutrality conditions, a deficit that also troubled Copps.
Adelstein said, on balance, that the more compelling interest was to get Adelphia out of bankruptcy and improve service to its customers. It has been "rotting on the vine," in the interim, he said.
The merger, said the commission, serves the public interest, complies with all rules and statues and whatever public interest harms there might be are outweighed by public interest benefits, including principally system upgrades that will bring high speed voice and data, HDTV and video on demand to Adelphia's systems that are upgraded, and resolving the Adelphia bankruptcy.
The key conditions the FCC did put on the merger had to do with regional sports networks. Comcast and Time Warner must put disputes over pricing or access to its regional sports networks (RSNs) to arbitration. The companies also cannot deny access to its sports networks to other multichannel programming providers, with, as expected, a carve-out for Philadelphia.
The decision does close the terrestrial loophole for regional sports networks, which means that program access rules will now apply to landline-delivered RSNs. Previously, they only applied to satellite-delivered programming. "The conditions apply regardless of the means of delivery. Terrestrial means are included."
Comcast and Mid Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) will now have to submit their dispute to binding arbitration, which means resolving a fight that has kept the Washington Nationals baseball games out of many Washington homes. That was an issue that many on Capitol Hill had pushed the FCC to address. New Commissioner Robert McDowell was given credit for working on that issue .
McDowell had some strong words for the FCC, saying it had been slow to resolve and address program carriage issues. He said he wholeheartedly supports launching a review of program access rules, which the FCC also agreed to do.
"The MASN complaint has been left to rot in some small crypt in this building," he said. McDowell said it had become clear to him that complaints wait too long for action, attributing it to an "indolent bureaucracy's failure to obey simple congressional mandates." To that end, he praised the decision to put a shot clock on resolving those complaints.
Competitors, congressmen and media reform activists had all called for some conditions on the merger, which allows the top two cable MSO's, Comcast and Time Warner, respectively, to get even bigger. Chairman Kevin Martin had telegraphed his intention to put some programming access conditions on the deal, particularly after input from many complaining of the access to home team sports broadcasts that Comcast controls.
Copps was unhappy that there were not tougher program access and other conditions, saying that "while rescuing Adelphia is laudable, the antcompetitive combination of asssets is not."
Copps said nothing in the order "rebuts the truth that competitoin means higher prices." It is big media getting bigger, he said, without sufficient protections from dominating programming and potentially broadband access as well.
Martin said he did not believe that network neutrality conditions were called for absent any showing of present harm, but said the FCC would stand by its four network neutrality principles and monitor for potential harms..
Copps also took issue with the regional sports remedies. He said arbigration was a positive step, but oppposed the carve-out for Philadelpia.
Time Warner Cable and Comcast will divvy up Adelphia systems serving 5.2 million subscribers scattered across 31 states. The two cable operators will further swap systems from their existing portfolios to create stronger geographic clusters.
The deal will allow Time Warner to emerge as the largest cable operator in the Los Angeles market, which has been the most fragmented major market in the country.
The deal will also allow Comcast to fulfill its promise to regulators to unwind its 21% ownership of Time Warner Cable, something inherited in a past deal. Antitrust regulators frowned on such a significant link between the two largest cable operators—a legacy of the AT&T deal. As part of the various system swaps, Comcast will give Time Warner that stock back.
Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Brian Coyne said two weeks ago that the analysts sees major system upgrades, and cable tech fortunes, spurred by the decision to allow Comcast and Time Warner to divvy up Adelphia's almost 5 million basic subs.
The FCC had pledged to move on its decision on the sale of Adelphia by the Aug 31 deadline for the deal to close--pushed back from an initial Aug. 31 deadline.
At the end of the day, Time Warner will grow from 10.9 million subscribers to 14.4 million. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had wanted to move earlier on the merger approval, but was deadlocked with a 2-2 commission until recently, with the two Demcratic commissioners wanting stronger conditions put on the merger.
Utlimately, the conditions were sufficient to win over Adelstein to the majority.
In addition, Adelphia has been in protracted bankruptcy proceedings that affected the timing of the approval as well.
Coyne noted that Comcast alone plans to spend $150 million to upgrade the Adelphia systems
and Time Warner potentially more since it is getting more systems out of the deal.
In fact, Commissioner Adelstein said Thursday that the two had commited to $1.6 billion in upgrades between them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/in...cleID=CA6352882
The companies also cannot deny access to its sports networks to other multichannel programming providers, with, as expected, a carve-out for Philadelphia.
does mean that csn philly will now be on direct tv OUTSIDE the philly area
Quote from: ice grillin you on July 13, 2006, 03:44:01 PM
The companies also cannot deny access to its sports networks to other multichannel programming providers, with, as expected, a carve-out for Philadelphia.
does mean that csn philly will now be on direct tv OUTSIDE the philly area
nope.
it's the exact opposite.
philly will now be the ONLY regional sports network no allowed to be broadcast other than to philly area comcast victims.
are you sure? i read it the other way, that they to offer it everywhere, except to satellite companies in the philly region.
sickening
i dont agree with either loophole but i can see the argument that it would really hurt comcast in the philly area...but why not require them to put their station on satelite outside the philly area...in fact i would think comcast would want their station available in more areas as they could charge higher advertising rates
Quote from: ice grillin you on July 13, 2006, 03:50:10 PM
i dont agree with either loophole but i can see the argument that it would really hurt comcast in the philly area...but why not require them to put their station on satelite outside the philly area...in fact i would think comcast would want their station available in more areas as they could charge higher advertising rates
that's why i think Wing is wrong. the only reason that Comcast delievered Philly Sportsnet terresterially is because the deliver it the other way would force them to offer it to everyone. well, the government closed that loophole. they said that it must be offered up, no matter of delivery process, with exception to the philly region.
this is perfect for comcast, no? they can offer it via satellite, charge higher advertising rates, while having their philly market protected.
Quote from: SunMoTzu on July 13, 2006, 03:50:04 PM
are you sure? i read it the other way, that they to offer it everywhere, except to satellite companies in the philly region.
positive.
there will be no changes to csn philly.
if you can't get it now...you wont get it because of this.
basically the loophole was closed for every other market, except philadelphia. because philly is just so farging awesome.
tax free skyscrapers for everyone!
but follow my logic...Comcast would love to sell CSN philly to other markets, right?
but they couldn't before, because if they did, they'd have to send it via satellite and thus open it up to the satellite companies.
but the FCC is saying that doesn't matter, you have to make it availabe to everybody, no matter how you deliver it, with exception to the philly area, that is exclusively yours.
so now, comcast could sell CSN philly to other markets with no worries about having philly subscribers drop their service and get satellite.
i follow your logic...
however, the words "carve-out" = "except for"
as in nothing changes with philadelphia's csn.
nothing.
Quote from: Wingspan on July 13, 2006, 04:04:26 PM
i follow your logic...
however, the words "carve-out" = "except for"
ok, i see what you're saying.
why would Comcast want that though?
i read it the same way sun...welcome to the idiot club
i see where Wing is coming from though...
he see's "carve out" as the area where the availability rule is not changed
i see "carve out" as the area where the new rule is not applied
i read it once and wont read it again...i dont even remember reading carved out...all i know is it sounded to me as everyone will now get it but philly satelite customers
oh well
Quote from: SunMoTzu on July 13, 2006, 04:07:42 PM
Quote from: Wingspan on July 13, 2006, 04:04:26 PM
i follow your logic...
however, the words "carve-out" = "except for"
ok, i see what you're saying.
why would Comcast want that though?
maybe they do.
but Dish Network and Directv do not regionalize when it comes to their consumer base and their infrastruction to my knowlegde. Anyone in the country that calls up and ask, "Hi Directv, i want your basic service"...everyone gets the same things.
then they package the local channels if you want them.
dish network and directv will not pay for philly csn if they can't sell it in philly. the miniscule number of people who would ask for CSN Philly compared to local sports fans is probably not worth cost to carry it if they can't sell it to the local market.
all they would have to do is add it to their sports package of regional channels and not offer it to the philly area....just as they currently offer the local philly network stations (3,6,10) to just philly...it would just be the reverse
Came across this on AVS forum
QuoteDoing alittle digging, it appears that Comcast threatened to back out of the deal had they been forced to give CSN-Philadelphia to DBS and FiOS and the FCC blinked and gave in presumably for the good of the Adelphia subscribers. Nothing like alittle backbone on the part of the FCC commissioners. Had they stood their ground, the deal would have gone through. Comcast is to pick up 1.8 million subscribers as part of the deal. They would not lose that many in Philadelphia to DBS were CSN-Philadelphia to be made available to DBS or FiOS. So much for competition and some control over rates in the Philadelphia area. It may not be a bad idea for Philadelphia cable subscribers to be reminded of this fact when they pay thier ever increasing cable bill before voting for their congressional representatives in November.
CSN Philly is the exception to the rule guys. Basically comcast once again strongarmed who was against them to get their way. IF your outside philly no CSN Philly, if you in the Philly viewing area but use dish/fios/dtv your still not getting CSN Philly w/o comcast cable
QuoteCable Deal Requires RSN Conditions
While the FCC approved the transfer of licenses from Adelphia to Comcast and Time Warner Cable, the agency also imposed conditions on the deal it said aim to address issues tied to competitor access to regional sports networks affiliated with the cable giants.
The commission said the conditions mirrored those imposed on News Corp. when it took a controlling stake in DirecTV in 2004.
Specifically, the FCC adopted a condition allowing unaffiliated RSNs unable to reach a carriage agreement with Time Warner or Comcast to seek arbitration. This would force Comcast into arbitration with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which carries Washington Nationals games. Both sides have been unable to reach a carriage deal.
Also, the cable giants are prohibited from engaging in tactics that would make affiliated regional sports programming unavailable to rivals, such as satellite TV. Also, any regional sports network affiliated with Comcast or Time Warner Cable must go to arbitration if there's a dispute.
Left out of the regulatory mix is Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia. The FCC ruled that Comcast may retain exclusivity with its hometown RSN.
It's unbelievable that this is allowed to continue. This is practically a monopoly. If Comcast was forced to give up exclusivity to CSN, it would at the very least make them be competitive with the rates of the satellite companies so they can retain their customers.
i still dont fully understand why its allowed to happen only in philly...but not in chicago....ny....baltimore or dc
If they gave it up, then they would have competitors offering better packages at lower prices, thus making comcast lower their prices, lowering stock prices and hurting the conglomerate of comcast. Who cares about the consumer!
ha, really. it's not like that's the FCC's job or anything.
QuoteConsumer Watch: Why did FCC fail local sports fans?By Jeff Gelles
Inquirer Columnist
Washington consumers had a problem, and the federal government addressed it. Philadelphia consumers had a problem, and the government - at all levels - failed them.
That sums up one of the most bizarre government decisions you'll ever see: The Federal Communications Commission's July 13 approval, with conditions, of Comcast and Time Warner's bid for bankrupt Adelphia Communications.
Not that the approval itself was bizarre. Everyone agrees that Adelphia customers deserve a cable company with a pulse.
No, the bizarre part came in the conditions devised by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin - in particular, in two conditions stirred by Comcast's willingness to throw its weight around at the expense of sports fans, as the cable industry has a long and unfortunate history of doing.
In one, the FCC is forcing settlement of a financial dispute that has led Comcast to refuse to carry the Washington Nationals' baseball channel on its Washington-area systems.
Customers squawked, and public officials listened. At least three area representatives complained to the FCC and to fellow lawmakers. The result: As a condition of the Adelphia deal, Comcast will have to accept arbitration to settle the Nationals dispute and similar cases.
Tale of another city
The FCC's logic took its strange twist when it came to Philadelphia's longer-running dispute over sports.
It made Comcast agree to share its local sports channels with competitors. But the condition exempts the Philadelphia market - the only place where either company actually withholds local sports, as Comcast does by refusing to share SportsNet with DirecTV and Dish Network.
Why did the FCC fix one city's problem and punt on the other?
Washington consumers certainly don't suffer more harm - they don't even suffer as much. The Nats' Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is available from the satellites and from RCN Corp., whose cable service competes with Comcast's in some parts of Washington.
Here, fans know that if they switch to satellite, they'll miss most of the Phillies, Sixers and Flyers. Comcast's practice robs them of consumer choice.
Nor did Comcast win on legal points. The FCC's Adelphia decision closes the loophole that Comcast has relied on to keep SportsNet to itself. Except in Philadelphia.
Leadership counts
So if those factors don't explain why Comcast got a pass here, what does?
One answer is that Comcast showed a willingness to compromise, but perhaps only so far, as regulators and lawmakers have questioned its use of local sports as leverage over competitors.
Comcast officials suggested that they had no intention of extending their Philadelphia practices elsewhere. At the same time, they urged the FCC and Congress to keep their hands off the Philadelphia market.
If Comcast was persuasive, it owes a special debt to Philadelphia area officials so enthralled at Comcast that they wink at its heavy-handed behavior.
Consumers gripe about the SportsNet loophole. So do bloggers, media-rights advocates, and the occasional columnist. But unlike the Washington officials who challenged Comcast's refusal to carry the Nationals, this region's politicians have been shamefully mute.
Only one councilman, Michael Nutter, even mentioned the issue at City Council's lone hearing on the Adelphia deal.
It doesn't hurt that, like most regulated businesses, Comcast knows how to work the levers of government, such as by hiring former officials as lobbyists. But it's hard to blame David L. Cohen or anyone at Comcast for our current political leaders' failure to cry foul.
The FCC's decision was a slap in the face to Philadelphia. It identified a practice that harms consumers, and barred it everywhere else. Yet its message to Comcast was: You own Philadelphia. Do what you please.
The first step toward solving a problem is recognizing that you have one. Right now, the message from our leaders is that everything is Comcastic.
•
I'm on leave starting this week, and Consumer Watch will be on hiatus until I return. Until then, you can find useful tools, links, advice and other information on my blog: http://go.philly.com/consumerwatch.
From todays inky
It made Comcast agree to share its local sports channels with competitors. But the condition exempts the Philadelphia market - the only place where either company actually withholds local sports, as Comcast does by refusing to share SportsNet with DirecTV and Dish Network.
i must be crazy because again this sounds like to me that if youre outside the philly market you can get csn philly on your dish
no??
no
It made Comcast agree to share its local sports channels with competitors. But the condition exempts the Philadelphia market
at least this time you have to admit that the author is wrong and im not reading it incorrectly
i think the author means, for example, that Comcast has to share SportsNet Chicago with satellite companies in the Chicago area.
then he should have said it exempts csn philly the station not the philly market...as that makes it sound as tho you can get csn philly if youre outside the philly market
Comcast gets anything they want with respect to Philadelphia because they have Philly politicians (and I include Rendell in that) by the balls. Philadelphia isn't exactly the most business-friendly city and without piles of favors it would leave town, taking away thousands of jobs and leaving that enormous Comcast Death Star they are building in the city without its major tenant.
I've got Adelphia now and I'll be one of the souls switching over to Comcast whenever that goes down. I've dealt with Comcast before, and frankly both cable companies lick taint, particularly in the cost department. Such is the nature of local monopolies, however -- nasty inefficient creatures that can only exist with the cooperation of local governments. I doubt true cable competition will be allowed in Philadelphia anytime this millenium due to the presence of a cable company worth more money than most countries. I'm more optimistic about things out here in Pittsburgh, but I'm not holding my breath.
In my opinion the FCC's job should be keeping frequencies from overlapping, and that's it. Even leaving them with that is arguable, honestly. Everything else they do has the stench of corruption and state censorship. Asking them to fight against Comcast for you is like asking al Qaeda to come in and protect you from the bullies at school.
For the last year I've really started to get tired of Comcast and their BS. Well yesterday put me over the top. I'm trying to find a movie to watch at 3:30 am before I pass out, and I'm scrolling through the HBO and Encore channels, and I'm like wait a second, how come I blew through them so fast? In my area HBO channels are 300-311(311 is spanish) and Encore is 150-160. Well Comcast removed 307, 308, and 309 from the HBO listings, and all the odd numbers from the Encore listings. So for Encore 151, 153, 155, 157, 159 are gone.
I called Comcast to find out what the hell happened to the channels, and the lady said they removed them because they were pointless. She said all those channels did was show the same movies again a few hours later. I said exactly. If I pop on the TV and a movie that I'm interested in is halfway over, I can tune back in 2 hours later and catch the whole thing or set Tivo to record it. As to what they replaced those channels with? The travel channel, the homework help channel...
farg Comcast.
so you cancelled comcast cable then?
Monopolies own me.
you really did finally go over the top then
Enough to complain about it here. Sounds pretty over the top to me.
it's been four years since i gave a dime to comcast, and i can't say i miss it much.
If I could get DSL here I wouldn't have comcast at all. Right now, they're only raping me for internet access.
QuoteProgram Access on FCC Agenda
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Ted Hearn 10/30/2006 5:03:00 PMThe Federal Communications Commission is making plans to review its program-access rules, which generally require cable operators to sell their satellite-delivered networks to DirecTV, EchoStar Communications and other pay TV providers, an agency official said Monday.
The FCC last looked at the rules in 2002, one decade after program-access provisions were enacted as part of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. Congress imposed forced-sale mandates on cable to ensure that the satellite-TV providers could gain access to cable channels that were too expensive for new entrants to duplicate.
Four years ago, the FCC examined the cable-programming market and concluded that it would not use its discretion to allow the cable-exclusivity ban to sunset. Instead, the commission extended the ban until October 2007, setting up the review it has nearing the launch pad.
The program-access regime has expanded beyond the original congressional design as a result of FCC-imposed merger conditions. Comcast and Time Warner Cable can't withhold terrestrially delivered regional sports networks from rivals for the next six years under Adelphia Communications merger conditions adopted in July. However, Comcast did manage to secure a waiver for SportsNet Philadelphia.
And News Corp., in order to take control of DirecTV in 2003, promised to make its cable-programming services available on a nonexclusive basis for as long as the FCC's program-access rules remain in effect.
:-o
QuoteVerizon set to take on ComcastIts TV service, with SportsNet, starts Monday.
By Miriam Hill
Inquirer Staff Writer
Comcast Corp., which has been snatching Philadelphia-area phone customers from Verizon Communications Inc. for more than a year, is about to get a big taste of its own medicine.
Verizon is expected to announce tomorrow that it will start selling its new $18 billion fiber-optic TV service this week to 100,000 homes in the area, including Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties as well as in South Jersey, according to sources at both companies. The service will not yet be offered in Philadelphia.
Surprisingly, Verizon will offer the channel that has kept thousands of area customers from abandoning Comcast in favor of one of the satellite systems: Comcast SportsNet, with the Phillies, Flyers and Sixers games it carries exclusively.
Neither company would comment for this story, but the SportsNet agreement comes as something of an eyebrow raiser. DirecTV and the Dish Network, both satellite providers, unsuccessfully lobbied Congress and the Federal Communications Commission for years to force Comcast to share its sports programming in Philadelphia.
Verizon is expected to charge $117.93 monthly for its combined phone, high-speed Internet and FiOS TV package in the Philadelphia area. Comcast charges $99 for a similar package, but that rate is available only for one year to new customers. The company has not said what it will charge after the introductory period, but the three products, if purchased separately, cost about $130.
It may be some time before the competition between the two telecommunications giants has a noticeable effect on prices. Indeed, the service bundles for television alone can be so complicated that they defy useful comparison.
In one Maryland community where Verizon and Comcast have locked horns, consumers have reported that they've been able to negotiate with sales representatives for free add-on services such as the premium movie channel Cinemax. Others make their decision based on their experience with each company's reliability and customer service.
Battle for market share
Philadelphia-based Comcast has won about 1.3 million phone customers in the last year, 80 percent of whom buy a triple-play package of phone, high-speed internet and cable TV service.
Verizon has fought back with a triple-play product of its own, but it includes satellite television, which in Philadelphia means no Phillies, Flyers or Sixers games. With its new FiOS TV product, which is similar to cable, as part of its lineup, Verizon should be able to compete more effectively.
It is not clear why Comcast agreed to share SportsNet with Verizon. As part of this deal, Verizon also agreed to carry three other Comcast channels: PBS Kids Sprout, the Golf Channel and VS., the sports network formerly known as OLN. That gives Comcast a broader audience for its content, potentially allowing it to charge more for ads.
Because of an exemption in federal law, Comcast does not have to share its local content such as SportsNet with competitors.
But while Comcast has kept sports content from satellite competitors, it has shared it with RCN Corp., a cable company with a small number of customers in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Hearing planned
Comcast's decision comes on the eve of a hearing this week by Sen. Arlen Specter that will focus on whether cable companies kill competition by hoarding sports programming.
Comcast also may use local sports programming as a bargaining chip in its bigger battle with the NFL Network. The company has balked at prices the NFL wants to charge for some games, resulting in litigation. Company executives also have complained that it cannot buy NFL Sunday Ticket, a popular package of football games available only to DirecTV subscribers.
Verizon's ability to offer local sports undoubtedly will thrill Philadelphia sports fans, but executives at DirecTV were fuming.
"Comcast continues to deny tens of thousands of DirecTV customers and loyal Philadelphia sports fans access to their home teams while providing their regional sports network to a small cable service and now Verizon, which has yet to sign up a single customer," said Susan Eid, DirecTV's vice president of government relations.
"All they've done is added insult to injury by continuing their anticompetitive behavior and shamelessly demonstrating their disregard for Philadelphia's sport fans."
Satellite companies' inability to get Philadelphia sports programming has hurt DirecTV and the Dish Network here, she said. The two companies have less than 10 percent of the Philadelphia market, compared with 26 percent nationally.
Verizon has agreements with 94 municipalities in Southeastern Pennsylvania to offer FiOS TV. It does not yet have such an agreement with Philadelphia.
Verizon can offer FiOS statewide in New Jersey. Verizon will roll out the service gradually. It is expected to announce which municipalities will get the service first tomorrow.
get Verizon!
TV sucks!
QuoteSpecter says NFL abuses cable viewersBy Miriam Hill
Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON - Sen. Arlen Specter's hearing yesterday was supposed to focus on whether cable companies such as Comcast Corp. can wield sports programming like a club to inhibit competition.
But at the end of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Specter turned the tables in a way that took a lot of heat off Comcast. The Pennsylvania Republican, who is chairman of the committee, said he would sponsor legislation to eliminate the antitrust exemption that allows the National Football League to negotiate broadcast rights for all of its 32 teams.
Specter cited a list of grievances against the NFL, including its decision to move Monday Night Football from ABC to ESPN, a cable channel, and moves by teams such as the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
That history represented a philosophy of "fans be damned," he said. The programming changes suggest an attitude of "consumers be damned."
"Wouldn't consumers be better off if teams could negotiate?" Specter asked. "This is the NFL exerting its power right down to the last nickel."
In a written statement, the NFL said it was sensitive to Specter's concerns, but added that there was no basis for repealing its antitrust exemption. The league also defended its television practices as "consistent with the public interest and as delivering fans extraordinary amounts of programming at little or no cost."
The NFL Network is suing Comcast over the Philadelphia cable company's refusal to carry eight late-season football games in a programming tier widely available to customers. Comcast wants to put those games in its sports tier, which costs $5 more monthly, to compensate for higher fees the NFL wants to charge.
Comcast also has complained that it cannot buy rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, a popular package of games available only to DirecTV subscribers.
Comcast executive vice president David L. Cohen, who also testified yesterday, said he was not ready to agree that the NFL should lose its antitrust exemption.
It is not clear whether Specter's proposed legislation will go anywhere. When Democrats take control of the Senate in January, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) will replace Specter as committee chairman.
Specter said he would consider proposing that Comcast and other cable companies no longer be allowed to refuse to share sports programming with satellite competitors.
He said he was pleased to see that Comcast had agreed to sell its SportsNet content, which includes Phillies, Flyers and Sixers games, to Verizon Communications Inc. Verizon has started selling TV service in the Philadelphia region.
Cohen said his company agreed to share that content in part because it did not think Verizon would compete with Comcast in the city of Philadelphia. :-D He also cited DirecTV's exclusive rights to NFL Sunday ticket.