saveaccess's blog

Cable fee battles point to smaller TV bundles

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:14:19 -0500

Tue, Jan 12 2010

By Yinka Adegoke - Analysis

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cable companies, burdened by the cost of programing, are starting to seriously consider something they have long resisted: letting television subscribers pay for just those channels they want to watch.

For years consumer advocates, regulators and politicians have argued that cable TV providers should allow consumers to choose their own TV channels or buy smaller packages, rather than bundle around 100 fixed channels at prices usually starting around $50 a month.

Lawmakers Press FCC On AT$T's Public Program Offerings

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:17 -0400

from: The Morning Star

Lawmakers Press FCC On AT&T's Public Program Offerings
9-17-08 2:10 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Members of a powerful House committee are pressing the Federal Communications Commission to put a stop to how AT&T Inc. (T) offers public and educational programming on its fledgling paid TV service.

More Verminators!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:56:27 -0400

from: Riedel Communications

More Verminators!

On the eve of a Congressional hearing regarding what has happened to Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access channels since the passage of statewide or state issued franchise legislation, it is heartening to note that the cable and telecom industries (and the FCC) have severely overplayed their hand. Tomorrow, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government will hear a laundry list of harms done to PEG in what appears to be an industry-wide effort to bury and destroy these local channels. An effort that was spawned by the FCC’s First and Second Report and Order on Video Franchising and the nineteen states that passed the state legislation. These harms come at a time when Congress and the American people are acutely sensitive to media consolidation and the loss of localism.

Subcommittee Hearing on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access for Cable

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:11:51 -0400

The following link is scheduled to provide a live look at this morning's subcommittee meeting on PEG:

http://appropriations.edgeboss.net/wmedia-live/appropriations/33698/282_appropriations-happrops_080213.asx

Background:

Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Hearing on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access for Cable Television

HI: State Seeks Input on Upcoming Cable Franchise Renewal

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:19:07 -0400

from: Hawaii Reporter

State Seeks Input on Upcoming Cable Franchise Renewal
By Keali'i Lopez, 6/17/2008 3:59:54 AM

In the recent past, we've kept you informed about past proceedings, including the RFP and legislative bills and resolutions that could impact Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access.

Communities Excluded, the Public Deluded in FCC's Secret Giveaway of Thousands of TV Channels

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:12:22 -0400

Note: A little confusion in this worthy article. PEG is a public interest requirement that applies to cable TV and that resulted from the original Cable Act. Broadcast TV, which includes the new digital TV channels, originally created PBS in the 1960's as the 'public' and non-commercial component of that system. However, the giveaway of the new spectrum/channels for DTV should have had increased public interest obligations attached.

Barack Obama’s Media Agenda: An Exclusive Interview

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:10:09 -0400

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Barack Obama’s Media Agenda: An Exclusive Interview
Presumptive Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama

E-Mails with B&C’s John Eggerton
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/15/2008 11:00:00 PM

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has a profound appreciation of the media’s great possibilities. That’s at least part of what earned him the presumptive Democratic nomination for president.

Stats: Conversion from Analog to Digital-TV

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:08:24 -0400

from: US Census Office

Conversion from Analog to Digital-TV
Feb. 17, 2009

On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power TV stations will cease to broadcast analog programming. This transition to digital television will enable more efficient use of the nation’s airwaves, providing new advanced wireless services and increased public safety services. To mark this historic transition, the Census Bureau has assembled a sampling of statistics from its publications about television and the television industry.

Cable: deregulation good for consumers; Ars: like heck it is

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:06:23 -0400

from: Ars Technica

Cable: deregulation good for consumers; Ars: like heck it is

By Nate Anderson | Published: June 10, 2008 - 12:50PM CT

If the last 10 years have taught us anything, it's that the cable industry in the US is focused on openness, innovation, and customer satisfaction; but if we can't keep the government's knuckleheaded regulators out of our cable lines and off our Internet, cable's nearly absurd level of innovation will be throttled down more effectively than BitTorrent uploads on Comcast's network. Well, so says the cable industry, at least.

TN: Cable man's alleged abductor ordered to get mental exam

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:45:31 -0400

from: The Tennessean

Cable man's alleged abductor ordered to get mental exam

June 10, 2008
By CHRIS ECHEGARAY
Staff Writer

The cable TV war in Tennessee has reached new heights.

But it's not the competitors waging this battle — it's a customer. His name is John Weatherly, and he has been accused of kidnapping a Comcast technician during a service call in March 2007.

NYC: Verizon Cable Franchise Agreement

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:42:41 -0400

from: DMI Blog

Verizon Cable Franchise Agreement: $70 Billion Bun That Needs More Time in the Oven
Chris Keeley

New York City’s cable marketplace is currently divided into territories, with some of the city controlled by Time Warner and other portions by Cablevision. New York City and Verizon recently reached a 12-year, first-of-its-kind cable franchise agreement which will allow Verizon to offer the “triple play” of services – cable TV, phone and internet service – throughout all five boroughs of the city. With this agreement, New York City is calling off a long-held, city-imposed truce between the city’s two cable providers, Time Warner and Cablevision, and other competitors.

IL: AT$T Access Plan Challenged

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:41:11 -0400

from: Illinois Channel

AT&T Access Plan Challenged
by Curtis Black | curtis@newstips.org
June 5,2008

AT&T's plan for public access on its U-verse video service -- which the company calls "innovative" and critics call inadequate -- is being challenged in Illinois.

In other states, AT&T has relegated hundreds of public, educational, and governmental (PEG) stations to submenus on a single Channel 99, where accessing a particular channel is cumbersome and time-consuming, and picture and sound quality are on a par with YouTube, access advocates say. (This video demonstrate how Channel 99 works in California.)

LA: House OKs cable franchise bill

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:39:51 -0400

from: The Advicate

House OKs cable franchise bill

* By SARAH CHACKO
* Advocate Capitol News Bureau
* Published: Jun 11, 2008 - Page: 6A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

Comments (1)

After lengthy debate and several failed amendments, House members gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would enable cable companies to get a statewide franchise.

WI: Charter is dropping cable deal with Madison; Madison City Channel

Thu, 22 May 2008 07:01:47 -0400

from: Wisconsin State Journal

Charter is dropping cable deal with Madison; Madison City Channel, WYOU could move to triple digits

DEAN MOSIMAN
608-252-6141
dmosiman@madison.com

Charter Communications is opting out of its cable franchise deal with Madison, which may mean changes for the city's government and public access TV stations.

FL: Strategizing to save public TV channels

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:57:40 -0400

from: WMNF News

Strategizing to save public TV channels
WMNF Evening News Thursday Listen to this entire show: listen to this show

Tags: FL PIRG, TBCN, PEG Channels

A strategy session was held this morning at Tampa Bay Community Network (TBCN) to discuss ways citizens can rally and amend Florida’s Consumer Choice Act of 2007, which threatens Florida’s public access, education and government TV channels, known as PEG channels.