[opendtv] Re: Cox: Hard-wired cable users must soon switch to mini box | Gainesville.com
- From: Craig Birkmaier <brewmastercraig@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 06 May 2016 06:47:48 -0400
On May 5, 2016, at 9:05 PM, Manfredi, Albert E <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote
Craig, these obstacles you create almost never pan out. The fact is, HBO is
currently available as a legacy MVPD offering, as an Internet offering only
available to MVPD subscribers, *and* as a stand-alone OTT site. Does it sound
like a content owner that erects pointless, formulaic obstacles? Not to me.
And your point is!
HBO has several legacy business models to support; businesses that still
represent the majority of their subscriber base.
And they have a new business that is direct to consumer.
The real question is why would HBO contract with Virtual MVPDs to sell their
bundle, when they are selling it direct?
The only barrier that HBO has erected is "price."
Third, Comcast and NBC/Universal are already operating under a
consent agreement with the FCC; a condition of the merger.
That agreement ONLY applies to the legacy MVPD service. If Comcast decides to
open an OTT service, to compete with other MVPDs which will no doubt do
likewise, there's no way that the FCC would object.
Get real. Comcast already has more territory and homes passed than any other
geographic MVPD. I seriously doubt that the FCC is going to allow them to go
after the customers of all other geographic MVPD competitors.
And the FTC and DOJ would object as well.
First, Sling is a subsidiary of a MVPD service that already
operates with a national footprint.
All the MORE reason, not less reason, for the FCC to not object to other
MVPDs playing the same game. Remember: the idea that multiple OTT sites would
compete on the basis of an MVPD look-alike service, on the neutral Internet,
is pretty absurd. So they are in fact playing a different game, as OTT sites,
just as Sling TV does.
The FCC is concerned about concentration of ownership. The fact that Comcast
ALSO owns one of the congloms makes they very different, as with saw with the
conditions placed on the acquisition of NBC Universal.
And the other content owners have a say too, as they would need to give Comcast
the rights to compete in other areas.
It remains to be seen how the FCC will define and regulate VMVPDs.
Then let's not pretend to know that imaginary obstacles exist. They don't.
And if you call these OTT competitors, rather than VMVPDs, it might just
become clearer.
What is clear is that the government will regulate, and limit the concentration
of power. Let's see what the FCC has to say about Hulu becoming a VMVPD.
Regards
Craig
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