More reasons to cut the cord.
"We don't think it's fair that they (Tribune Broadcasting) are demanding huge
fee increases, especially since their programming is provided free with a TV
antenna, and much of it is available for free on the internet." Charter said in
a statement.
Yeah, but boo-hoo, right? I didn't think it was "fair" for our cable company to
continue raising its fees for basic cable either, when they weren't even
carrying as many channels as I could reach for free OTA. Which is why they
couldn't sucker me in. That whining is not very convincing.
There are no good guys here. The problem is the market distortion that cable TV
gatekeeper-monopolies introduced. Both the content owners, and the service
providers, took advantage, and the consumers always got the short end of the
stick. It is only strange that these two parties continue playing the same
decades-old game, even now that consumers are finally wising up. Wake up, guys.
People are figuring out they now have options. It took some time for that to
sink in, but it's happening at an accelerating pace. And you guys keep raising
your rates, as if nothing changed.
And we wonder how a corrupt FCC is so stubbornly in favor of a non-neutral
Internet? Duh!! The Internet is demolishing the shenanigans he holds so dear.
Blatant corruption.
Bert
---------------------------------------------
https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/charter-pulls-tribune-stations-from-spectrum-affecting-nearly-six-million-subscribers
Charter Pulls Tribune Stations from Spectrum, Affecting Nearly Six Million
Subscribers
Dispute arises from increased retrans fees
Tom Butts 12 hours ago
CHICAGO-Tribune Broadcasting pulled its TV stations from Charter
Communications' Spectrum cable system in 24 markets after the expiration of its
contract on Wednesday. The action affects approximately six million viewers on
33 television stations.
Charter claims that Tribune is demanding more than double an increase in
retransmission fees. Tribune says it is charging only what it considers "fair
rates."
The dispute comes as the NFL begins playoffs this coming weekend. The league
reported this week that viewership rose 5 percent in the 2018 season, with
viewership averaging nearly 16 million viewers per game. Forty-six of the top
50 rated TV programs during the 2018 season were NFL games.
"We don't think it's fair that they (Tribune Broadcasting) are demanding huge
fee increases, especially since their programming is provided free with a TV
antenna, and much of it is available for free on the internet." Charter said in
a statement.
"We're extremely disappointed that we do not have an agreement on the renewal
of our contract with Spectrum," said Gary Weitman, Tribune Media's senior vice
president for corporate relations. "We've offered Spectrum fair market rates
for our top-rated local news, live sports and high-quality entertainment
programming, and similarly fair rates for our cable network, WGN America,"
Weitman continued. "Spectrum has refused our offer and failed to negotiate in a
meaningful fashion."
Stations affected by Charter's actions include WPIX New York, KTLA Los Angeles,
KDAF Dallas, and KSWB San Diego. WGNA America, the basic cable channel, also is
affected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.