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Time Warner Cable’s Britt says he supports smaller TV packages

Bradley Engle — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:27:20 +0000

The anti-bundling bill by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may be going nowhere, but Time Warner Cable Chief Executive Officer Glenn Britt says he supports the idea of having smaller television packages.

Britt told an audience at the Cable Show in Washington D.C. that cable TV packages are becoming too expensive for many low income households, including recent college graduates struggling to find work.

He said these issues are “illustrated” by McCain’s bill to overhaul the way pay TV distributors and programmers package and sell programming, while saying that it is very unlikely the bill will proceed.

“The symbolism there is people are starting to pay attention to the fact that the multichannel TV package … is starting to get too expensive for lower income people,” Britt said.

He noted that consumers are looking for more flexibility than what traditional TV packages offer and that the industry should pay attention.

“I think it’s what consumers want, so we’re going to have to do that,” he said.

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How The $7 Billion Dodgers TV Deal Could Actually Be Good For Consumers

Bradley Engle — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:13:25 +0000

Incentives that are aligned with the consumer: TWC’s #1 goal is the same as their consumers – to keep the price of the bundle down. The more they have the ability to achieve that, the better off the consumer will be in the long-term.

The Future of TV May Not Be Worth It

Bradley Engle — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:55:50 +0000

The platonic ideal of television’s future is a la carte consumption: the ability to pay only for the channels you want. It’s a dream that everyone from Apple to Intel has reportedly pursued, and one that every half-sentient cable customer desires. But maybe the question isn’t can—or will—this happen some day. What we should really be asking is: when it does happen, what will it cost us?

Here’s to some wishful consumer-friendly resolutions

Stephen Smith — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:39:44 +0000

As it stands, companies like Disney and Fox can insist that a Time Warner Cable or a DirecTV satellite take most or all of their channels as part of any programming deal, regardless of whether subscribers want them. Non-sports fans thus end up paying extra for ESPN and non-Spanish speakers have to pay for MundoFox.

Here’s to some wishful consumer-friendly resolutions

Bradley Engle — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:34:47 +0000

Featured Issue: Retransmission Consent

Bradley Engle — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:34:37 +0000

The U.S. Congress has authorized broadcast stations, such as those that air ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX programming, to grant or deny permission (provide "consent") for a cable television operator to "retransmit" the signal to its customers.

What is Retransmission Consent?

Bradley Engle — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:34:43 +0000

Retransmission consent fees are payments TV providers make to broadcasters to carry their signals

What is Retransmission Consent?

Stephen Smith — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:06:00 +0000

Retransmission consent fees are payments TV providers make to broadcasters to carry their signals

Featured Issue: Retransmission Consent

Stephen Smith — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:03:36 +0000

Blackout threats by broadcasters are unfair to television viewers

Stephen Smith — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:07:05 +0000

In advance of a July 24 Senate Commerce Committee hearing on retransmission ("retrans") reform, Consumer Action urges Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to act quickly to protect TV subscribers from increasing broadcaster blackouts.