Dish Network and DirecTV to increase rates?

[KMRichards]

Re: Someone explain to me please...

> > One likely scenario: The more popular channels, sensing
> > their worth, would raise their monthly rate to whatever
> the
> > market will bear. Meanwhile, the lesser channels which
> you
> > shun in your example would likely go under for lack of
> > sufficient subscribers, because they would not be able to
> > raise their monthly rates high enough.
>
> Or they could raise their advertising rates.

It is fairly common knowledge that cable networks cannot survive on advertising revenue alone. To cover their costs in that way, they would have to raise their rates higher than the advertising agencies would pay.

And higher rates for fewer households is never going to happen, in any case.

Therefore, your answer flies in the face of reality. Sorry.

> Or they could package them for the consumers. Lets say the History Channel is $5
> a month and A&E is $4. Why not offer them both for $7

So now we're back to you having to pay for a channel you don't want, in order to get the one that you do. Your suggestion undoes the whole concept that you are so desiring.

> Well, this is America home of capitalism. Let the strong survive and the weak
> fall to the side. Why should I pay money to support underacheiving TV
> channels?

You'd sing a different tune if one of the channels you wanted went under because of a la carte, I suspect.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>

 

[Newshawk]

Re: Strike back

> Anybody know whether DirecTV or their local cable outfits
> offer similar
> "holds"?
>
DirecTV will allow you to suspend your account for anywhere from 7 days to 9 months, depending on the circumstances. There is no monthly charge for suspension, and instead of cancelling your service when the suspension runs out, it is automatically reinstated. If you want to unsuspend early, or need to extend your suspension (up to the 9 month limit), all you need to do is call.<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>

 

[Newshawk]

Re: Someone explain to me please...

> > Meanwhile, the lesser channels which you
> > shun in your example would likely go under for lack of
> > sufficient subscribers, because they would not be able to
> > raise their monthly rates high enough.
>
> Or they could raise their advertising rates.

HUH? Would you, as an advertiser, pay more for a spot on cable network "A" that reaches less viewers than cable network "B"? That would only be possible if cable network "A" was one that reached a very desireable demographic.

> > Well, this is America home of capitalism. Let the strong
> survive and the weak fall to the side. Why should I pay
> money to support underacheiving TV channels? That is
> welfare. For some people it may be more expensive, but as I
> said above, I probably would only want a total of 5 or 6
> channels other than the broadcast networks. That would have
> to be cheaper for me and certainly more satisfying of
> getting what I pay for. I don't see any value in getting
> anything I don't want.

Then we'd probably have to listen to you bemoan the fact that "there is noting new on... it's all the same old stuff. Why doesn't anyone do anything different?"

The answer, my friend, would be because producers and network executives would only do that which they see as safe and would attract the greatest number of paying subscribers. Oh, an don't forget that with the far fewer hours of air time left, there would be vastly fewer time slots open to try anything new.

At least there would be a need for fleets of satellites every 2 degrees around the Clarke belt any more... the entirety of the US could probably be covered by four satellites, one for each time zone.
<P ID="signature">______________
"Radio is like musical chairs. When the music stops, I sit down and say something."</P>