AT&T took away my favorite channels!

[Verio]

Seriously, this is just a cost of doing business. Why must companies like AT&T pass the cost on to the consumers? What is their profit margin? While I'm definitely for capitalism, the bottom line is, the companies need to take responsibility for the cost of doing the business they're in.

If I was Scripps, I would be raising prices as well. It's a simple case of consumer demand. People like the channels they offer, so they can raise the prices. AT&T therefore gets more customers by keeping the prices low.

If I was a network provider like Scripps, how can I make revenue if I don't increase prices as consumer demand increases?

[ged_782]

It was just announced on the Nine O'clock News that the FOX 29 & CW 35 carriage agreement with Time Warner will expire on Dec. 31, and based on the status of their negotiations, it does not appear that they will be able to continue to be carried on Time Warner after Dec. 31. They are making this announcement now, so that TWC customers who would be affected can make other arrangements to obtain their programming.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by ged_782

It was just announced on the Nine O'clock News that the FOX 29 & CW 35 carriage agreement with Time Warner will expire on Dec. 31, and based on the status of their negotiations, it does not appear that they will be able to continue to be carried on Time Warner after Dec. 31. They are making this announcement now, so that TWC customers who would be affected can make other arrangements to obtain their programming.

Those stations are owned by Sinclair, a company that loves to play hardball with cable companies over rights fees. They do it in their markets all over the country.

[Merovee]

Originally Posted by ged_782

make other arrangements

Fox and CW? Does 'other arrangements' mean unplugging the cable and catching the station for free through regular on-air broadcasting? If so you can get it for free just not through T-W soon? It does sound like hardball but will they win this time?

[bg2ntst]

Originally Posted by Verio

Seriously, this is just a cost of doing business. Why must companies like AT&T pass the cost on to the consumers? What is their profit margin? While I'm definitely for capitalism, the bottom line is, the companies need to take responsibility for the cost of doing the business they're in.

If I was Scripps, I would be raising prices as well. It's a simple case of consumer demand. People like the channels they offer, so they can raise the prices. AT&T therefore gets more customers by keeping the prices low.

If I was a network provider like Scripps, how can I make revenue if I don't increase prices as consumer demand increases?

This is kind of an unusual perspective, IMO. If you sold burgers and the cost of beef rose from $2/lb to $3/lb, I suspect you would raise the price of your burgers. AT&T is just a middleman. If the price they pay for a channel is raised, it's only logical that the cost of AT&T's service of providing the channel would also rise. They're not in business to make less money...and nobody is twisting anyone's arm to get U-verse, TWC, DirecTV or any other programming provider. You can express your opinion with your wallet. Don't like the price increase? Change companies.

[Verio]

Originally Posted by bg2ntst

This is kind of an unusual perspective, IMO. If you sold burgers and the cost of beef rose from $2/lb to $3/lb, I suspect you would raise the price of your burgers. AT&T is just a middleman. If the price they pay for a channel is raised, it's only logical that the cost of AT&T's service of providing the channel would also rise. They're not in business to make less money...and nobody is twisting anyone's arm to get U-verse, TWC, DirecTV or any other programming provider. You can express your opinion with your wallet. Don't like the price increase? Change companies.

... and I did this weekend. Going back to DirecTV. It's unfortunate that companies such as AT&T can justify raising my bill by 5 - 10 dollars a month, because a network raises their cost by 50c a person.

McDonalds doesn't raise their price everytime their products cost more, otherwise when the cost of produce skyrocketed 2 years ago, you would have seen 10 dollar burgers.

[txtea]

They do this very same thing every year.....they warn us that unless they can come to an agreement soon.....whatever channel is going to be dropped. Usually has something to do with the Spurs games or a favorite channel that no one wants to do without. Then at the last minute, they come out and announce that it's over....they came to an agreement, and saved the day. Patting themselves on the back, making themselves out to be heroes for the subscribers.
They are going to raise their rates whenever their costs of doing business goes up... for whatever reason. They aren't about to take a bullet for the little guy and absorb the additional cost. Heaven forbid their pie charts have to be moved ...we can't have that!

[Spock's Beard]

Originally Posted by pr57001

Fee dispute between AT&T and Scripps. I'm sure it will be worked out eventually, with higher fees to come.

Fee dispute between everyone and everyone; all the carriers and channels have been going through this stuff for the past couple of years. The carriers want to make their billions of dollars for nothing and think they should be allowed to carry the channels for free, while more and more networks are realizing the profits the carriers are making and want a piece of it.

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by Verio

... and I did this weekend. Going back to DirecTV. It's unfortunate that companies such as AT&T can justify raising my bill by 5 - 10 dollars a month, because a network raises their cost by 50c a person.

McDonalds doesn't raise their price everytime their products cost more, otherwise when the cost of produce skyrocketed 2 years ago, you would have seen 10 dollar burgers.

As much of a Directv fan as I am even I will say dont be surprised if Directv does the same thing. In 9 years my base package has gone up $30. We just came off a rate increase in February ($3-$5 depending on your package).

I'll never leave Directv because I think they are that much better than anyone out there, but they do raise prices just like everyone else.