The Scariest Cable Merger Nobody in Washington Is Talking About

[Uncle Joe]

Big Cable should have gotten the message. But here we are just a year later with a new cable mega-merger in the works. This time, Charter Communications wants to snatch up Time Warner Cable along with Bright House Networks.

Unfortunately, this deal hasn’t received nearly as much public attention as the Comcast-Time Warner Cable proposal. The harms it presents are just as serious, however — serious enough for lawmakers and regulators to give this outrageous proposal the attention it merits.

Let’s start with some basics. The three merging companies would create a new Mega Cable company, controlling about one-third of the nation’s cable and cable-broadband markets. In addition, the new colossus would own programming, including regional sports networks all across the country, and would completely dominate some of America’s largest media markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Charlotte, Tampa Bay, Orlando and St. Louis. Finally, the combined companies would have an anti-competitive incentive to preference their streaming-video offering over that of competitors.

When you add it up, the new company would look a lot like, well, Comcast. Yes, this merger would create a new Comcast — a national cable giant with the ability and the incentive to thwart competition, diversity, and consumer choice.

And it gets worse. Because they don’t compete in any markets, Comcast and the new Mega Cable company would stand shoulder to shoulder in control of more than 70 percent of the high-speed broadband market. The two companies would have no incentive to compete against each other, but every incentive to coordinate against their shared marketplace competitors.

(snip)

http://billmoyers.com/story/the-scariest-cable-merger-nobody-in-washington-is-talking-about/

[liberal N proud]

1. Monopolies were busted at different times, but now they prosper.

Completely unchecked

[Politicalboi]

2. More people need to drop cable

We use Mr. Antenna for local stations. Complete hook up and antenna $300.00. DONE! We have a good internet provider and we use Roku and Channel Pear for other channels. There's more to choose from online. We watch free new movies with solar movies over the internet. People just need fast internet and the rest is up to them what they do and don't need to watch. There are many choices out there. Drop cable.

[LiberalArkie]

4. In the area they serve they are the internet providers.

[Politicalboi]

7. In our area

We can't get cable. We just got lucky in finding an independent internet provider for $50.00 bucks a month. They may be out in their area if they look.

[Volaris]

10. Argument for Publicly-owned and operated broadband and wireless utility.

[DAMANgoldberg]

8. They are the ISP as well.

In my city, they are the only cable provider, and at my house they are the only broadband provider, not AT&T, not Google Fiber (will not serve my "fiberhood&quot . TWC internet works and is reliable, but I'm not able to get it due to past due issues that they aren't willing to work with me on a fixed SSI income and the city can't force their hand. When that gets straight, I already have an antenna and need a $35 device to format it for my TV on local channels. Then sling/roku/amazon fire stick/etc so I can get CNN and a few other channels will work for me.

[doc03]

3. My contract with Direct TV runs out in March after that I intend to

go to broadcast TV. I can get 16 channels with an indoor antenna, get ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS was fed up with Comcast and their price increases every few months. I tried Direct TV and it goes out every time there is a storm. For $104 I get a gazillion damn telemarketing channels and religious channels. The only channels I did watch was History (now Pickers 24/7), History 2 (now Ancient Aliens 24/7) and MSNBC which is totally un-watchable today (Trump 24/7). I signed up for Netflix and now about 95% of my TV viewing costs $8.99 a month.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The last two times I went to Comcast, they had a longer line than a Bernie Sanders rally, only

one person working the counter, no movement what so ever after twenty minutes, I finally got fed up and left both times.

People in line were asking newcomers if they brought their sleeping bags when they first arrived.

It was ridiculous.

[doc03]

6. Remember a few years ago when we got the $40 voucher to buy our own

DTV box, I heard those SOBs charge a $1.95 monthly rental fee for our own box now..

[Judi Lynn]

9. It's time something is done now. These maggots have had too much control far too long.

What they offer is not worth the ridiculous costs, with no end in sight of price increases.

The government has acted wisely regarding monopolies before, as already mentioned, it's past due time to do it again.

They shouldn't be able to fleece the public at will, with no checks.

[area51]

11. Teddy Roosevelt ("The Trust Buster") must be turning in his grave. n/t