Comcast and Fox Sports World

[kenntomasch]

Originally posted by billf
Comcast owns the teams they broadcast, the arena in which they play, the cable channel that broadcasts the teams, and they are the largest provider of service in the industry that gets their teams into people's homes.

That's called "synergy". ;)

[Tea Men Tom]

It's a bit ironic that the Clinton Administration, the national new media and various state Attorney's General made a huge deal about Microsoft being a monopoly and you hear NOTHING about similar crap being pulled in the cable industry.

People have zero say in this. It's either take your local cable company or forget cable and get a dish. But if you have lots of high trees on your property, you're stuck with cable.

Unfortunately, it's another example of big business running this country and if we don't like it, they say screw you.

I remember our then local congressman, Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) at one time was head of the House Telecommunications Sub Committee which "regulated" the cable industry. Back about 6 or 7 years ago, he made a huge deal about this alleged "Cable Reform" legislation which was supposed to lower everyone's cable rates and be great for the consumer.

It passed. But who's cable rates have gone down since then? And all we've gotten is more consolidation to the point where this industry borders on being a monopoly. Is this all for the "benefit" of the American consumer?

Screw you Ed, you hypocrite.

I would love to see how many influential people in the cable industry are active contributors to his campaign fund and those of other members of the sub committee - both Republican and Democrat. My guess is lots.

The cable industry is every bit the same type of special interest as Microsoft, the Oil Companies, Insurance companies, Attorney's etc.

Only problem is they're not quite as "glamorous" because no one knows who heads Comcrap. There's no Bill Gates to villify.

So this type of garbage goes on unnoticed unless you're affected by their service or programming decisions.....which it sounds like we're about to be.

[THFCfan]

Thought I'd trash Cablevision while you're at it. They suck too. They've been telling me calbe internet will be available in a few months for two and a half years. I can't get digital cable either so its no FSW or satellite. MSG carries Premiership game of the week on the Friday after but only before the NBA starts up.
I know that the government does allow monopolies in some industries (electric, cable, etc.) but why do they? Seems pretty stupid to me.