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OPINION

Cable profits aplenty as customers take the hit

Letter
Comments (9)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

Donald W. Patterson’s article (“Cable subscribers face tough choice,” Nov. 26) fails to mention a very big factor in this discussion: All of these programs are not commercial-free.

Companies pay some show providers to have their products promoted. I would assume that the most popular shows are able to charge greater fees.

Also, the article said Time Warner is asking its more than 400,000 subscribers for input. Some simple math indicates Time Warner is receiving millions from just its Triad subscribers yearly.
If the other two major markets in the state are included, the total dollar figure probably approaches $1 billion.

Is this not an attempt by both the cable service and the show providers to enhance their revenue at the expense of the cable subscribers?

James B. Lamar Jr.
Kernersville

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Lakeshia

December 1, 2009 - 4:24 am EST

Kill your television -
Read a book, take a class, volunteer just about anywhere, take long walks, take short walks, play with your dog, work ovetime for free, do anything other than sit in front of a TV - and never ever let kids sit in front of a TV - great & interesting things happen when you kill your TV.

Joey

December 1, 2009 - 6:33 pm EST

All that stuff is overrated..Get Dish Network w/ a HD DVR,a HD tv, some cold beer, and watch the ball games.

mamaboilermaker

December 1, 2009 - 7:47 am EST

If everyone traded their cable for a piano, guitar, exercise equipment, or some good books the cable company would have to lower prices to compete. That's how the free market works. I don't have cable, so they can't have my money.
Just think how many books you could buy with what you spend monthly on cable!

Better yet, invite some neighbors over for actual live conversation and coffee--way better than "reality" TV!

rightwingnemesis

December 1, 2009 - 9:09 am EST

Excellent ideas Ms. mamaboilermaker. Excellent ideas.

Yvonne

December 1, 2009 - 8:22 am EST

The best thing about my DishNetwork is Sirius music stations. Just pick a genre and listen to commercial-free, uninterrupted music all day. Anything goes with music, exercise, work, play, pleasure. Basic cable pretty much sucks.

ghost from white oak

December 1, 2009 - 9:17 am EST

As soon as guvmint finishes with health care reform and crap and tax, they can then move to more serious matters.
Such as making cable more affordable to all Americans, they can demand that cable companies stop making obscene profits. They can have a guvmint cable option, whereby if you can't afford cable they can provide it to you at not cost to you. Well, maybe they will have to tax the super rich, though no one else, I'm sure
So don't worry about cable, it's time will come.

truth

December 1, 2009 - 9:37 am EST

I'm not sure why they are asking for input from their customers. I just got notice yesterday of all the approved rate increases for next year. Cable will charge as much as the market will bear. I stepped down to basic cable at $8.50 a month (soon to be $9.30). I will soon drop it all together and rely on my digital receiver.

If only there was a decent free internet.....

RangerMatt

December 1, 2009 - 3:47 pm EST

There already is a 'guvmint' option: it's called broadcast TV. Since the digital transition I've enjoyed being able to watch both local and Roanoke TV stations. Also, with a good antenna, you'd be surprised what you can get for free. Also, if you want more, there's something called Free To Air Satellite where all you have to do is buy the gear and point the dish. Again, amazing what you can get from them without a monthly charge.