sven233 Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I just found this article about the Time Warner aquicition of Adelphia and the affect it has in relation to NFL Network........consumers SHOULD see their rates go down, but you know they will probably go up instead. There are some great observations in this article and information that we haven't even thought about yet..... PS. Note the author!!!! http://www.speakupwny.com/time.shtml TIME WARNER off to a bad start . NFL Network not happy By Art Wander Jul 28, 2006, 13:40 DON’T GET ME STARTED had my eyes bulge after reading Alan Pergament’s News column that Time-Warner will probably be dropping the NFL Network, maybe as early as Tuesday. The eyes really widened in reading two articles in USA Today later in the day that the NFL Network won't take the move lying down. Let’s review that particular Channel. When Adelphia was operating the Company in the mid-90s, the Empire Sports Network was born. My understanding is that an additional fee of about $1.95 was charged each subscriber for the ESN channel that successfully carried practically all Sabres games (including hockey hotline,) the Buffalo Bisons and covered the Western New York sports scenes from colleges to high schools and interviews with prominent sports figures by a highly dedicated staff of people. It was an innovative concept that was very well received by subscribers, especially sports fans, due to its commitment to totally cover sports, allowing fans to participate. So many positive responses came from all sections of the country as a way of keeping in touch with Buffalo. No complaints about an additional fee were ever uttered. When Adelphia faced its problems, the “new” head honchos decided to “dump” the Empire Sports Network and, in an advertisement, said they would replace it with the NFL Network so that fans could get a good diet of Buffalo Bills football information. That probably preserved the subscriber fee. There has never been a disclosure as to what Adelphia paid to the NFL network but some say that it was 25 cents per subscriber. While many continue to bemoan the loss of the Empire Sports Network, they tolerated the NFL network and looked forward to the beginning of the NFL season – now underway. Many looked forward to watching NFL games on the NFL Network beginning Thanksgiving Day. Now here comes Time-Warner. The News article quotes a TW rep saying, “We’re providing notification in case it happens. We’re still negotiating.” Whatever problems exist between Time-Warner and the NFL network, they should be set aside in favor of the consumer –the subscriber. If, as the article suggests, Buffalo, Dallas and Cleveland will lose the NFL network, doesn’t it seem right and proper for TW to reduce the subscriber rate? Buffalo apparently lost out on a lot when it was decided that Time-Warner would get Buffalo and other areas while the other parts of Adelphia would go to Comcast. At least Comcast will continue to carry the NFL Network as well as the Outdoor Channel that carried Sabres games during the playoffs. Many agree that Comcast would have been a better fit in Buffalo. The battle seems to be on between the NFL Network and Time Warner. In USA Today articles, the NFL Net prepares to mount a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to have cable carry the NFL channel. It quotes an NFL Net spokesman, Seth Palansky, "We think it's asinine that Time Warner (the #2 cable provider) carries 12 shopping channels and 50 other channels you don't want but can't find room for the most popular sport in this country." He added, "We're replacing the kid glove with bare knuckles." It's not as if Time-Warner doesn't have the room. After all, the Empire Sports Network and then the NFL Network aired mostly on Channel 25 on Adelphia. What happens to that space? Another shopping network? The USA Today articles say the NFL Network is urging fans to demand the big cable operators carry the NFL Network. If that fails, the urging then suggests consumers switch to satellites that carry the Network. Letters from TW have been sent to subscribers. Let’s quote a couple items in that TW letter: “We will do everything we can to make this transition a smooth one for you.” “We want to provide you the finest array of cable services as soon as possible.” How should consumers react? After all if the NFL Network disappears, what happens to the $1.95 subscribers paid? Will TW reduce its monthly rates? Again, Adelphia replaced Empire Sports Network with the NFL Net while retaining the subscriber fee; and now the likely move to do away with the NFL Network at a time when the football season begins would have subscribers paying for something they no longer get. It’s a foregone conclusion that subscribers will again be at the mercy of cable and have no input into the decision making process. Does one think that TW will reduce the subscriber fees. Methinks not. If a rate reduction doesn’t happen, then there is another avenue to pursue. The one area feared by everyone is an act of Congress. That’s where subscribers come in. When these politicians come into town – and you are pre-disposed to be involved – perhaps it’s time to badger them to consider ala-carte services. Pay for only the channel desired and used rather than paying for many channels never watched. That’s been considered in the past but Congress has been quiet on this and maybe subscribers may want to consider this approach. Staying silent may be sending a message to cable that they can do what they want; when they want; dump channels without reducing the rates they charge, etc.., etc., etc. Certainly local and state officials should get involved as well but people like Clinton; Shumer, Reynolds, Slaughter carry the big stick and it’s time to wield it. Sports fans should vent their furor over paying for something they no longer receive on Don’t Get Me Started. © Copyright 2006 by Speakupwny.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheRocks Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 PS. Note the author!!!! By Art Wander 733364[/snapback] old artie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Art Wander was old when I was a kid...and I am 41! Well written and articulate article...maybe the Bills are hiring! Sorry to hear that WNY is losing the NFL Network...we have never had it here (on cable)....is it really better to have loved and lost, than to never love at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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