Hi Waitsfield Cable Subscriber, It's the start of 2015, and we wish you a Happy New Year of entertainment! This January issue begins with a return to Downton Abbey — get ready for an "Abbey-solutely" fabulous season. If you're looking to score some laughs today, check out the hysterical NFL video. Want new recipes for the New Year? Put Barefoot Contessa on your viewing menu. And for drama from the past and present, enjoy Sons of Liberty and NCIS. |
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© 2014 WGBH Educational Foundation | ||||||
What's Really Driving Cable TV Price Increases? Waitsfield Cable Wants You To Know
Every three years, cable television providers throughout the country are required by law to negotiate with local broadcasters (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) for the rights to retransmit broadcast television signals to their cable customers. For the past several months, Waitsfield Cable has been in negotiations with these broadcasters for retransmission consent fees. Even though these over the air signals are broadcast free to the general public, cable television providers must pay what we view as excessive per subscriber monthly fees for the right to carry these networks. A combination of factors has led to this unfortunate situation. Most notably, outdated and overly prescriptive federal retransmission consent and network non-duplication laws and regulations have granted the broadcasters both a monopoly in their markets and the right to demand payment for their signals. The two rules combined have given broadcasters extraordinary market power in their retransmission consent negotiations with cable operators, allowing them to make what can be viewed as “take-it-or-leave-it” deals. In this process, it is not unusual for the broadcasters to discriminate against small cable operators. Independent providers, like Waitsfield Cable, are often charged higher per-subscriber fees than their local competitors, which include large operators and satellite TV providers with national reach. The broadcasters take advantage of our need to carry these local stations to our subscribers and their effective monopoly in the television market by demanding as much as they can. In addition to the “take-it-or-leave–it” philosophy, the broadcasters do not allow the operators to disclose the retransmission fees that are being forced upon small companies such as Waitsfield Cable. In Vermont, small cable operators lobbied for the passage of Act 190 which provides that broadcasters disclose fees to the Attorney General’s Office but the fees do not get reported to the Attorney General until after January 1, 2015. At this point, unless we want to lose the programming from the broadcasters, the contracts will be signed and the excessive rate increases will be locked in. We know you want a good value. When networks demand huge fee increases, we work to get the best offerings at the best price possible so we can keep your bill as low as possible. Waitsfield Cable strives to do our best to negotiate fair fees so we can bring you the most affordable television service possible. However, we are facing big challenges. Consolidation among the major networks means they have even more negotiating power. These media conglomerates are demanding double or triple fee increases, and in some cases even more. The vast majority of your monthly cable bill pays for this programming. We will be faced with two options — pay the exorbitant fees or lose the network(s) on our channel lineup through a “blackout.” As a result, Waitsfield Cable will be forced to raise the rates of our TV packages to cover the expected fee increases from the networks. We will update you as this process continues and work diligently on your behalf to keep costs down. We urge you to reach out to your local Congressional delegation to voice your concern on this matter. Senator Patrick Leahy Senator Bernard Sanders Representative Peter Welch Thank you for being a customer of Waitsfield Cable and please don't hesitate to call us at 496-5800 or |
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© 2014, NFL Enterprises LLC. | ||||||
Barefoot Contessa Has All the Ingredients for Success Food Network chef Ina Garten helps viewers cook up great gatherings. Check out her top-rated recipes as chosen by readers, and get tips on throwing the perfect cocktail party. Did you know Ina used to be a White House budget analyst? Discover other little-known facts about her. © 2014 Television Food Network G.P. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||
© 2014, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||
Special Agents are Something Special on CBS' NCIS Nobody mixes drama and humor quite like this spirited team of special agents. Follow NCIS on Twitter to keep up with the latest plot twists and watch videos from the cast. You can also relive DiNozzo's best moments and watch exclusive behind-the-scenes webisodes especially for NCIS fans. © CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. | ||||||
Hermey Voted the Favorite Elf in December's Viewer Poll Elf Hermey, from the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV show, was the top pick when we asked for your favorite Christmas elf. Coming in second was Buddy from Elf, followed by Bernard in The Santa Clause and the "scary elf" from A Christmas Story. If you're still full of holiday cheer and would like to vote, click here. |
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Waitsfield Cable Route 100 · Waitsfield, VT 05673-0009 802-496-5800 · www.waitsfieldcable.com |
©2015 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this TV eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |