Time-Warner CEO: "There are too many networks"

[brooklynite]

Crain's New York:

(Bloomberg) - Time Warner Cable Inc. CEO Glenn Britt says not everything on cable is worth watching.

"There are too many networks," said Mr. Britt at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association annual cable show in Boston.

For years, U.S. cable carriers have provided TV in large chunks, pushing up the average monthly price to about $80 as even the cheapest packages have ballooned to include hundreds of channels. The increase in the number of little-watched channels, which content providers often sell to cable companies only in bundles with more popular networks, is causing cable bills to rise without any customer benefit, Mr. Britt said.

"There are a lot of general-interest networks that have lower viewership, and the industry would take cost out of the system if they shut those networks down and offered lower prices to consumers," he said. "The companies involved would make just as much money as they do now because of the costs."

...says the Company that owns
Adult Swim
Amo El Cine
Boomerang
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network Too
CNN
CNN International
Glitz
HLN
HTV
Infinito
MuchMusic
POGO
QTV
Showtime
Star!
TBS
TCM
Tooncast
truTV
TNT
Turner Sports
WB

[PoliticAverse]

1. This can be solved by unbundling, so you only pay for what you actually want. n/t

[SoutherDem]

3. I agree totally

I actually watch only 4 channels with any regularity. Add one more local one for bad weather and one for MAJOR breaking news and you have a total of 6. Yet, I get well over 125 more then 100 of those are duplicated in HD so now we have 225 and I watch 6. Even if I paid say, $5 for the hook up, $15 for the HD-DVR and $5 for each channel I wanted I would still pay less. Also, when I first added cable to the house there were several packages which were based on themes such as sports, women, men, family. Now, the packages are grouped in tiers. To get 4 of the 6 channels which I DO watch I have to go to the "extended" package.

[SoCalDem]

12. The problem with pay by channel, is that it's a definite channel-killer

for the niche-programming.

I would dearly love to get a "credit" for all the sports/music/kiddie/churchy channels I NEVER watch. but I understand how packaging works..

The most-watched channels "subsidize" the smaller ones, even though they may be channels I personally loathe..

What I hate most is the "drift"....TLC used to be about LEARNING and had really great programming..so did A & E..and once upon a time the History Channel had REAL history (not Bible study or Hitler worship).. The Green channel used to have environmental programming 24-7, and the Animal channel used to have great programs too..not any more.

As the smaller channels all got gobbled up, they became little more than one more venue for infomercials and a repository for ancient network programming they dusted off and tossed in.

[gratuitous]

2. And who would know better that not everything on cable is worth watching?

I mean, if you're going to be the purveyor of so much crap, you really have to know your product, eh Mr. Britt?

The technology exists: Why can't we have a cafeteria cable system where subscribers pick and choose the channels they want without being bundled into all the Time/Warner stuff, or the ABC/Disney/ESPN package? Pay a per-choice fee for each channel (higher fees for more popular channels if you must), but consumers would tailor their choice to their own taste.

[Jello Biafra]

4. We can start by removing the 30+ religious networks.......n/t

[librechik]

8. + Infinity

and take the shopping channels and sports blocks too

[pstokely]

14. Live sports is probably the thing preventing more cord cutters

nt

[pstokely]

13. Some of the fundy networks pay for carriage

like the home shopping channels

[SoutherDem]

5. I am sure he thinks all of those networks his company owns

are great networks.

I watch 1 of those, CNN and only for "breaking news".

[NoPasaran]

6. If you're not watching Robot Chicken on Adult Swim

You're missing ten minutes of stop-animated genius.

[hunter]

7. I don't have cable or satellite TV so it's not a problem for me.

[GObamaGO]

9. The Cable TV/ Satellite TV business model is outdated

I would love to have the ability to choose off a list of channels (even a tiered list - choose 10 from tier A, 5 from tier B etc).

[hunter]

10. High speed internet kills the old business models.

I ought to be able to subscribe to individual shows. When I can't, I don't.

There's plenty of stuff on free broadcast television. And eBooks from Project Gutenberg and similar sources offer me hours of rich entertainment.

I'd rather read Democratic Underground than watch most television.

Why should I pay money to cable and satellite companies who give entities I despise (Fox News, Religious Freaks, Shopping Networks, etc.) access to MY television???

Why would I pay anyone to deliver crap to my home?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. High speed internet business model could change

... if we go to a usage-based internet business model. Then viewing video over the internet could get expensive.

[Skidmore]

16. This past Holiday, our gift to ourselves was

a new LCD television to replace our 20 plus yr old analog model. We settled on a Sony Google TV and I love it. There are so many channels can get free subscriptions to and watch without using the satellite carrier. Because we are in a very rural area, we will cut back to basic package in a few months and use internet channels for movies and special concerts. It will save us quite a bit.

[jp11]

11. Nah.

"There are a lot of general-interest networks that have lower viewership, and the industry would take cost out of the system if they shut those networks down and offered lower prices to consumers," he said. "The companies involved would make just as much money as they do now because of the costs."

They'd make just as much money if not more because after axing networks they'd keep charging the same or raise prices. This is how business works when they have money coming in they don't lower prices like practically ever.

[JCMach1]

15. Interest bundles idiot, interest bundles... a la cart for the rest

for starters (for me) ditch all of the religious, sports and shopping channels...

The idiot is the cable executive BTW. Why is he getting a salary anyway?