In a related story to my "online television" article from earlier in the week, an argument is happening between News Corporation and Cablevision, a cable provider in New York. The argument is this:
News Corporation is charging more money so that Cablevision can air channels that News Corporation owns like Fox Sports, Fox News and local fox affiliates (as most metro-Detroiters know it as Fox2). Cablevision doesn't see this as fair, one reason among many being that you can watch Fox2 over the air for Free with an antenna. Recently, with a few companies buying up a lot of channels, there are some companies that own MANY channels, thus think they can charge more to air on different cable providers. Then we have cable providers wanting to be cheap and using their customers as leverage.
This has happened in New York City. Cablevision and News Corporation have stopped airing their channels for customers; during a time that the New York Yankees are in the Championship series and during New York Giant's season. There is also fear that Cablevision will not be able to air Fox shows like HOUSE and GLEE. I imagine that as we continue on this course, this type of situation will not just become routine for New York every time a cable company has to renegotiate contracts with channel providers, but for our area, as well.
I view that as a positive for online video. If my cable company stops airing Fox channels, I can still access FOX.COM online to view their shows. But there becomes a problem with network neutrality if my internet company starts blocking FOX.COM or any other websites.
That's why these issues are important.
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