Higher Overall Satisfaction with Alternative Video Services Motivates Customers to Cut the Cord, J.D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Higher Overall Satisfaction with Alternative Video Services Motivates Customers to Cut the Cord, J.D Higher Overall Satisfaction with Alternative Video Services Motivates Customers to Cut the Cord, J.D. Power Finds AT&T and Verizon Receive Multiple Awards across Product Segments, Regions NEW YORK: 29 Sept. 2016 — Overall satisfaction with alternative video services such as streaming and transactional-based OTT (over the top) offerings is considerably higher than it is with traditional pay television service, spurring an increase in cord-cutting from 2015, according to three J.D. Power studies released today. The related studies are the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM; the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM; and the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Telephone Service Provider Satisfaction Study.SM The annual wireline studies, now in their 15th year, evaluate residential customers’ experiences with TV, internet and phone services in four geographical regions: East, South, North Central and West. The ISP and telephone studies measure customer satisfaction across five factors: network performance and reliability; cost of service; billing; communication; and customer service. The TV study measures satisfaction in those same five factors plus a sixth: programming. Satisfaction is calculated on a 1,000-point scale. The TV study finds that, compared with pay TV service providers, satisfaction is significantly higher with paid streaming video services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu; skinny bundle offerings like SlingTV and PlayStation Vue; and programming apps like HBO Go. For example, customers rate their primary alternative video service higher than their TV service for the overall experience (7.92 vs. 7.18, respectively, on a 10-point scale), which is largely driven by much higher ratings for the overall cost of service experience (7.99 vs. 6.42). Customers also rate their primary alternative video service higher than their TV service for the overall performance and reliability (7.98 vs. 7.82), programming (7.87 vs. 7.76) and billing (8.04 vs. 7.54) experiences. Subsequently, with relatively low prices and increasing rates of adoption, alternative video services are helping drive the cord-cutting trend. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of customers have used an alternative video service in the previous year, up from 58% in 2015. Additionally, 73% of customers who plan to cut the cord on TV service in the next year indicate they will use an alternative video service. “This finding partly reflects age demographics since younger customers are more likely to use alternative video services than older customers, and younger customers are more satisfied with alternative TV service than older customers,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director and technology, media & telecom practice leader at J.D. Power. “Despite their higher satisfaction, customers who have used an alternative video service in the previous year are much more likely than those who haven’t used one—14% vs. 4%—to cut the cord on TV in the next year.” However, customers who cut the cord on TV are not necessarily lost for TV providers, and increasing their satisfaction raises the likelihood that they will reactivate TV service or upgrade their internet service in the future. Among customers who plan to drop TV service during the next 12 months, 44% say they expect to reactivate it during certain times of year. Overall satisfaction among customers in this group is 845, compared with 575 among those who do not plan to reactivate TV service and 561 among those who don’t know if they will reactivate it. Key Study Findings Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV ranks highest in TV customer satisfaction in the East (782) and South (764) regions; Verizon FiOS (776) ranks highest in the West region; and DISH Network (747) ranks highest in the North Central region. Among customers who switched providers in the previous 12 months, the most commonly cited reasons for switching are “cost was too high” (25%); “moved locations/previous provider not available at new location” (24%); “competitor offered a better deal” (17%); and “customer service was poor” (10%). Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study Verizon ranks highest in ISP customer satisfaction in the East (735), South (755) and West (755) regions; AT&T (717) ranks highest in the North Central region. Slightly more than one-third (34%) of customers purchase premium speed internet. This compares to 37% in 2015 and 27% in 2014. Performance and reliability satisfaction among customers with premium speed internet is 763, while satisfaction among those without premium speed internet is 694. Over a typical three-month period, 42% of customers experienced a website connection error or failure to load (vs. 45% in 2015); 48% experienced a website that was excessively slow to load (vs. 51%); and 36% experienced a general service outage (vs. 37%). The incidence of customers experiencing an email connection error—28%—is unchanged from 2015. Residential Telephone Service Provider Satisfaction Study Cincinnati Bell ranks highest for the first time in telephone customer satisfaction in the North Central region (765); Verizon ranks highest in the East (757), South (766) and West (770) regions. Nearly half (46%) of highly satisfied residential telephone customers (overall satisfaction scores of 900 or higher) say they “definitely will not” switch providers in the next 12 months, compared with only 12% of dissatisfied customers (scores below 550) who say the same. The 2016 U.S. wireline studies are based on responses from 31,072 customers nationwide who evaluated their cable/satellite TV, high-speed internet and telephone service providers. The studies were fielded in four waves: November 2015, February 2016, April 2016 and July 2016. For more information about these three J.D. Power studies, visit: http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-residential-television-customer-satisfaction-study http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-residential-internet-service-provider-customer-satisfaction-study http://www.jdpower.com/resource/jd-power-residential-telephone-customer-satisfaction-study See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2016186. Media Relations Contact Geno Effler; Costa Mesa, Calif.; 714-621-6224; [email protected] About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/about-us/press-release-info # # # Note: Thirteen charts follow. (Page 2 of 3) J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking East Region (Based on a 1,000-point scale) JDPower.com Power Circle RatingsTM 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 for consumers: AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV 782 DISH Network 763 Verizon FiOS 743 East Average 717 Optimum (Cablevision) 714 Cox Communications 698 XFINITY (Comcast) 679 Time Warner Cable 675 Charter Communications 668 Power Circle Ratings Legend Among the best Better than most About average Source: J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM The rest Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking North Central Region (Based on a 1,000-point scale) JDPower.com Power Circle RatingsTM 500 550 600 650 700 750 for consumers: DISH Network 747 AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV 741 North Central Average 715 WOW!(Wide Open West) 706 Time Warner Cable 694 Charter Communications 693 XFINITY (Comcast) 682 Power Circle Ratings Legend Among the best Better than most About average Source: J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM The rest Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. (Page 2 of 3) J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking South Region (Based on a 1,000-point scale) JDPower.com Power Circle RatingsTM 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 for consumers: AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV 764 Verizon FiOS 761 DISH Network 759 South Average 737 Bright House Networks 733 Cox Communications 723 Charter Communications 712 Time Warner Cable 709 XFINITY (Comcast) 701 Suddenlink 696 Power Circle Ratings Legend Among the best Better than most About average Source: J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM The rest Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking West Region (Based on a 1,000-point scale) JDPower.com Power Circle RatingsTM 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 for consumers: Verizon FiOS 776 AT&T U-verse/DIRECTV 755 DISH Network 746 West Average 719 Time Warner Cable 702 Cox Communications 695 CenturyLink 694 XFINITY (Comcast) 687 Charter Communications 681 Mediacom Communications 647 Power Circle Ratings Legend Among the best Better than most About average Source: J.D.
Recommended publications
  • Time Warner Cable Inc. and 10-Q, Quarterly Report of Time Warner Cable Inc
    FILED 7-02-15 04:59 PM EXHIBITA1507009 E: Form 10-K, Annual Report of Time Warner Cable Inc. and 10-Q, Quarterly Report of Time Warner Cable Inc. TIME WARNER CABLE INC. FORM 10-K (Annual Report) Filed 02/13/15 for the Period Ending 12/31/14 Address 60 COLUMBUS CIRCLE, 17TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10023 Telephone 212-364-8200 CIK 0001377013 Symbol TWC SIC Code 4841 - Cable and Other Pay Television Services Industry Broadcasting & Cable TV Sector Services Fiscal Year 12/31 http://www.edgar-online.com © Copyright 2015, EDGAR Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distribution and use of this document restricted under EDGAR Online, Inc. Terms of Use. Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 Commission file number 001-33335 TIME WARNER CABLE INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 84-1496755 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 60 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10023 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (212) 364-8200 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange on which Title of each class registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 New York Stock Exchange 5.750% Notes due 2031 New York Stock Exchange 5.250% Notes due 2042 New York Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Utility Name Corp ID Address Contact Name / Title
    P.07-07-009 R.___ ALJ/SRT/avs UTILITY AND CONTACT SYSTEM DRAFT TELCO DIVISION LISTING - PRIMARY CONTACTS - BY UTILITY NAME FOR UTILITY TYPE = CLC As of: November 2, 2007 Corp Utility Name ID Address Contact Name / Title - Type Phone 360NETWORKS (USA), INC. 6028 867 COAL CREEK CIRCLE, SUITE 160 FORST, CHARLES (303) 854-5210 LOUISVILLE, CO 80027 REGULATORY CONTACT -P A+ WIRELESS, INC 6758 5700 MOON DRIVE CONTACT, REGULATORY (805) 642-5917 VENTURA, CA 93003 -P A.R.C. NETWORKS, INC. 5686 39 BROADWAY, 19TH FLOOR VAITKUS, TADAS (212) 404-5049 NEW YORK, NY 10006 REGULATORY CONTACT -P ACCESS ONE, INC. 6104 820 W. JACKSON BLVD, SUITE 650 MITCHELL, MITCH (312) 441-9903 CHICAGO, IL 60607 REGULATORY CONTACT -P ACCUTEL OF TEXAS, INC. 6688 7900 JOHN CARPENTER FREEWAY MORRIS, KIT (214) 630-6700 DALLAS, TX 75247 REGULATORY CONSULTANT -P ACN COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, 6342 32991 HAMILTON COURT LEZOTTE, LISA (248) 699-3314 INC FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 LEGAL ASSISTANT -P ADVANCED INTEGRATED 6863 9855 W. 78TH STREET, SUITE 300 LOHRENZ, GREG (952) 224-0172 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344 PRESIDENT -P ADVANCED TELCOM, INC. 6083 463 AVIATION BLVD, STE 120 OLDERBAK, SYDNEY (707) 284-5189 SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 STAFF ACCOUNTANT -P AIRESPRING, INC. 6692 6060 SEPULVEDA BLVD, SUITE 220 FIRSTMAN, CYNTHIA (818) 786-8990 VAN NUYS, CA 91411-2512 CONTROLLER -P APEX TELECOM, INC. 6530 113 10TH STREET WONG, C. HONG (510) 251-2771 OAKLAND, CA 94607 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER -P Page 1 P.07-07-009 R.___ ALJ/SRT/avs UTILITY AND CONTACT SYSTEM DRAFT TELCO DIVISION LISTING - PRIMARY CONTACTS - BY UTILITY NAME FOR UTILITY TYPE = CLC As of: November 2, 2007 Corp Utility Name ID Address Contact Name / Title - Type Phone ARRIVAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    [Show full text]
  • 7521821181.Pdf
    Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Comcast Corporation, Time Warner Cable Inc., ) MB Docket No. 14-57 Charter Communications, Inc., And Spinco To ) Assign And Transfer Control Of FCC Licenses ) And Other Authorizations ) COMMENTS OF RFD-TV Patrick Gottsch RFD-TV c/o Rural Media Group, Inc. 9500 West Dodge Road Suite 101 Omaha, NE 68114 (402) 991-6290 August 25, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 II. BACKGROUND .........................................................................................................2 III. THE FCC SHOULD ENSURE THAT A POST-MERGER COMCAST DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST RFD-TV'S INDEPENDENT RURAL PROGRAMMING.......................................................................................4 IV. RFD-TV VIEWERS STRONGLY SUPPORT REINSTATING AND EXPANDING CARRIAGE OF RFD-TV POST-MERGER ............................... 11 V. PROPOSED MERGER CONDITIONS .................................................................12 VI. CONCLUSION. ........................................................................................................14 i Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Comcast Corporation, Time Warner Cable Inc., ) MB Docket No. 14-57 Charter Communications, Inc., And Spinco To ) Assign And Transfer Control Of FCC Licenses ) And Other Authorizations ) COMMENTS OF RFD-TV I. INTRODUCTION On April
    [Show full text]
  • Website News Netflix Will Support Charter
    Filed by Charter Communications, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act of 1934 Subject Company: Time Warner Cable Inc. Commission File No. 001-33335 The following is information made available online in the Charter Resource Center on Charter’s website. WEBSITE NEWS NETFLIX WILL SUPPORT CHARTER ACQUISITION OF TIME WARNER CABLE Originally appeared in Bloomberg By: Alex Sherman July 15, 2015 Netflix Inc. said it will support Charter Communications Inc.’s $55 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc. in return for settlement-free “peering” until 2018, according to filings the companies sent to the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday. Charter filed a document with the FCC stating that it won’t charge any website to deliver its content more efficiently until at least Dec. 31, 2018. Netflix filed a separate document committing to supporting Charter’s deal for Time Warner Cable announced in May. Netflix opposed Comcast Corp.’s failed bid for Time Warner Cable after reluctantly agreeing last year to pay Comcast for faster access. Click here for more: [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-15/netflix-will-support-charter-acquisition-of-time-warner- cable] Posted on July 15, 2015 in News ### WHY NETFLIX IS GETTING BEHIND A HUGE CABLE MERGER Originally appeared in Washington Post By: Brian Fung July 15, 2015 This is huge. Charter just attracted a really important ally in its attempt to purchase Time Warner Cable, making it that much more likely that federal regulators will approve the $55 billion mega-deal.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloading of Movies, Television Shows and Other Video Programming, Some of Which Charge a Nominal Or No Fee for Access
    Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO Commission file number 001-32871 COMCAST CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) PENNSYLVANIA 27-0000798 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) One Comcast Center, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2838 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 286-1700 SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on which Registered Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value NASDAQ Global Select Market Class A Special Common Stock, $0.01 par value NASDAQ Global Select Market 2.0% Exchangeable Subordinated Debentures due 2029 New York Stock Exchange 5.50% Notes due 2029 New York Stock Exchange 6.625% Notes due 2056 New York Stock Exchange 7.00% Notes due 2055 New York Stock Exchange 8.375% Guaranteed Notes due 2013 New York Stock Exchange 9.455% Guaranteed Notes due 2022 New York Stock Exchange SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: NONE Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Website News
    Filed by Charter Communications, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act of 1934 Subject Company: Time Warner Cable Inc. Commission File No. 001-33335 The following is information made available online in the Charter Resource Center on Charter’s website. Website News NETFLIX SUPPORTS CHARTER TAKEOVER OF TIME WARNER CABLE Originally appeared in bizjournals.com By: Angela Mueller July 17, 2015 Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) has won the backing of Netflix as it seeks regulatory approval of its pending acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC), a deal that would merge two of the largest cable companies in the U.S. Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) said in filings with the Federal Communications Commission that it will support Charter's planned acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in exchange for access to Charter's customers, Bloomberg reports. Charter has announced a new "peering" policy through which it will not charge any website for faster Internet access, a pledge that is important for video-streaming services such as Netflix. In light of the new policy, Netflix has said it will support Charter's acquisition of Time Warner Cable. Netflix opposed Comcast Corp.'s (NASDAQ:CMCSA) previous failed attempt to takeover Time Warner Cable and had been seen by analysts as a potential threat to Charter's deal. Gaining the support of Netflix, a major customer of Charter and Time Warner Cable, could help Charter in its bid to win regulatory approval for its planned acquisition, The Wall Street Journal reports.
    [Show full text]
  • Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 in the Matter of Conditions Imposed in the Charter Comm
    Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 ) In the Matter of ) ) Conditions Imposed in the Charter ) WC Docket No. 16-197 Communications-Time Warner Cable- ) Bright House Networks Order ) ) REPLY OF CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. John L. Flynn Elizabeth Andrion Johanna R. Thomas Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs Gregory R. Capobianco Maureen O’Connell Jonathan A. Langlinais Vice President, Regulatory Affairs JENNER & BLOCK LLP CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 1099 New York Avenue, NW 601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 900 Suite 400W Washington, DC 20001 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 639-6000 (202) 621-1900 Counsel for Charter Communications, Inc. August 6, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 ARGUMENT ...................................................................................................................................3 I. THE CONDITIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF OVDS, AND THE RECORD CONFIRMS THEY ARE THRIVING. ..............................3 II. CHARTER HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED TO PROTECT THE OVD MARKETPLACE. .................................8 A. Charter’s Incentive Is to Support Its Broadband Business, Which Relies on Consumer Demand for OVDs. .................................................................................8 B. No Particular Level of BIAS Competition Is Required to Sunset the Conditions, and BIAS Options Are
    [Show full text]
  • 62. for Each of the Company's Cable Systems, State the Number Of
    REDACTED - FOR PUBLICINSPECTION 62. For each of the Company's Cable Systems, state the number of communities that have either specifically requested or agreed to the migration of PEG content to a digital platform. The following systems serve communities that have either specifically requested or agreed to the migration ofPEG content to a digital platform:49 West Bay, CA system 6 communities Denver, CO system I community Carbondale, CO system I community Naples, FL system 4 communities Jacksonville, FL system I community Boca Raton/Del Ray Beach, FL system 44 communities Tallahassee, FL system I community Atlanta, GA system 5 communities Augusta, GA system 2 communities North Chicago, IL system 6 communities South Chicago, IL system 13 communities West Chicago, IL system 8 communities New Hampshire, ME 4 communities Sema Region, MA I community West New England system 3 communities York, PA system I community Philadelphia, PA system I community Three Rivers East, PA system 10 communities Chattanooga, TN system 1 community Knoxville, TN system 2 communities Nashville, TN system I community Houston, TX system 1 community South Puget Sound, WA system 2 communities 63. Provide copies of all strategic plans, analyses or models for switched digital video ("SDV") deployment on any of the Company's Cable Systems. Any responsive documents have been produced herewith. In the response submitted on June 11,2010, Comcast indicated tbat there were 224 communities that have requested or agreed to digital PEG carriage. The lower number here reflects the fact that certain FCC registered communities that were counted in the June 11,2010, response are in unincorporated areas or other areas that are not separately franchised communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Counselors Who Seal the Deals in Cable
    specialreport DEAL-MAKERS: ATTORNEYS AT LARGE Counselors Who Seal the Deals in Cable IN A TRANSitiONAL YEAR, HERE ARE NINE AttORNEYS TO KNOW BY GARY ARLEN from the pending Comcast-Time Warner Cable and AT&T-DirecTV mergers, as well as the impact of the FCC’s Open Internet order. They have a unique perspective on what happens ohn Quincy Adams once said of the legal system, “Whoever tells the best story after a big merger, such as vendor consolidation. These “outside counsel” examine the im- wins.” The same holds try for the lawyers who close cable’s biggest deals. pact of today’s all-time high equity valuations and what the tightening credit markets will J Nine leading cable-industry attorneys offer their visions of what the business — and mean for cable transactions. Their views vary on the significance of issues such as retrans- they — will face in the coming year. Among the storylines they’re following: ripple effects mission consent and intellectual property, and help shape the narrative of the TV industry. Lee D. Charles Ariel Deckelbaum Partner, Baker Botts LLP, New York Partner and Deputy Chair, Corporate Department, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York Background: In his 25 years representing MSOs, pro- gram networks and companies that provide services Background: In addition to his cable projects — largely to both categories, Charles has been involved in many for Time Warner Cable — Deckelbaum has represented firsts. He worked on Discovery Communications’s Goldman Sachs in the sale of a 50% interest in TV show first acquisition (The Learning Channel, now TLC) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its related intellectual and on the creation of the YES Network on behalf property; he handled the acquisition of ViaWest by Oak of the New York Yankees.
    [Show full text]
  • Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554
    Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Applications of Charter Communications, Inc. ) Time Warner Cable, Inc., and ) MB Docket No. 15-149 Advance/ Newhouse Partnership ) ) For Consent to Transfer Control of Licenses ) and Authorizations ) COMMENTS Matthew M. Polka Barbara S. Esbin President and CEO Scott C. Friedman American Cable Association Cinnamon Mueller 875 Greentree Road 1875 Eye Street, NW Seven Parkway Center, Suite 755 Suite 700 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220 Washington, DC 20006 (412) 922-8300 (202) 872-6811 Ross J. Lieberman Attorneys for American Cable Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs American Cable Association 2415 39th Place, NW Washington, DC 20007 (202) 494-5661 October 13, 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In these comments, the American Cable Association (“ACA”) demonstrates that the combination of Charter, Time Warner Cable (“TWC) and Advance/Newhouse’s Bright House Networks, LLC (“BHN”) (collectively “the Applicants”) into “New Charter,” will result in competitive harm to purchasers of cable programming affiliated with New Charter and to consumers. The transaction involves companies with significant roles in both the downstream video distribution and upstream video programming industry, which provide this programming to multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”). Their combination will create the 3rd largest MVPD in the nation with 17.3 million video subscribers. The program access and arbitration remedies utilized in prior Commission transaction reviews involving similar combinations of programming and distribution assets are inadequate to address these public interest harms. Because these harms are significant and are not counterbalanced by public interest benefits, the Commission cannot approve the proposed combination without adopting specific and meaningful relief.
    [Show full text]
  • How Cable Companies Use Hidden Fees to Raise Prices and Disguise the True Cost of Service CR CABLE BILL REPORT 2019
    How Cable Companies Use Hidden Fees to Raise Prices and Disguise the True Cost of Service CR CABLE BILL REPORT 2019 Jonathan Schwantes, Consumer Reports October 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Consumers are clearly fed up. Nearly everyone (96%) of those who reported having encountered From cable TV to online ticket vendors, utilities, hidden or unexpected fees in an industry that we airlines or hotels, companies are piling on more asked about said fees are a real nuisance. Nowhere and more hidden fees that result in higher bills for is this more true than in the cable industry. The consumers. Overall, 85% of Americans say they CR survey found telecommunications providers have encountered an unexpected or hidden fee (which includes cable companies) are the worst in the past two years for a service they had used, offender when it comes to charging unexpected according to a recent nationally representative or hidden fees. What a cable company advertises survey of 2,057 U.S. adults, conducted by to a consumer as a monthly price for services, and Consumer Reports (CR). And nearly two-thirds say what the consumer actually ends up paying, can be they are paying more now in surprise charges than dramatically different. they did five years ago. For a typical family, these fees can potentially add up to thousands of dollars What a cable company a year in extra costs, posing a big financial strain, CR found. advertises to a consumer as a monthly price for services, and what the consumer actually ends up % paying, can be dramatically OF U.S.64 CONSUMERS different.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on House Concurrent Resolution No. 189, HD 1, SD 1
    HCR 189 Participants and Broadband Assistance Advisory Council (BAAC) ___________________________________ Report on House Concurrent Resolution No. 189, H.D. 1, S.D. 1 Prepared by Cable Television Division Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs State of Hawaii December 2015 December 2015 Chair's Message Aloha, We are pleased to submit this Report as requested by House Concurrent HCR 189 Resolution Number 189, H.D. 1, S.D. 1 (HCR 189) of the 2015 Legislature on behalf of the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council (BAAC) and Broadband Assistance participants. It is our hope that the report includes findings and Advisory Council and recommendations that may help to guide future actions to promote and Participants facilitate broadband infrastructure deployment across the State. Chair: I would like to extend my gratitude to the BAAC, and the additional Catherine Awakuni Colon stakeholders who participated, for their contributions to and review of this Director, DCCA Report and the attached Broadband Assessment. A special thanks goes to the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and the Hawaii Tourism Senator Rosalyn Baker Authority for their assistance in distributing the Resort Area Broadband Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran Survey to businesses in the resort areas named in HCR 189. I would also Representative Derek Kawakami like to extend my gratitude to the broadband providers who responded to Representative Kyle Yamashita requests to review their respective coverage maps that are attached to Donald Jacobs County of Hawaii the Broadband Assessment. Because of the assistance received, we James Miwa, OIMT have been able to finish this Report on time and to provide a strong base Tony Velasco of information for the stakeholders identified in the Broadband City & County of Honolulu Assessment who may best carry planning forward for the named resort Garret Yoshimi areas.
    [Show full text]