The million-member strong Parent Television Council has fired a shot across the bow at the NAB over the "analysis" that a satellite radio a la carte packages would not better serve the consumer. The PTC called the NAB's claims “irrelevant” and called the NAB’s practices “self-serving, anti-competitive practices.”
The PTC recently praised Sirius-XM for their a la carte plans, calling it "groundbreaking" if enacted.
In a statement made to Radio & Records on Thursday, PTC director of corporate and government affairs Dan Isett said, “The National Association of Broadcasters has thrown up a red herring by claiming that prices would rise under an a la carte model for satellite radio. In its January 2007 report about cable television pricing, the FCC debunked the suggestion that prices would rise under an a la carte model.”
Isett added that “despite the NAB’s claims, the per-channel cost of programming is completely irrelevant unless the consumer has the ability to choose that programming on a per-channel basis. The same is true of cable television programming.”
“NAB’s self-serving, anti-competitive practices have now been exposed, and it is unfortunate that the NAB has adopted the cable television industry’s anti-consumer choice talking points,” Isett said.
Wow.
I think calling it "groundbreaking" may be a little over the top, but good points none the less.
"NAB’s self-serving, anti-competitive practices have now been exposed"
That needs to be echoed time and time again.
lol...i hate the PTC, too...but sometimes they have moments of sheer brilliance.
this is one of them.
ryan, that rock'em-sock'em robots pic just couldn't be more appropriate.
PTC knocked the NAB's block off!!!!
Unfortunaltey the NAB is SELF serving(and not the public) The sooner the FCC realizes this, the quicker this merger is approved
I love how there's all this talk about a la carte yet the consumers that are supposed to benefit from it will have to buy new, dual-tuner hardware (with likely no small portable option) to even use "a la carte".
Hell, Sirius's current system can't even block individual channels from the head-end. Your choice is everything, or the "family" package where even music stations with occasional swears will be gone too. "A La Carte" my ass.......
"Hell, Sirius's current system can't even block individual channels from the head-end."
I recall the Playboy Channel only working if you register for it for free. So, it would seem Sirius can in fact block individual channels with current equipment. As for the rest of your post, I don't understand the criticism that you would need a new radio to receive a la cart. First, current radio's will be able to receive 11 "best of" channels from either Sirius or XM. Secondly, you need new equipment for additional benefits all the time, in every sector, whether we are talking about HD DVD's, DVR's, higher capacity Ipods/Video Ipods, etc. Its the nature of technology...
Besides this is a "new benefit", if you like your current subscription nothing will change for you or require a new radio.
Everytime I see that I don't have options anymore, I realize I do just by looking at the many pricing plans. I don't know if anyone saw the posting on Sirius Buzz, about the bottled water...comparing the NABs arguements of channels costing more on 'a la carte' to water. 5 gallon jugs at $7.50, then 1 gallon jugs at $2.00, and 1 liter of water being $1.59, to 16oz bottles at $1.29. I summed it up a bit, but it's on point and a funny comparison. Much credit to them. As much as the PTC is retarded and overbaring, I'm glad they put the NAB in it's place.
I'm basically hoping at this point that lifetime subscribers get a bonus for being loyal and getting the 11 channels from XM for free (I know probably won't happen...but one can hope). I don't care about fairness of people who pay every month...I'm greedy, haha.
1. Of course the NAB is self serving. I'm not defending all their views on the merger, but its naive to keep calling them self serving. They're lobbyists, paid to represent the interests of their members, so what's wrong with serving those interests? Just like the slew of lobbyists and economists and public relations consultants hired by XM and Sirius. do you really think any of these folks really care if XM and Sirius are allowed to merge? They're just trying to pay the mortgage like anyone else. Everyone on both sides are twisting the facts and interpreting the law and trying to manipulate the press to support their position. Jeez, whaddya expect to happen?
2. If you're happy about being in bed with the PTC, American Values and Grover Norquist, then more power to you. I for one am kind of fond of the 1st Amendment and hope it stays around for awhile longer.
Steve W, Im with you man.II cant believe this, its so anti-consumer. Just like when the cell phone was invented. I cant believe you cant just take your LAn line phone outside and it'll work. And these "dvd players" they claim added consumer benefit, but when i tried to stuff my tapes in there i just couldnt get it goin.