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Why TV Providers Are Tying Up Condo And Apartment Complexes
from the this-again... dept
Earlier this month, we had a story about how cable providers were having a blast signing deals with new condo and apartment complexes which would force all residents to buy TV and broadband services from them -- even if they didn't use it or if they signed a deal with another provider. The NY Times has now written basically the same story, but has a little more analysis about why these sorts of deals have become so popular lately. The basic idea is that the market for pay-TV is saturated. Everyone who wants it, has it. So, rather than focus on creating better deals for customers (better prices, better services, etc...), the companies are looking for ways to force people to subscribe to their services. Apparently, they have no faith in their own ability to sell the service competitively.
Reader Comments
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It took cable _years_ to get into our complex
I've been here since 1989 and it was some years after that before the local cable co-op had service to our area. Then they were bought by AT&T and finally Comcast.
Some our members are pissed that they can't get any sort of satillite TV because they're on the wrong side of the building (requiring connecting their dish on the roof, which is against the CC&R's).
If only there were another alternative, but the local municiple fibre hook up is "just across the bridge" not 500 feet away.
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Re: It took cable _years_ to get into our complex
Doesn't federal law mandate that you can put a small dish anywhere? I seem to recall that some cities with aggressively protected historic districts were very put out with this law some years ago.
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Re: It took cable _years_ to get into our complex
Federal law only allows you to place an antenna (satellite or terrestrial) on property you own. If you neighbor's house block a satellite dish's view of the sky, you do not have the right to go and mount your dish on his house.
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Re: putting a dish up in condo complex
Perhaps federal law does say this, but condo homeowners don't own the roof of the complex. That's "common area" and governed by the Homeowner's Association.
We won't allow satillite dishes actually on the roof because they might damage it in a storm. Owners can hire a bonded, insured contractor to install a dish on the side of a fascia board in specific locations up there, but they can't go on the roof due to insurance issues. In the end, people on that side of the building either get cable or use an internal attena.
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Forced Cable
The building owners get free service in exchange for these contracts. The residents get a few dollars off of the "regular" rates, and the cable companies get exclusive rights to the building.
Pretty sweet deal for everyone!
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He "hardly ever watches it"
At least he uses it once in a while. We don't even own a tv and it would really tick me off to have to pay for it.
He complains anyway that there's nothing to watch. By the look of him, he should go running instead, killing two birds with one stone!
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