Comcast Won't Sell Video to Non-Subs

LR Cable News Analysis
Light Reading

2/28/2011

Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s apparent lack of interest in selling over-the-top video packages to consumers who don't subscribe to the MSO's traditional cable service leads today’s cable news roundup.

Just days after Dish Network LLC (Nasdaq: DISH) said it wants to be prepared to launch a Web video-only option, The Wall Street Journal runs a Q&A with Comcast CEO Brian Roberts in which he says the No. 1 MSO isn't considering marketing an Internet-based video service to non-subscribers. "Where we can add value, at least in the world that I see today, is taking our existing customers and giving them full access to all content online because they're subscribers," Roberts told the paper. (See Dish Paves Way for Streaming-Only Option.)

A week after a federal judge mothballed ivi Inc. 's ability to stream local broadcast TV stations, ivi says it'll lobby for a savior in Congress. (See Court Cuts Ivi's Web TV Signal.)

Rocco Commisso's Mediacom Communications Corp. is beginning to raise eyebrows for its practice of inserting its own ads on top of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and other websites accessed by the MSO's cable modem subscribers.

It's shaping up to be a busy week for the D.C. cable crew as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tackles retransmission consent on Wednesday. (See TV Contract Disputes Heat Up.)

Maybe the the eight Oscar feeds ABC Inc. distributed in its "second-screen" iPad app would've worked better as an interactive TV application. (See Comcast Accelerates ITV Development.)

Considering Web surfers spent more than seven hours each on Facebook in January, it's easy to see why Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) may turn to the social network to help power its TV Everywhere service.

The FCC is hearing it from both sides as Level 3 Communications Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) and Comcast try to bend the Commission's ear regarding whether or not their peering dispute is covered by the recently voted-in net neutrality rules. (See Is Level 3 Right About Net Neutrality?)

Google TV isn't getting it done, according to yet another less-than-glowing review of the new service. (See Google TV Guns for Cable Deals .)

— Steve Donohue, Special to Light Reading Cable

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Comcast Won't Sell Video to Non-Subs LR Cable News Analysis Light Reading 2/28/2011 Comment (1) Tweet Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s apparent lack of interest in selling over-the-top video packages to consumers who don't subscribe to the MSO's traditional cable service leads today’s cable news roundup. Just days after Dish Network LLC (Nasdaq: DISH) said it wants to be prepared to launch a Web video-only option, The Wall Street Journal runs a Q&A with Comcast CEO Brian Roberts in which he says the No. 1 MSO isn't considering marketing an Internet-based video service to non-subscribers. "Where we can add value, at least in the world that I see today, is taking our existing customers and giving them full access to all content online because they're subscribers," Roberts told the paper. (See Dish Paves Way for Streaming-Only Option.) A week after a federal judge mothballed ivi Inc. 's ability to stream local broadcast TV stations, ivi says it'll lobby for a savior in Congress. (See Court Cuts Ivi's Web TV Signal.) Rocco Commisso's Mediacom Communications Corp. is beginning to raise eyebrows for its practice of inserting its own ads on top of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and other websites accessed by the MSO's cable modem subscribers. It's shaping up to be a busy week for the D.C. cable crew as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tackles retransmission consent on Wednesday. (See TV Contract Disputes Heat Up.) Maybe the the eight Oscar feeds ABC Inc. distributed in its "second-screen" iPad app would've worked better as an interactive TV application. (See Comcast Accelerates ITV Development.) Considering Web surfers spent more than seven hours each on Facebook in January, it's easy to see why Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) may turn to the social network to help power its TV Everywhere service. The FCC is hearing it from both sides as Level 3 Communications Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) and Comcast try to bend the Commission's ear regarding whether or not their peering dispute is covered by the recently voted-in net neutrality rules. (See Is Level 3 Right About Net Neutrality?) Google TV isn't getting it done, according to yet another less-than-glowing review of the new service. (See Google TV Guns for Cable Deals .) — Steve Donohue, Special to Light Reading Cable Like what we have to say? Click here to sign up to our daily newsletter (1) \| Comment \| Print \| RSS Comments Newest First \| Oldest First \| Threaded View ADD A COMMENT [close this box] john1175 12/5/2012 \| 5:11:14 PM re: Comcast Won't Sell Video to Non-Subs Comcast is a massive force in the TV industry. I mean, they’re everywhere including owning a controlling stack in NBCUniversal. What’s more is that they’re in an absurd amount of homes and business across the US.   CEO Brian Roberts wants people to know Comcast has this fancy new thing called an iPad app.   <div style="display: none;">Corning Unicam Connectors \| AMP Lightcrimp Plus Connectors \| Leviton Thread-Lock Kit & Connectors \| Anaerobic and UV cure connectors \| 3M Volition Sockets, Volition Patch Cables, VF-45 Patch Cables \| Sumitomo Lynx Fusion Splice-On Connectors</div> Reply \| Post Message \| Messages List \| Start a Board		Educational Resources sponsor supplied content Video Platform Infographic Direct-to-Consumer Solution Brief Educational Resources Archive Featured Video Upcoming Live Events 5G Network & Service Strategies @ MWC19 Los Angeles October 22, 2019, Los Angeles, CA Software-Driven Operations November 5, 2019, London, England Global Telecoms Awards November 7, 2019, London, UK Cable Next-Gen Europe November 14, 2019, Maritim Hotel, Berlin 2020 Vision Executive Summit December 3-5, 2019, Vienna, Austria Cable Next-Gen Business Strategies December 3, 2019, New York, New York Cable Next Gen-Technologies & Strategies March 16-18, 2020, Embassy Suites, Denver, Colorado Big 5G Event May 18-20, 2020, Irving Convention Center, Dallas, TX All Upcoming Live Events Upcoming Webinars October 22, 2019 How to Cut Your BSS Costs by up to 80% With Public Cloud October 22, 2019 Programmable FTTx: Readiness for a Virtualized Access Network October 23, 2019 Microsoft Azure ONAP-based NFV and SD-WAN solution October 23, 2019 What’s happening at the Edge October 29, 2019 IoT, 5G, Security, and RoI October 30, 2019 The Road to a Secure 5G: How Secure Are We Today? 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