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The new TV season starting with all of the new shows headed to cable and ota networks alike. Has anybody else gotten tired of worrying about the 'risk' involved in putting your time and subscription money into an expensive monthly package only to still have to worry about blackouts? I have and my response was to resort to cord shaving. That is I have downgraded to the cheapest package 'The Welcome Pack' until some kind of regulation is made or at least some type of A La Carte regime is set up that is 'Blackout Proof.' I can switch providers but the fear and worry that my $120/mo investment will be plagued by a continous threat of random blackouts does not make such an investment worthy anymore. That is after two months of paying for high end subscription service ($240) a blackout hits taking out my favorite show that I invested the money in. I feel it better to just wait the extra year or two for the shows to show up on a streaming provider. The content will be old at that point, but at least I can feel comfortable in making a large investment in that there is less a chance that there will be a blackout.

It would be nice if there was some kind of warning system in place to let us know what channels are likely to get blacked out several months in advance. The provider knows the experation dates of the contracts. Yet, these are not readily made available to the subscriber. These blackouts come as a surprise. We get blind sided by them. It is the fear of the surprise that makes me afraid to put money down like I used to.

Why does the FCC and Congress insist on allowing this? Can we file somekind of antitrust suit against Congress or the FCC? It would be great if such a thing were possible. They are very much responsible for this as is both the providers and the broadcasters. However. They allow this! It is being done because the FCC and Congress turn a blind eye and alter the laws to suit the pleasures of the special intrests of both parties. They are invited to lavish parties. They all Golf togeather yet publicly they put on a show and PRETEND to be enemies. In any other aspect of law this would be considered corruption. The system is being used against us. I pay my electric bill, I expect my lights to stay on and to live a blackout free lifestyle. Why cant I do this with cable or Dish Network?