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RFtech
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
FCC OKs Adelphia sale to Comcast and Time Warner, with conditions
DEBORAH YAO
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved a $17 billion deal to sell the assets of bankrupt cable provider Adelphia Communications to Comcast and Time Warner Cable, removing the last federal regulatory hurdle to the transaction.

But the agency's approval, which came in a 4-to-1 vote, came with conditions.

The FCC said Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable, a unit of Time Warner Inc. of New York, are prohibited from engaging in tactics that would effectively make regional sports programming unavailable to rivals, such as satellite TV.

"Time Warner and Comcast must make their affiliated RSNs (regional sports networks) available to others," FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin said.

However, Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia is exempt from the rule and will continue to be unavailable to DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp., owner of the DISH Network.

SportsNet is home to several local professional sports teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, the Phillies and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.

The lone dissenter, Commissioner Michael Copps, said: "this decision is about big media getting bigger with consumers holding the bag."

Copps also noted that Philadelphia was "inexplicably" exempted from an order to make regional sports programming available to competitors. "Residents of Philadelphia are still stuck without competitive choice," Copps said.

The FCC also requires the two cable companies to enter into binding arbitration if they can't reach a deal with competitors on local sports programming. A similar requirement was imposed on News Corp. before its acquisition of a controlling interest in DirecTV was approved in 2004.

The agency also waded into the dispute over the airing of the Washington Nationals baseball team's games in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Comcast was told to enter into binding arbitration with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, or MASN, which carries the Nationals games.

MASN is owned by the Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball. Comcast has refused to carry the channel because of a dispute with Orioles owner Peter Angelos over TV rights to the team and control of the region's sports programming market.

Angelos plans to move Orioles telecasts to the MASN network next season after its deal with SportsNet expires. Comcast believes its contract was improperly terminated.

Earlier this month, three House members asked the FCC to tie its approval of the Adelphia purchase to resolution of the dispute.

Blair Levin, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus, said the FCC decision was a mixed bag for Comcast and Time Warner. "Some competitors were very pleased," he said.

He also said the Adelphia purchase creates two cable companies that are significantly larger than other cable competitors. Comcast has 21.7 million subscribers while Time Warner has 11 million. Levin said third would be Cox Communications in Atlanta, with over six million subscribers.

The FCC did not add any "Net neutrality" requirements as part of the approval. Some Internet firms are seeking legislation or administrative rulings that would prohibit cable providers from charging extra to move data faster for Web sites willing to pay higher fees.

Comcast and Time Warner, the nation's top two cable operators, plan to divide the assets of Adelphia Communications Corp. and swap systems to strengthen their positions in several markets. Adelphia, with 4.8 million subscribers, was the nation's fifth-largest cable TV provider.

The acquisition strengthens Time Warner's positions in New York, Texas, California, Ohio and the Carolinas. Comcast boosts its presence in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Florida and Massachusetts.

Comcast is expected to end up with over 23 million subscribers while Time Warner would have more than 14 million.

Adelphia declared bankruptcy in 2002 after disclosing $2.3 billion in off-balance-sheet debt. Founder John Rigas and one of his sons were convicted for their roles in company fraud. A second son received 10 months of home confinement after pleading guilty to a charge of making a false entry in a company record.

Time Warner said in a statement that the FCC approval puts the deal on track to close by its target date of July 31.
4 Replies · 1713 views
psumattDE
Thanks a lot FCC. The only city in America - and just my luck i'm a Philly sports fan.
RFtech
I use to be a Philly sports fan, now I just enjoy seeing all the Philadelphia area idiots paying comcast the monthly fees and getting nothing in return. You have to look at it this way no matter what crimecast does or holds up CSN they will never be able to buy a championship for any of the 3 teams. I love seeing them lose , it a whole lot more fun knowing that they will never win. Who's the Fool
jrbdmb
So did FCC Chairman Martin ever explain why Philadelphia was exempted?
RFtech
jrbdmb said:
So did FCC Chairman Martin ever explain why Philadelphia was exempted?

FCC chairman offers cable sports deal, but leaves out Philadelphia
By Miriam Hill and Jeff Gelles
INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has proposed a deal with Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc.: If they agree to conditions that include offering their local sports programming to competitors at reasonable prices, the FCC will approve their acquisition of cable systems owned by the bankrupt Adelphia Communications.

But the proposal will change nothing in Comcast's hometown of Philadelphia, said people familiar with its details.

Viewers here could watch most Phillies, Flyers and Sixers games on TV only on cable. Unless Comcast decides to change its policy, satellite customers would continue to miss out.

The FCC's bargain would apply only to other markets. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's goal is to bar Comcast and Time Warner from keeping local sports to themselves elsewhere, according to two FCC officials who have seen the proposal and spoke today on condition of anonymity. Details of Martin's proposal were first reported Monday by USA Today.

The proposal, similar to rules imposed on News Corp., owner of Fox News, when it acquired DirecTV in 2003, would also require Comcast and Time Warner to accept binding arbitration in disputes over how much it can charge competitors for professional sports telecasts.

Comcast's ownership of local sports channels around the country, and the possibility that it could withhold sports elsewhere as it does in Philadelphia, was among the main reasons the Adelphia deal has become something of a logjam at the FCC, the officials said.

The complex deal, worth about $17 billion, was first proposed in April 2005, and includes a swap of systems already owned by Comcast and Time Warner that would increase their footprints in major markets that they already dominate. Comcast would not comment for this story because the deal is pending. The FCC also turned down a request for comment.

Separately, the judge overseeing Adelphia's bankruptcy case today granted the company permission to sell its assets to Time Warner and Comcast.

Judge Robert Gerber of the Southern District of New York said he would approve an order to detach the asset sale from the rest of Adelphia's bankruptcy process, allowing it to be executed without the approval of an overall restructuring plan. Adelphia sought the separation to bypass creditor disputes that have slowed the company in its filing of its plan.

The sale agreement with Time Warner and Comcast had been put in jeopardy because of a July 31 deadline at which the buyers could retract their offer. The offer includes a $12.7 billion cash component and the rest as shares in Time Warner. Once complete, the acquisitions would secure Time Warner's and Comcast's status as the two biggest cable operators in the nation.

Comcast's representatives have met repeatedly with FCC commissioners and staffers to press its case, and have done the same in testimony to congressional committees weighing proposals to rewrite an exemption in program-access requirements set by Congress in the Cable Act of 1992.

The law requires a cable company that owns programming distributed by satellite to allow other pay-TV companies to carry it. But it exempts programming distributed by land-based cables or wires.

Satellite companies such as DirecTV and Echostar, and competitive cable companies such as RCN Corp., argue that the exemption was intended to encourage cable companies to invest in news coverage and other local programming.

Echoed recently by some in Congress, they say the rule should not allow a cable company to restrict rivals' access to "must-have" local sports events, as Comcast does by withholding SportsNet from the satellite carriers.

Comcast has responded by pointing out that it has not used the exemption beyond Philadelphia, where the $22-billion-a-year company is headquartered, even though it now owns similar channels in Washington, D.C., Chicago and California.

The FCC chairman apparently accepted Comcast's argument that Philadelphia should remain an exception.

"The chairman just said, 'Let's make a deal. We'll protect your crown jewel,'" one of the FCC officials said.
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
Comcast is the first to report, with a massive 274,000 loss in video subscribers.

In the 3Q of 2016, Comcast had 21.42 million video subscribers and was the #1 provider, now at 10.39 million and is the #3 Provider, YTTV is #2 ( who also surpassed DirecTV-8 Million and Dish-under 5 Million), Charter/Spectrum is #1.

32 Replies · 1246 views
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Foxbat
Meanwhile, my neighbor 300' away has gigabit fiber, and I'm stuck with copper solutions.
S
Meanwhile, my neighbor 300' away has gigabit fiber, and I'm stuck with copper solutions.
similar situation. almost every neighborhood around me has fiber, but our 3 block area. I called AT&T and was like, how hard is it to bring fiber over about 200 feet (I am closest to the folks with fiber and can see it on the poles from my front door); crickets and very frustrating.
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Jimbo
similar situation. almost every neighborhood around me has fiber, but our 3 block area. I called AT&T and was like, how hard is it to bring fiber over about 200 feet (I am closest to the folks with fiber and can see it on the poles from my front door); crickets and very frustrating.
Chances are, they told you about how hard and long it would take for them to place that fiber to your area ... Poles needed to be placed and what not ...
ncted
Chances are, they told you about how hard and long it would take for them to place that fiber to your area ... Poles needed to be placed and what not ...
Or the people who own the poles closest to the house won't let AT&T attach.
Jimbo
Or the people who own the poles closest to the house won't let AT&T attach.
People that Own the poles ?
That would be ATT Or the Power Company depending on the situation ... easily figured out by looking at the Tag on All Poles.
navychop
Or the people who own the poles closest to the house won't let AT&T attach.

Might not be an option, due to easements. I can't see governments allowing public property (easements) for exclusive use by just one company.

I $uppo$e there'$ a way….
ncted
People that Own the poles ?
That would be ATT Or the Power Company depending on the situation ... easily figured out by looking at the Tag on All Poles.
Sorry, Companies or whoever. Power company, cable company, competing phone companies, governments. AT&T sued Nashville a while back because of how pole attachment works there.
Jimbo
Sorry, Companies or whoever. Power company, cable company, competing phone companies, governments. AT&T sued Nashville a while back because of how pole attachment works there.
Really ?
The poles always have a tag on them showing who owns them, up here its either the Power Company or the Phone company ...

edit:
Utility and telephone poles in Nashville, Tennessee are owned primarily by two entities: [1]
  • Nashville Electric Service (NES): Owns approximately 80% of the utility and telephone poles across its Davidson County service area.
    • AT&T: Owns the remaining 20% of the poles (roughly 104,000 poles). [1, 2, 3]
Other telecom and cable providers, such as Comcast or Google Fiber, do not typically own the physical poles; instead, they rent attachment space on NES- or AT&T-owned poles through pole-attachment agreements. [1, 2]
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R
In my area Cox (now Spectrum) has run everything underground instead of on poles.
Jimbo
In my area Cox (now Spectrum) has run everything underground instead of on poles.
Thats good, the neighborhood generally look better with buried plant ... until someone puts a shovel into the line planting the Spring Garden. :(
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
I was reading this article


That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.

And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.


Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.

There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.

In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.

Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.

Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.

So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households

So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.

That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.

But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.

Imagine what 2024 will be like.
914 Replies · 73157 views
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Bruce
According to industry figures reported by Sports Media Watch, this year's World Series averaged 11.69 million viewers on FOX, down 26% from the 15.71 million average the 2025 series delivered.
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Jimbo
According to industry figures reported by Sports Media Watch, this year's World Series averaged 11.69 million viewers on FOX, down 26% from the 15.71 million average the 2025 series delivered.
That thier own stupidity ...

They make it hard to find the game when its on FOX 1 game, then FS1, then on Tru or some other little ity biyy channel that people rerely watch and can't find. (I don't know if FOX is TRU or not, but thats what I'm saying, they put games on obscure channels and expect people to easily find it and watch.
Bruce
That thier own stupidity ...

They make it hard to find the game when its on FOX 1 game, then FS1, then on Tru or some other little ity biyy channel that people rerely watch and can't find. (I don't know if FOX is TRU or not, but thats what I'm saying, they put games on obscure channels and expect people to easily find it and watch.
Every WS game was on the main Fox Broadcast Channel, what are you referring to?
AZ.
AZ.
Every WS game was on the main Fox Broadcast Channel, what are you referring to?
Throughout the playoffs most games were not over the air. They were on FS1 or TrueTV, HBO, TBS....So without a sports package you need FS1, and the others you need a old school TV package. If I had to guess, close to 75% of playoff games were not on free local TV.
Bruce
Throughout the playoffs most games were not over the air. They were on FS1 or TrueTV, HBO, TBS....So without a sports package you need FS1, and the others you need an old school TV package. If I had to guess, close to 75% of playoff games were not on free local TV.
But I never posted about the playoffs, only the World Series.

And a 4 million drop in households is a big deal, specially what Fox pays for it, they are already losing money on the MLB contract, now even more, since they might have to give some of the money back to advertisers, since it might of not made certain ratings goals.
Bobby
But I never posted about the playoffs, only the World Series.

And a 4 million drop in households is a big deal, specially what Fox pays for it, they are already losing money on the MLB contract, now even more, since they might have to give some of the money back to advertisers, since it might of not made certain ratings goals.
Last year it was the Dodgers and Bluejays. This year is was the Brewers and the Rays, two teams that never won a World Series. Last year the Dodgers were the former year champion, can they do a repeat against a Toronto team that looked unbeatable. That World Series was a classic between two teams that really wanted it. The highlight of this year was can Milwaukee go 4-0 like they did to the Dodgers, and they just about did.
AZ.
AZ.
Last year it was the Dodgers and Bluejays. This year is was the Brewers and the Rays, two teams that never won a World Series. Last year the Dodgers were the former year champion, can they do a repeat against a Toronto team that looked unbeatable. That World Series was a classic between two teams that really wanted it. The highlight of this year was can Milwaukee go 4-0 like they did to the Dodgers, and they just about did.
Yep ratings have lots to do with what teams are playing. Large market over smaller. Underdog teams people want to root for. But If you make it hard to watch all the playoffs, you will get less interest for the World Series.
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TRG
TRG
According to industry figures reported by Sports Media Watch, this year's World Series averaged 11.69 million viewers on FOX, down 26% from the 15.71 million average the 2025 series delivered.

People are tired of watching the World Series without the Yankees. :devilish :biggrin
Bruce
Yep ratings have lots to do with what teams are playing. Large market over smaller. Underdog teams people want to root for. But If you make it hard to watch all the playoffs, you will get less interest for the World Series.
Except last year, the playoffs were aired on the same channels as this year.
Jimbo
People are tired of watching the World Series without the Yankees. :devilish :biggrin
Not Me, I rather enjoy it ...
Jimbo
Except last year, the playoffs were aired on the same channels as this year.
Quick Question, WITHOUT Looking it up ...
Who played in the World Series last year ?
Jimbo
Except last year, the playoffs were aired on the same channels as this year.
True, but you had 2 Large Markets in it .
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy

Ethanol Free Stations

5571 Replies · 463067 views
Bobby
Regular$5.399​
Premium$5.899​
Diesel$7.999​
at Costco, Rohnert Park.​
osu1991
$3.55
R
$3.45 in Jane, MO.
Bobby
Regular$5.299​
Premium$5.859​
Diesel$7.599​
at Costco, Rohnert Park.​
harshness
Finally! Some big movement in California diesel pricing (and no, there is no such beastie as a diesel "winter formula").

Crude (combined pricing) is around $90/barrel now, so prices should have, at least, fallen in step with the crude futures.
Ramy
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in The Sports Section
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
195 Replies · 3724 views
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Ronnie-
ESPN and the College Football Playoff (CFP) have agreed to a 5-year deal to expand the playoff from 12 to 24 teams.

The deal, worth $1.7 billion per ESPN's Heather Dinich, keeps ESPN as the broadcast partner.

The CFP announced the deal on Monday.
cp2k
Honestly, I would rather see an expanded bracketed playoff system than the current Conference Championship Game + playoff model we're using right now. The Conference Championships essentially allow two teams to beat up on each other, and then both typically are going to end up in the playoffs anyway unless it is one of the weaker or smaller conferences. Let them play it out on the field against others.
Jimbo
Honestly, I would rather see an expanded bracketed playoff system than the current Conference Championship Game + playoff model we're using right now. The Conference Championships essentially allow two teams to beat up on each other, and then both typically are going to end up in the playoffs anyway unless it is one of the weaker or smaller conferences. Let them play it out on the field against others.
Until the Big Ten changed thier alignment, (a couple years ago) ... it was not like that at all, the East side won most years the west side represented the Big Ten, but they may have been the team with the 4th best record ...
They finally changed that, to a single conference ... but yes, in most cases, both teams will get in ... now, its a certain both will get in ...

The biggest issue with the Conference Now is the Number of TEAMS .... WAY to Many.
It would take 2-3 YEARS to do a round robin where everyone would play one another ... How do you know how good a team is when teams don't play the same teams ?
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meStevo
They finally changed that, to a single conference ... but yes, in most cases, both teams will get in ... now, its a certain both will get in ...

Surprised you haven't made this claim yet.


View: https://x.com/RedditCFB/status/2119843536439005342?a=pI0NYBONwLj4vjRrQWo&s=20
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Last reply · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
1 Replies · 13 views
T
But thing is, a lot of these projects are still moving forward. If they hit snags in TX, Loozianna has open arms
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68791 Replies · 2688751 views
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harshness
Stay (Just a Little Bit Longer) - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
Bobby
Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
sdfntx
Little Bit O' Soul - Music Explosion
gms49ers
Soul Man - The Blues Brothers
long_time_Dish
Heart Full Of Soul - Rush
KAB
KAB
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Wireless Joey 4. Yesterday, I noticed a little green dot on a small black field in the upper right hand corner of the screen, regardless of channel, recordings, etc. A restart got rid of it, but I am curious as to what It meant and what I did to get it there.
4 Replies · 110 views
Redneck_Randy
Google Search

The little green dot inside a small black field in the upper right-hand corner of your screen is an Android privacy indicator confirming that the voice remote's microphone is actively listening. Because the Joey 4 runs on an Android
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B
That's no good
Almighty1
The green dot on Android TV is supposed to show as long as an app or background service is actively using the microphone or camera. [1, 2]

What Normal Behavior Looks Like
    • When active: It appears (often with a small microphone or camera icon that fades into a simple green dot) the moment a voice search, assistant command, or streaming app requests audio input.
    • When it disappears: It should vanish a few seconds after you finish your command or after the app stops using the microphone. [1]

Why It Might Stay On (Persistent Dot)
If the green dot stays on indefinitely or won't go away, it usually means:
    • An app (such as a voice search tool, media player, or background utility) has a hung process or is keeping the microphone channel open.
    • A remote control or voice-recognition service is stuck. [1]

How to Fix or Check It
    • Restart your TV: Unplug the power cable for about 30 seconds and plug it back in to clear out stuck background apps.
    • Check app permissions: Go to your TV's Settings > Privacy or Device Preferences > Microphone to see which apps have access, and revoke permission for any suspicious or unnecessary apps. [1, 2]
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Scott Greczkowski
Its a bug. I had it happen to mine. The mic is not listening, and if your worried about that remove the batteries from your remote as thats where the mic is. :)
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Bobby
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
This is a thread that will keep you apprised of 4K events that will be showing on Dish channel 540. Keep looking here for information.

As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
772 Replies · 169197 views
Bobby
CFB, Florida vs Georgia, Saturday 10-31, 12:30PM PDT, Channel 148-03.
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Bobby
CFB, Wisconsin at Iowa, Saturday 10-31, 9AM PDT, Channel 148-01.
CFB, Arizona St at BYU, Saturday 10-31, 12:30PM PDT, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
CFB, Alabama at LSU, Saturday 11-7, 12:30PM PST, Channel 148-03.
Bobby
CFB, UCLA at Minnesota, Saturday 11-7, 9AM PST, Channel 148-01.
CFB, Iowa at Northwestern, Saturday 11-7, 4:30PM PST, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
CFB, Texas at LSU, Saturday 11-14, 4:30PM PST, Channel 148-03.
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