Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Congress scrutinizes pay TV billing, competitive practices

By Reuters 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
A satellite dish from Dish Network is pictured along with satellite dishes from Direct TV in Pasadena

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate panel disclosed Thursday it is investigating pay TV competition and customer service issues and will call executives from top cable and satellite providers to testify.

Advertisement

Senators Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who chairs a panel on investigations and Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, said in a statement Thursday that they will hold a June 23 hearing that will include testimony from Comcast Corp <CMCSA.O>, Charter Communications <CHTR.O>, DirectTV, a unit of AT&T Inc <T.N> and Dish Network Corp <DISH.O>.

The companies did not immediately comment or respond to requests for comment.

The pair said in a joint statement the panel has been investigating the largest cable and satellite TV companies for more than a year, looking at potential barriers to competition in the industry, “including the difficulties faced by companies attempting to create innovative new television delivery models.”

The committee has also been examining billing, fees, refunds and other customer service issues.

“We believe our hearing will be a big step forward for consumers, allowing them to understand how their TV providers really work and make informed decisions about their video service,” the pair said.

The senators noted that a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index survey found pay television service ranked near the bottom of the 43 industries surveyed – a year after the pay-TV industry tied for the lowest score among all industries ranked.

The hearing comes as the Federal Communications Commission has proposed allowing consumers to swap pricey cable and other pay TV boxes for cheaper devices and apps, a change that would boost competition in the $20 billion television set-top box market.

The new proposed rule, unveiled by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in January, would allow customers to obtain video services from providers such as Alphabet Inc <GOOGL.O>, Apple Inc <AAPL.O> and Tivo Inc <TIVO.O>, instead of cable, satellite and other television providers.

The proposal has set off a frenzied lobbying battle pitting a tech industry eager to tap into the lucrative market against cable and TV companies, which could lose billions of dollars in rental fees for set-top boxes.

The FCC says 99 percent of U.S. customers now must get their boxes from their cable companies, and they pay on average $231 a year to lease the devices.

Cable companies say the video marketplace is already evolving as more customers replace traditional pay TV services with streaming Internet video.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Bernard Orr)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC5817L-VIEWIMAGE

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Defense rests in Baltimore officer’s murder trial in Freddie Gray case
News
Reuters 2 min read

Defense rests in Baltimore officer’s murder trial in Freddie Gray case

Maryland brothers indicted in officer’s friendly fire death
News
Reuters 1 min read

Maryland brothers indicted in officer’s friendly fire death

Three UC Berkeley students wounded, one missing in Nice attack
News
Reuters 2 min read

Three UC Berkeley students wounded, one missing in Nice attack

Zac Efron premieres his latest comedy in Hollywood
Entertainment
Reuters 1 min read

Zac Efron premieres his latest comedy in Hollywood

Tension at funerals for Orlando victims with protest, irate driver
News
Reuters 3 min read

Tension at funerals for Orlando victims with protest, irate driver

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor
Travel
Ethan Blake 6 min read

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor

Burger King launches Whopperrito in U.S. outlets
News
Reuters 1 min read

Burger King launches Whopperrito in U.S. outlets

Police union: Open carry of guns should be suspended at Republican convention in Cleveland
News
Reuters 1 min read

Police union: Open carry of guns should be suspended at Republican convention in Cleveland

Before Radar Detection Giant ‘Sound Mirrors’ Detected Enemy Aircraft
Entertainment
David Clarke 2 min read

Before Radar Detection Giant ‘Sound Mirrors’ Detected Enemy Aircraft

Clinton’s server technician declines to answer court-ordered questions
News
Reuters 2 min read

Clinton’s server technician declines to answer court-ordered questions

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers