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PV and CSP technologies
In the case between Dish v. Viacom, I believe that Dish Satellite service was on the wrong for pulling off Viacom-owned channels from its satellite service. In the case of Time Warner v. Disney, Time Warner was on the wrong for blacking out ABC out of its systems. The tactics the company applied amounted to blackmail, which in turn, inconvenienced many subscribers (Los Angeles Times 1). Contractual agreements between company should be solved in the boardrooms and should not interfere with customer experiences as they are under contractual obligations and have received subscription payments.
I believe that the two companies wanted to limit competition by raising the costs and withholding the broadcasts. The two companies wanted to control and monopolize the internet and cable entertainment. Dish and Time Warner implemented questionable competitive practices as a way of entrenching their dominance and gaining financial rewards.
There should be a restriction on cable and satellite providers preventing them from favoring networks owned by parent companies as it promotes unhealthy and biased competition. Additionally, such blackouts and contractual disputes mostly disenfranchise customers and subscribers who are unable to access their favorite programs. The restrictions should limit the blacking out programs that viewers have already subscribed and the misuse of monopoly power.
Conglomerates such as Disney and Viacom should not use their popularity as bargaining chips against cable and satellite providers as it also amounts to blackmail. If companies are allowed to leverage their advantages, the consumers will be the ones to suffer. Such strategy would promote unhealthy competition, with such conglomerates dictating what is to be aired in by the cable and satellite providers.
To protect consumers from inconveniences of losing favorite channels, consumer watchdog groups and the congress should propose regulations and implement the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 that prevent companies from disrupting programs. This may involve the introduction of ‘must carry” provisions that require cable operators to retransmit all broadcasts, where companies that inconvenience viewers are fined and viewers compensated (Huffpost 1).
Works cited
The Huff post ” CBS vs. Time Warner Cable vs. You.” Huffpost.com. N. p., 2020. Web. 12 Apr. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cbs-vs-time-warner-cable-_b_3632160
Los Angeles Times. “Time Warner, Disney Settle Feud With 7-Year Deal.” Los Angeles Times. N. p., 2000. Web. 12 Apr. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-26-fi-34167-story.html