Net neutrality update

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

There is not much game in limiting. The game is in providing more and better services. MORE access to the YouTubes of the world.

But then how come I have to have Hulu to get some of my shows? Netflix would love to give me access to that content, but Hulu offered them more for an exclusive deal. Soon, I'm going to have to have a separate Disney streaming service, too, if my kids want to watch any of those movies, because Disney is banking that we'll pay a premium once their content is restricted more than it is now.

If AT&T cut off YouTube for the hell of it, then sure, we could switch to Spectrum internet instead. But what happens when AT&T negotiates an exclusivity contract that says the other guys can't have YouTube?

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

If AT&T cut off YouTube for the hell of it, then sure, we could switch to Spectrum internet instead. But what happens when AT&T negotiates an exclusivity contract that says the other guys can't have YouTube?

Originally Posted by Undertoad

T-Mobile

Holy shit, new answer: I hadn't been following this, but there will be 2200 low-orbit satellites up by 2024. Test launch of the first 60 is Wednesday! (Elon Musk expects it to fail so they can learn from it.)

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reveals radical Starlink redesign for 60-satellite launch

[xoxoxoBruce]

In a couple of years they won't be able to launch Falcon-9 or any rocket without hitting some of this crap orbiting Earth.

[tw]

From Consumer Reports:

Cord cutters are buying antennas to save money by cutting their monthly pay-TV services—and they’re doing it in large numbers. Consumer research from Parks Associates shows that the percentage of U.S. broadband households that use digital antennas in their home has steadily increased, reaching 20 percent by the end of 2017, up from 16 percent in early 2015.

So why are Comcast profits increasing when number of customers is decreasing? Harm to net neutrality has increases profits of the duopolies. Consumers typically only have two choices for internet service. So internet prices have slowly increased. And profits from internet services has increased significantly thanks to less free market competition.

Comcast had 22 million customers in 2018. Down from 24 million in 2016. And now down to 21.8 million in 2019. So profits should be dropping. Nope. Harm to net neutrality and the resulting increase in prices as well as now changing the content providers have caused profits from their internet business to increase by 10% to 4.4 billion. Did profits increase because they provided better service or more innovation? Nope. As net neutrality is undermined, then the duopoly (ie Comcast) realize increased profits.

Just another example of why harm to free market competition is bad for consumers; good for the corporate elites.

[henry quirk]

A free market is good for everyone: too bad we don't have one (and can't have one as long as state capitalism chokes out free enterprise).

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by tw

So why are Comcast profits increasing when number of customers is decreasing?

Maybe because, during the quarter, for the first time, Comcast added the profits of the Sky network to their financial statements?

no! that couldn't be it! they made money from some kind of net neutrality thing that nobody has reported on and I can't exactly explain because I don't understand it!!

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Maybe because, ...

Wrong again, as usual.