Deep in a murky swamp, the newly formed Legion of Doom meets to discuss their plans to take over the world and snuff out all that is good. Lead by “Lex Time Warner Luthor”, this evil group is meeting to provide “a voice for the TV viewer.” Their idea is to combine forces against a new group of heroes who are growing in number and posing a major threat to their villainous plot. For decades members of the Legion of Doom have fought good, only to be turned back time and again, except this time it seems that their last minute escape act might not work.
If you haven’t picked up on it, the Legion of Doom isn’t the super villains from the DC Comics, it’s the newly formed American Television Alliance. What is that you ask? It’s a group of big cable and satellite providers, which have banned together to serve as a mouthpiece in their ongoing battle with local television stations. And it’s no surprise that some of the members are AT&T, Bright House, Cable Vision, Charter Communications, DirecTV, Dish Network and Time Warner. Might as well be names like Lex Luthor, the Riddler and Brainiac.
Sadly this story line could be in one of a million comic books. But just like in all comics, the hero is eventually able to muster the strength in the end and defeat the villain. The heroes in our story are the growing number of cord cutters. Pay TV providers for years have been underestimating the cord cutter’s (hero) abilities, expecting they have them right where they want them, charging outrageous rates. Just like what Superman or Batman might have done, cord cutters have thought beyond the evil plot, and in this case are making the switch to over-the-air television and other compliments like Internet TV.
The stated purpose for the American Television Alliance is “to protect consumers in today’s changing TV environment.” While that sounds great, in the end it’s not true. Pay TV providers are using the alliance to currently fight retransmissions fees and block broadcasters from pulling their signal, giving them greater control over the industry.
According to Dennis Whaton, an executive vice president of the National Association of Broadcasters, “The notion that Time Warner and its Big Pay TV allies are part of a group designed ‘to protect consumers’ is about as credible as BP executives joining Greenpeace.”
For anyone using TV, even Pay TV, this must be a wake up that the members of this alliance are not out to help you in anyway. It would be more accurate to say they are adding kryptonite to your bill and will continue to raise your rates. When monopolies (or super villains) work together it is in no way good for the everyday user. Don’t stand by and be a victim, even Lex Luthor became president of the United States, until super heroes like Superman revealed him for who he really was.