Comcast and the NFL...anyone else get this email?

[bassman]

Dear  XXXX

The drawn-out battle between Comcast and the NFL gave football fans a taste of what Comcast can do — block games or move sports content to higher cost tiers.

Now Comcast wants to buy NBC, gaining control over local sports broadcasts and NBC Sunday Night Football, popular programs like "The Biggest Loser" and a big stake in the now-free online TV site Hulu.com.

Free programs could become subscriber-only, and cable subscribers may find their favorite programs bumped up to more costly "tiers." Comcast says nothing will change, but once they have this kind of power, they can use it to squeeze every dollar out of you, the real "biggest loser" in this deal.

Tell the FCC to say "No!" to the Comcast/NBC merger.

If you could "vote with your feet" and go buy the same programs at a lower cost someplace else, then maybe the market could control this new mega-company.

But in most cable markets, Comcast dominates, and customers don't have good alternatives. Competing cable companies will have even more trouble if Comcast is able to limit which NBC programs they can show, or charge them higher rates to do so. Those costs just get passed on to you.

It just takes a minute to weigh in with your own thoughts — we make it easy!

The FCC has said it will make its decision this fall. As Comcast prepares to take over networks like USA or SyFy, as well as local sports and news broadcasts, we need as many people as possible to contact the Commissioners. Forward this message to your friends and family so they can be heard before the final decision.

Sincerely,
Chris Meyer,
Vice President, External Affairs
Consumer Reports
101 Truman Ave
Yonkers, NY 10703 

[Big Rig]

Does sound a lot like comcast...get you in, then bend you over and give it to you where the sun don't shine....

They can have the NFL...after this season, the 2011 season will not happen as the union plans on strikes...

F Comcast...worst customer service. They charge you for everything...I do not have cable or satellite...

Question...who pays to listen to the radio?

[Jabba]

I agree with the sentiment.

I don't want the government involved.

We CAN resist without making another law.  Just don't play into their crap. 

It's really that simple.  You don't like 'em.  Don't GIVE them your money.

Jabba

[PAVALKER]

Get an antenna, receive digital off-the-air TV signals and get rid of Comcast, Verizon, and those satellite tv services.  Your money is funding them to grow even bigger, gobble up even more and grow more.  Their Customer Service sucks. With Off-The-Air-Digital programming, even more FREE TV is available and has increased capabilities.  COMCAST is concerned about FREE TV and wants to outlaw it.  Once everyone gets rid of them and goes Free TV... maybe COMCAST will die a slow death and they will get more programming and fund those TV stations with paid commercials and other services.

[..]

Get an antenna, receive digital off-the-air TV signals and get rid of Comcast, Verizon, and those satellite tv services.  Your money is funding them to grow even bigger, gobble up even more and grow more.  Their Customer Service sucks. With Off-The-Air-Digital programming, even more FREE TV is available and has increased capabilities.  COMCAST is concerned about FREE TV and wants to outlaw it.  Once everyone gets rid of them and goes Free TV... maybe COMCAST will die a slow death and they will get more programming and fund those TV stations with paid commercials and other services.

Tell us how. Thanks.

[PAVALKER]

Get an antenna, receive digital off-the-air TV signals and get rid of Comcast, Verizon, and those satellite tv services.  Your money is funding them to grow even bigger, gobble up even more and grow more.  Their Customer Service sucks. With Off-The-Air-Digital programming, even more FREE TV is available and has increased capabilities.  COMCAST is concerned about FREE TV and wants to outlaw it.  Once everyone gets rid of them and goes Free TV... maybe COMCAST will die a slow death and they will get more programming and fund those TV stations with paid commercials and other services.

Tell us how. Thanks.

Tell us how..... what??   Get an antenna and hook it up to your TV that's how.  If you have an older TV without a digital tuner you will need a converter box (and the government sponsored those during the initial phase in.... gave up to 80 bucks per household for 2 boxes each house).  If you have a newer TV... you probably have a digital tuner.   I put my antenna in the attic and fed the house TVs with the Cable line that used to feed them.  Granted... not as many fancy special channels... but  there are definitely more channels now via digital than what there used to be.  I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS in HD.  Some stations are broadcasting on more than one channel now with different programming (Retro TV for example).

I still have the internet via DSL or FIOS, along with the phone.... and if I want to catch a show ... say Son's Of Anarchy for example.... I watch it via the internet at my convenience using HULU.com or Channel131.com on my PC or pipe it into my Big TV (usually just on the notebook tho).

I  don't need to pay the cable company or Verizon all that money for TV service and rent their equipment monthly just to watch it.  I don't pay the water company for my faucets either... just the water.

[..]

Get an antenna, receive digital off-the-air TV signals and get rid of Comcast, Verizon, and those satellite tv services.  Your money is funding them to grow even bigger, gobble up even more and grow more.  Their Customer Service sucks. With Off-The-Air-Digital programming, even more FREE TV is available and has increased capabilities.  COMCAST is concerned about FREE TV and wants to outlaw it.  Once everyone gets rid of them and goes Free TV... maybe COMCAST will die a slow death and they will get more programming and fund those TV stations with paid commercials and other services.

Tell us how. Thanks.

Tell us how..... what??   Get an antenna and hook it up to your TV that's how.  If you have an older TV without a digital tuner you will need a converter box (and the government sponsored those during the initial phase in.... gave up to 80 bucks per household for 2 boxes each house).  If you have a newer TV... you probably have a digital tuner.   I put my antenna in the attic and fed the house TVs with the Cable line that used to feed them.  Granted... not as many fancy special channels... but  there are definitely more channels now via digital than what there used to be.  I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS in HD.  Some stations are broadcasting on more than one channel now with different programming (Retro TV for example).

I still have the internet via DSL or FIOS, along with the phone.... and if I want to catch a show ... say Son's Of Anarchy for example.... I watch it via the internet at my convenience using HULU.com or Channel131.com on my PC or pipe it into my Big TV (usually just on the notebook tho).

I  don't need to pay the cable company or Verizon all that money for TV service and rent their equipment monthly just to watch it.  I don't pay the water company for my faucets either... just the water.

i'M on DISH and have until next August before my contract expires. I'll certainly be looking into an antenna. Thanks.