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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 08:49 AM Apr 2014

Al Franken Calls on Netflix to Oppose Comcast Merger

Source: Philadelphia Magazine

Sen. Al Franken — perhaps the most vocal opponent of the Comcast-Time Warner merger in Congress — is now calling on Netflix to join that opposition, sending an “impassioned” letter to Reed Hastings, CEO of the movie-streaming service.

The letter follows a recent deal in which Netflix begrudgingly agreed to pay Comcast to connect directly to Netflix servers, thereby improving the streaming quality of Netflix movies and television shows. The terms of that deal weren’t disclosed, but Hastings has been critical of the arrangement. In a blog post on March 20, while not directly referring to the Comcast-Netflix deal, he criticized the notion of large Internet service providers “extracting a toll because they can.” The practice, Hastings wrote, is a threat to Net neutrality, the principle that all content on the Internet should be treated equally. He also wrote that Netflix’s reluctant decision to agree to the deal is only a short-term fix.

Comcast denies that its Netflix deal violates net neutrality deals — under the terms of its merger with NBCUniversal a few years back, it’s not supposed to violate those principles for several years yet — but it’s true that the company’s films are streaming much more reliably to Comcast customers since the deal. Netflix has not yet formally responded to Franken.


Read more: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/04/18/al-franken-calls-netflix-oppose-comcast-merger

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Al Franken Calls on Netflix to Oppose Comcast Merger (Original Post) onehandle Apr 2014 OP
bravo al allan01 Apr 2014 #1
There is no way Netflix can support Al cosmicone Apr 2014 #2
More than that, we need divestiture of CATV broadcast from the ISP component. Lasher Apr 2014 #3
Yep. n/t cosmicone Apr 2014 #4
I don't see it happening in today's climate though. Lasher Apr 2014 #5
Obama and Eric Holder cosmicone Apr 2014 #6
Same here. Lasher Apr 2014 #7
Link to Franken's letter BootinUp Apr 2014 #8
Kick.. come on, Reed! Cha Apr 2014 #9
I wrote to Netflix about this... prairierose Apr 2014 #10
Netflix? How about reinstating some of the antitrust laws? merrily Apr 2014 #11

allan01

(1,950 posts)
1. bravo al
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 09:51 AM
Apr 2014

if theis happens , there goes my cable bil rates again.meawhile, their infastructure failes . this company was originaly set up to do one thing , distrute tv signals . it intent sucks and its cable packages suck, ad they brak contrats when we cant.
ps : sounds like leagel blackmail to me forcing an indipendent company out of operation by higher and hier fees.

 

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)
2. There is no way Netflix can support Al
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 10:10 AM
Apr 2014

Netflix's entire streaming business model depends on ISPs to deliver content and content providers like Netflix won't antagonize the ISPs even if they wanted to.

There need to be teeth in the law -- any ISP holding a content provider hostage and/or shaking them down should have triple damages and perhaps criminality.

Lasher

(27,502 posts)
3. More than that, we need divestiture of CATV broadcast from the ISP component.
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 10:32 AM
Apr 2014

Like the antitrust breakup of the Bell System in 1984. Then we could have true broadcast competition.

Lasher

(27,502 posts)
5. I don't see it happening in today's climate though.
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 11:36 AM
Apr 2014

Too bad, we are at a point where we could have affordable, high quality TV service. But powerful forces intend to keep their regional monopolies going and they are winning the battle.

 

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)
6. Obama and Eric Holder
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 11:42 AM
Apr 2014

are not interested in going after corporate tycoons/thieves. When I voted for Obama the first time, I had high hopes that he would be a proud liberal POTUS but he steered right of center instead. The second time, I voted for Obama as lesser of two evils with less enthusiasm.

Lasher

(27,502 posts)
7. Same here.
Fri Apr 18, 2014, 12:02 PM
Apr 2014

Obama has been pretty liberal on social issues but on economics he is very much the neoliberal. I now understand why he praised Reagan early on. Obama shares his economic ideology.

Back in the fall of 2008 the trickle-down world was crumbling for all to see. The time was right for a new Democratic president to seize the initiative. The right time, but Obama was not the right person.

prairierose

(2,145 posts)
10. I wrote to Netflix about this...
Sat Apr 19, 2014, 04:10 PM
Apr 2014

right after they made the deal with Comcast. I told Diamond this set a very bad precedent for his business as well as other vendors like Netflix and for the customers of ISPs. I hope They will listen to Sen Franken.

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