Wolverton: Consumers' Comcast complaints hit home (replace your cable TV)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/troy-wolverton/ci_27263491/wolverton-consumers-comcast-complaints-hit-home

By Troy Wolverton Mercury News Columnist

LAS VEGAS -- If you're tired of paying outrageous and ever-growing bills for television service to get access to a bunch of channels you never watch, you soon will have another choice -- one that could turn the entire industry on its head.

At a media event here Monday, Dish announced Sling TV, a pay-TV service delivered over the Internet, instead of through its traditional satellite dishes. The company will charge just $20 a month for the service -- although for far fewer channels than viewers would typically get from Comcast or DirecTV -- and won't require users to sign a long-term contract. It will, however, offer some big lures such as ESPN, TNT, CNN and the Food Network.


Joe Clayton, president and CEO of Dish Network, introduces Sling TV, a live television streaming service, at a news conference at the International CES, Jan. 5, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Jae C. Hong / AP)


The service, to be launched early this year, can be used via a Web browser on computers or through apps on smartphones, tablets and streaming video devices like Roku's digital players.

If it's successful -- and that's a big if -- it could lead to similar offers from other companies, allowing consumers to cut their pay TV bills and get access to a collection of channels tailored to their personal preferences.

FULL story at link.

[Hestia]

1. I'd do something like this but it would have to have all the stations I want - otherwise, what's the

point?

[yeoman6987]

3. I am keeping Comcast

Yes I have Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. But I am seeing the future and the Internet is going to become very expensive with data. They will give 300 data a month for 300 dollars a month. And don't go over the limit. I am scared of this!!!!

[NYC_SKP]

4. The pipeline should be free, public. The subscriptions to entertainment should cost.

The government developed the Internet, we should own it, or pay cost for access, non profit, subsidized.

[flying rabbit]

2. This is where we are headed...

... Bookmark it.

[phantom power]

5. Consumers want a-la-carte channels. When are the providers going to step up?