Analysts say cable providers will have to change or die, and cable's main competitive advantage over digital satellite services is inevitably lost, this will force cable systems to provide new industry analysts to agree to survive.
Last year's satellite home TV Improvement Act was a bill of Congress that has put local network affiliate programs for digital satellite systems into the top 20 television markets in the United States.
Little Rock ranks 57 out of 210 markets across the country, and the broadcaster here says the local program of the central Arkansassatellite system may only be two to three years old.
At the same time, Congress is brewing another bill that can start local programming in smaller TV markets and make progress.
By senator.
Conrad BurnsMont. Phil Graham, R-
R-Hutchinson, TexasArk.
The local TV Act of 2000 will help loanguarantees to help television providers provide local programming to the community
Known as the "unserved" area.
These areas are often remote rural areas where viewers cannot receive cable services or traditional television signals from local network affiliates.
The bill is scheduled to leave the Senate Banking Committee by the end of this month.
Therefore, local programming on digital satellite TV is inevitable.
How competitors will deal with this reality is another problem.
Analysts and broadcasters say cable offers local network affiliates on its systems, one of the biggest advantages cable has over satellites.
According to Bob Denman, the sales general manager of KARK-
Television, television channels, satellite systems carry local programming, which changes the pattern of competition between cable and satellite TV providers.
"Satellites are not a fashion," says Charles W . "
Pluckhahn, aBoston-
Telecom analyst at Little Rock investment banker Stephens. Inc.
"It stays here.
Cable companies will either have to upgrade their devices to provide interactive TV and Internet services, or they will steadily lose market share for satellite TV. " For one-
The way television is delivered, the market is "relentlessly moving towards satellites," says pluchahn ".
Satellite launch has had an impact on the central market.
Mike Wilson, vice president and general manager of ComcastCablevision, Little Rock, said satellite services like DirecTV and dish Network account for 10% of his market share. At KATV-
Television, Channel 7, director of research at Lee wilsengham radio, reported higher numbers in the region.
According to Nielsen Media Research's November survey, 16% of the 36-year-old audience
County market areas in central Arkansas can use satellite services, including digital satellites. Sixty-
Three people subscribe to some sort of cable service, she said.
Pluckhahn said the digital satellite system was welcomed by customers who could not get cable or were not satisfied with the services of cable providers.
He said people who don't mind not doing local programming or switching between satellite systems and antenna reception also prefer the service.
The price of digital satellites is also very attractive.
For example, the recent dealfor Dish Network offers 40 digital channels-
Including mtv, TNN, Nickelodeon, CNN, the United States and TNT--for $19. 99 per month.
Users of another 60 channels paid a total of $28. 99 per month.
An extra $10 is required to add 6 HBO channels. 99 per month.
Packages similar to DirecTVoffers.
Buy hardware for service--an18-
Satellite antennas and receivers-
Can run between $99 and $149.
In Little Rock and North Little Rock, Comcast has a monopoly of about 86,000 users.
Small stone city Comcast customers receiving 64 channels (
Limited base service, premium Pak and premium base package)
But no paid movie channel paid $36. 12 permonth.
The price includes $1.
Comcast paid $90 for joining and $2. 08 sales tax.
However, Wilson, a consumer in the driver's seat, said that cable TV provides viewers with more choices to let them know what package they want and provide thoughtful service.
He pointed out the various packages that users can receive: the basic package for 14 channels was canceled for $8. 06 per month;
Limited Basicand $15 Pak portfolio and 27 channels. 31 per month;
And limit the basic combination of base and expansion at $26. 70.
He noted that Comcast added 10 analog channels to the latter two combinations.
He said: "I think what we have seen with the Concord and cable is that there are more options and consumers are more sitting in the driver's seat than a limited number of packages.
Wilson said another advantage of cable TV on satellite is customer service.
Wilson said Comcast offered one.
Stop customer service due to programming and hardware issues.
"For dishes, it depends on whether you talk to one source or two sources," he said . ".
"If it's a hardware issue, I think you'll talk to a team;
If it's a programming issue, you'll talk to another group.
Wilson also said cable TV could better keep up with technological changes compared to satellite services.
Wilson said that while new satellite technology could put a burden on consumers, it would provide the next
The cable company will assume the responsibility of replacing the cable box.
But both services require customers to share costs.
"I think in general, yes, I think it's going to be a part of doing business and that's right," Wilson said . ".
"The actual expense of buying the equipment you have ---
If it doesn't work, they give it to Comcast and say, 'We want an upgraded version, 'and we have to provide it.
"Now, it is clear that all of this will be charged to the cost of operating the business.
This is good news for local stations of network affiliates, especially those with news broadcasts, and the prospect of landing a digital satellite can only help.
Danman says new viewers of digital satellites-
Regions that were previously unable to receive network programming--
If the number of viewers increases, it may be good for the affiliate's advertising rate.
"It will help us, it will hurt the cable-
In the form of cableway-
"Because they will be able to provide a set of programs that are exactly the same as cable, then some," he said . ".
Denman and Pluckhahn said that in order for Cable to compete with satellite providers that provide local programming, Cable must provide additional, possibly bundled services that satellite users cannot pass
Transmission of television and limited bandwidth.
For Comcast people who are overseeing the $45 million upgrade, this is an old news.
The project will rebuild the cable system and add fiber optic cables to create a 750 MHz system that can deliver information faster.
The system also added channels to increase the digital menu from 139 channels to about 200 channels, while adding more channels.
Wilson also said Comcast plans to provide the first cablemodems to all Little Rock users by the end of the year.
Although Comcast has not yet priced the two companies
As far as digital modems are concerned, they cost about $40 a month in other markets.
The price of the modem will include monthly Internet access, Wilson said.
"We are trying to provide our customers with everything they can get with satellite antennas etc," he said . ".