Comcast Announces Plans to Merge With Time Warner Cable

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

This wouldn't be a problem outside of the US if the US wasn't so hellbent on telling the rest of the world how to use the internet. We should just sever all ties with that redneck fuckin' continent and let them drown in their crony capitalism so the rest of us can prosper.

Disparage a whole continent based on a stereotype? That certainly seems to lack good nature or character. What's more, the idea that your country could somehow cut itself off from a whole continent, especially when said continent has the country with the biggest economy on the planet, falls somewhere between misguided and hilariously absurd. But hey, let's not even wait to see if the U.S. government does its job and uses the existing regulation to stop the merger, let's just call a bunch of people rednecks and offer up hyperbole instead!

Right. A government that deregulates for the sake of corporations is suddenly going to regulate for the sake of the people. I wouldn't count on that, my misguided friend.

And since in your final words you managed to acknowledge my use of hyperbole, might I inquire to what end was your initial critique?

 

[Gorrath]

This wouldn't be a problem outside of the US if the US wasn't so hellbent on telling the rest of the world how to use the internet. We should just sever all ties with that redneck fuckin' continent and let them drown in their crony capitalism so the rest of us can prosper.

Disparage a whole continent based on a stereotype? That certainly seems to lack good nature or character. What's more, the idea that your country could somehow cut itself off from a whole continent, especially when said continent has the country with the biggest economy on the planet, falls somewhere between misguided and hilariously absurd. But hey, let's not even wait to see if the U.S. government does its job and uses the existing regulation to stop the merger, let's just call a bunch of people rednecks and offer up hyperbole instead!

Right. A government that deregulates for the sake of corporations is suddenly going to regulate for the sake of the people. I wouldn't count on that, my misguided friend.

And since in your final words you managed to acknowledge my use of hyperbole, might I inquire to what end was your initial critique?

Insulting stereotypes steeped in hyperbole are insulting stereotypes nonetheless. If the target of your insulting stereotype had not been such an easy one (making crude remarks about the fitness and intelligence of my countrymen is rather en vogue), I doubt I'd be the only one saying anything about it. So, to answer your question, my critique of your comments is the same critique I'd have leveled at you if you'd referred to the people of Africa using a racial slur and then tried to hide behind hyperbole as a reason why it's okay to do so.

As for your presumption that the government won't prevent this merger, I need only point you to the article above, which specifically talks about how a similar merger was prevented for similar reasons. While this does not guarantee the FCC will do the right thing again, it does suggest that one should perhaps pause and wait for the outcome before succumbing to hyperbolic statements and insults aimed at a whole continent of people.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

As for your presumption that the government won't prevent this merger, I need only point you to the article above, which specifically talks about how a similar merger was prevented for similar reasons. While this does not guarantee the FCC will do the right thing again, it does suggest that one should perhaps pause and wait for the outcome before succumbing to hyperbolic statements and insults aimed at a whole continent of people.

I've been watching a lot of Deadwood lately and sometimes I feel like my personality's been violated by 19th century gold rush lingo. Mostly swearing and cynicism aimed towards the powers that be.

 

[Callate]

Ah, hey, Feds? You want to get back on working out that whole "Network Neutrality" issue? Like, now?!

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

If you guys want truly abhorrent Internet, come visit any part of Australia that is more than 10kms outside one of our state capitals. You will go from 1-2mb down to 500-750kb with semi frequent disconnects. Once you experience this, then you will have the right to ***** about how bad your internet service is.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Well, great. The company that had the worst customer-service rating in the country (beating out even the IRS) twice in the space of four years ('04 and '07) wants to take over my ISP, which already has problems.

I wonder what kind of bandwidth I can get from two cans and a string....

 

[Gorrath]

As for your presumption that the government won't prevent this merger, I need only point you to the article above, which specifically talks about how a similar merger was prevented for similar reasons. While this does not guarantee the FCC will do the right thing again, it does suggest that one should perhaps pause and wait for the outcome before succumbing to hyperbolic statements and insults aimed at a whole continent of people.

I've been watching a lot of Deadwood lately and sometimes I feel like my personality's been violated by 19th century gold rush lingo. Mostly swearing and cynicism aimed towards the powers that be.

Fair enough friend, and I'd like to be clear that my critique was not meant to come off like sneering holier-than-thou condescension either. I've nothing but good will toward the people I converse with, even if I'm lambasting them on a position where I think they've erred. Cheers.

 

[rcs619]

The fact that they -have- that much money to throw around scares me. What have they been doing with it all? Definitely not improving infrastructure or investing in better technologies.

Buying politicians.

 

[RicoADF]

If you guys want truly abhorrent Internet, come visit any part of Australia that is more than 10kms outside one of our state capitals. You will go from 1-2mb down to 500-750kb with semi frequent disconnects. Once you experience this, then you will have the right to ***** about how bad your internet service is.

Err wrong, at least the 1-2mb part, I'm in South Sydney (about 30km from the CBD) and I have 100mb/s. Stop spreading the crap about shitty net service in Australia. That's not to say there isn't shit areas, but it is a large continent with few people, can't be surprised that the areas outside of the city aren't the fastest. The NBN had better not be cancelled by Abbott though.

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

Oh gee i can only see this ending well/sarcasm. First time warner bought out the local internet company where I live "Insight communications" which covered most of northern Kentucky and southern Indiana. They did a price hike of 42 dollars month for basic internet to 62 dollars and now if comcast takes over here comes the data caps. All I can say is YAY!!!!

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Err wrong, at least the 1-2mb part, I'm in South Sydney (about 30km from the CBD) and I have 100mb/s. Stop spreading the crap about shitty net service in Australia. That's not to say there isn't shit areas, but it is a large continent with few people, can't be surprised that the areas outside of the city aren't the fastest. The NBN had better not be cancelled by Abbott though.

1- South Sydney still counts as Sydney.

2- Cancelling the NBN was one of Abbott's big campaign promises.

 

[VanTesla]

This is going to just get worse since they have so much influence in the FCC and in the lobbyist... I mean look when they bought NBC in 2011 and when the FCC finally said it was ok and not a monopoly the chairman of the FCC at the time left the job and became a senior vice president at Comcast... Rules and regulations don't seem to apply at all anymore for these giants... Corporate greed plus corrupt politicians and corrupt government workers will be the thing that ruins this country if nothing is done soon if it hasn't already damaged enough as is...

 

[VanTesla]

The fact that they -have- that much money to throw around scares me. What have they been doing with it all? Definitely not improving infrastructure or investing in better technologies.

Buying politicians.

That and giving lofty posistions to the so called regulaters after they give them what they want when they are suppose to keep corporations from becoming a huge monopoly in the first place... Example is when Comcast bought out NBC the FCC Chairman at the time had the final say to ok it or not and after it went through she quit her job and became a vice president in Comcast...

 

[Baldr]

First off let just make it clear, Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Time Warner Inc (Media) are two separate companies and have been for years. Time Warner Cable hardly owns any media companies, they are mainly a telecom company. Time Warner Cable did go into some debt, but recently had a couple profitable quarters. Time Warner Cable cable is only valuable because it has the New York City and Los Angeles Markets


Both Time Warner Cable and Comcast are government sanctioned monopolies on cable systems. They are not monopolies on Media, Internet, or Phone. Comcast and Time Warner Cable are not competitors. They do not operate in the same markets.

Both companies have very similar corporate structure and identities.

This does give an advantage with Media buying powers: Lets take for instance Disney charges $5.05-$5.30 for ESPN channel per month, per customer. Having more customers gives the service provider more power to negotiate when the contract is up with Disney.

Realistically, there will be little change for customers.

 

[Foolery]

Fuck no. Please don't imitate Canada's internet companies. Bell, Telus, or Rogers. Take your pick. Granted there are local ISPs, but that's basically how it goes. And these assholes essentially collude with each other when it comes to pricing.

 

[FalloutJack]

Yeah, the apocalypse is nigh. This merger of these two huge companies prophesies the end of days. I wish I was kidding.

Greg

Sounds more like the slow death-rattle of Comcast to me. Allow me to explain why I say so:

Over here where I live, I observed the local and large-scale actions of a series of drug/convenience stores. One of the more successful ones decided to expand itself buying out another chain to increase its territory and strength, and because the other chain was mismanaged and going cheap. However, in the contract, they kept on the staff of said chain, which included management and, for some reason, also their name. It was like you your own pod person, but he ended up winning somehow. So, time continued and said new merged chain fritted away its assets through mismanagement and poor decisions, in which it was then bought out by ANOTHER company, who - while they didn't keep the name - STILL kept the same staff on, including management.

I have not looked into things since, but I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing were still happening, nor would it surprise me if similar happened anywhere else...such as here.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Both Time Warner Cable and Comcast are government sanctioned monopolies on cable systems. They are not monopolies on Media, Internet, or Phone. Comcast and Time Warner Cable are not competitors. They do not operate in the same markets.

Realistically, there will be little change for customers.

Well, ignoring the obvious fact that They're both in the national home Internet Service Provider market.
Which by definition, would normally make them competitors.

Unless you meant that they operate in their little fiefdoms thanks to collusion (agreeing to not compete).
In which case, no, they are not competitors.

Oh yes, government sanctioning that's (in practice) not subject to government oversight or regulation.
That can't possibly go wrong for consumers.

It's not like US consumers have to deal with a standard of internet several years behind most of developed Asia and Western Europe per capita, while paying more....OH WAIT THEY ALREADY DO.

The top speed advertised for cable in my region actually went DOWN when Comcast pulled out of Chicagoland back when they and other major ISPs swapped ownership of regions explicitly so they wouldn't compete.

Service got worse, rates stayed the same (for a short while, then they increased as usual).

So of course little would change for consumers; ISPs want to avoid changing the status quo at all costs.
Persistent guaranteed business til doomsday, ability to price gouge like a boss, no need to compete...why would they want to change that at all?!

What do they have to do?
File their taxes and get their lobbyist buddies in Washington laid every once in a while?

Because it sure as hell isn't improving infrastructure and equipment! They're going out of their way to ensure infrastructure DOESN'T improve (check out Kansas), because the moment someone actually provides real competition, they know they'll have to cave and lower rates or improve infrastructure.