Looking back at
the top 10 stories in the media/telecom industry in 2015
In no particular order, they were:
- Too Big to Merge -- Comcast and Time Warner Cable (TWC) part ways
- Not Too Big to Merge – AT&T and DirecTV are now one à AT&T Entertainment
- Maybe Not Too Big to Merge – Charter, TWC, and Bright House Networks announce merger plans – if approved in 2016, major concessions/perks to the “interested” parties are likely
- After 13 years (1992 Cable Act), local cable markets are now presumed to be effectively competitive
- ISPs (fixed and mobile) were re-classified under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act as part of the Net Neutrality ruling by the FCC
- The FCC rules that municipal broadband providers can expand their networks in states that have laws preventing such expansion --- FCC okay with preempting state laws if they deem that broadband deployment is being hindered
- Skinny is good – skinny bundles become the new “play” by cable providers to hold onto subscribers
- Cord-cutting accelerates as program watchers find a growing array of alternatives acceptable/preferable
- ESPN is vulnerable – always considered the must have in the TV-bundle; that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore
- Content is still king – networks (Showtime) and programs (Daily Show) cut their own deals with distributors
The year ahead promises continued challenges to the new laws
and regulations, more consolidation and convergence, and a dizzying-array of new
and re-packaged service offerings.
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