So, your suggesting that TWC goes on as a PAY channel at $1.99 for each sub that wants it, or are you saying that D* and TWC should agree to $1.99 p/sub ?
I like the 1st idea, make it a Pay channel and see just how many people would actually BUY the channel, then they could see how really VALUABLE the channel is ...
At 1.99 per month for the sub to decide on, I bet you wouldn't get 500 people to pay for it.
Part of the reason is they don't show weather as they should and secondly, weather is available on Multiple devices other than TV at the touch of a button.
I'm suggesting that it become a pay channel -- just like any movie channel. $1.99 subscription fee... but rather than $.13 per sub for everyone, TWC gets $1.19 out of the $1.99 for each sub that subscribes. If their programming is that important and they are sure that everyone wants it, I don't know why they wouldn't jump on that deal... if only 10% of D* subs pick it up, they are making similar money they did before... if 32% pick it up, the similar number of people who pay for a movie package (at $12+ per month) they are making 3x the amount of money they were before. Obviously if TWC is so valuable, you'll have more uptake at $1.99 per month than people subscribe to movie channels, right? $1.99 for most people isn't a deal killer if it's a channel that you really care about -- it's not like it's $9.99 a month.
I'm obviously being a bit facetious here, as I don't think it's that valuable... WeatherNation doesn't have the slick production or celebrity budget of TWC, but they at least SHOW THE WEATHER 24/7, and the production quality is as good or better than my local weather, which is all I ask for if i want to catch the weather and my local news isn't on. My point is that it is as valuable as they claim, and people *rely* on it, they should take a deal like this. They could make a ton of money -- if in fact, it's a "can't miss" channel.
My other point is that TWC, Pac12, Disney, ESPN, and a number of other channels realize that if given an option most people won't subscribe as the content just isn't that compelling. I remember back in the C-Band and early cable days, Disney was $10 per month, and ESPN was an add-on as well (I don't remember how much) -- and those who wanted it, bought it. IIRC Discovery was an add-on channel at one point as well.
The "expensive channels" used to be premiums... somewhere along the line this changed. Obviously the "per subscriber" rate for a $10 add-on is more than what they negotiated to get it in the base packages -- and if the content was that compelling, they would have a high uptake and make MORE money than forcing it down everyone's throat. I know Pac12 knows this as they D* has offered to carry the channel as a premium (this has pretty much been assumed from what they have said) but Pac12 won't go for it--just like TWC, they know their content isn't that compelling for EVERYONE. Back in the day the "basic cable channel" package was relatively cheap... if you didn't take Disney or ESPN, you could have TV for $20 a month (it'd probably be $35 today with inflation) and still have pretty much everything else that was out there... In my case my RSN gets me all the sports I need. I'd gladly save $5 a month if I could drop ESPN or Disney... I'd put the savings towards HBO or Showtime, which are relevant to me -- if sports are what are relevant to you, I say pay $10 a month for ESPN. Movies have always been the "expensive" things to carry (and their original programs, which are some of my favorite shows, are expensive to produce) -- which is why the movie channels have always been premiums. Sports rates have inflated 10x to the point where it's almost as expensive to present as movies, yet the channels have this grandfathered status from the days when they were not (yet they USED to be premium channels) -- and it's time they became premiums again as well -- and the respective base packages dropped accordingly.
As has been previously posted, I bet TWC will be back... when it's time to renew CNBC, or E! or any number of more valuable Comcast/NBC channels, and they refuse to allow carriage without TWC -- and I'm sure that's what their holding out for. I'm not asking for ala carte, but there should be a bill floated that outlaws networks from "bundling" properties...
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