Why cable and wireless giants still hold the power
Pay-TV and internet providers rank dead last for customer satisfaction, yet the biggest cable and wireless companies keep consolidating power. Here is what the Sprint, Comcast, and Charter maneuvering means for you.
1 Last Place in Customer Satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is an independent national benchmark that measures the satisfaction of consumers across the U.S. economy. Last month, the ACSI reported that pay-TV and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) rated dead last among 43 industries measured in the index, including government. But you knew that intuitively.
It seems the larger these companies become, the worse the service they provide. And the Trump administration seems poised to loosen the regulatory environment on these behemoths even more than did the Obama administration, which affords them the freedom to do, well, pretty much anything they want.
2 Sprint Courts Comcast and Charter
According to The Wall Street Journal, Sprint has entered into exclusive talks with Comcast and Charter Communications, the two largest U.S. cable companies, to make a move into wireless. The paper and Reuters both report that Sprint and Softbank are putting merger talks with T-Mobile on hold for two months while they attempt to strike a deal with Comcast and Charter to underwrite Sprint’s expansion plans.
As Billshark reported here recently (Cable Company Dinosaurs: They Still Can’t Get It Right), an epidemic of cord-cutting on the part of cable customers has led to some desperation moves by the cable companies, as the future looks increasingly wireless.
According to insider reports, the agreement is simply a chance to discuss potential investments in improving Sprint’s network, but it wouldn’t necessarily preclude eventual acquisition by either T-Mobile or Comcast and Charter. The outcome would be, according to Techdirt, “a joint minority investment by both companies in exchange for a discount network-sharing arrangement to help fuel both cable companies’ attempts to get into the wireless sector.”
3 What the Deal Means for Consumers
If the arrangement remains outside the realm of full-blown acquisition, this could be positive news for consumers as it would keep the four companies intact for now, thus providing at least a veneer of competition among providers. Of course, this means that, as usual, consumers must settle for such crumbs while the giants still call the shots, aided and abetted in their quest for domination by a complicit federal government.
DSLReports said, “Whereas a T-Mobile Sprint merger would eliminate one of only four major competitors in the market, this arrangement would help keep Sprint afloat and will likely be seen as a better option for consumers longer term. Either option [minority ownership stake or outright acquisition] is likely to be approved by the Trump administration’s FCC [Federal Communications Commission] and DOJ [Department of Justice], however.”
Fierce Telecom Editor Mike Dano told CBS News that the Sprint/Comcast/Charter deal “isn’t as transformational as a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile would be. It makes a lot of sense for the two of them because it gives them the opportunity to really challenge Verizon and AT&T.”
As TechDirt reported, “How all of this shakes out (and whether it’s good for anybody not named Sprint, Comcast or Charter) remains unclear. ... Charter and Comcast are no strangers to anti-competitive behavior, and adding another entire service segment to this well-documented dysfunction could prove disastrous for what’s already some of the worst customer service in any industry in America.”
4 The Giants Keep Calling the Shots
All this makes one long for the days when the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was still enforced.
Meanwhile, though, you still have Billshark on your side, helping you in your fight to keep them from lining their pockets at your expense.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do pay-TV and internet providers rank for customer satisfaction?
According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), an independent national benchmark that measures consumer satisfaction across the U.S. economy, pay-TV and Internet Service Providers rated dead last among 43 industries measured in the index, including government.
What deal are Sprint, Comcast, and Charter discussing?
The Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint entered exclusive talks with Comcast and Charter Communications, the two largest U.S. cable companies, to move into wireless. Sprint and Softbank put merger talks with T-Mobile on hold for two months while they tried to strike a deal with Comcast and Charter to underwrite Sprint's expansion plans.
Why are the cable companies making these moves?
An epidemic of cord-cutting by cable customers has led to some desperation moves by the cable companies, as the future looks increasingly wireless. Investing in Sprint's network would give Comcast and Charter a discount network-sharing arrangement to help fuel their attempts to get into the wireless sector.
Could this arrangement be good news for consumers?
If the arrangement stays outside full-blown acquisition, it could be positive news because it would keep the four companies intact for now, providing at least a veneer of competition among providers. DSLReports noted it would help keep Sprint afloat and may be a better long-term option for consumers than a T-Mobile Sprint merger that eliminates a competitor.
How does Billshark help consumers against these big companies?
Billshark is on your side, helping you in your fight to keep these companies from lining their pockets at your expense. While the giants still call the shots, Billshark works to lower the recurring bills you pay to providers like cable and wireless companies.
This Billshark page helps readers discover practical guidance about recurring bills, subscriptions, consumer choices, and savings opportunities.
Pay-TV and internet providers rank last for satisfaction as Sprint, Comcast, and Charter deal could shape your bills. See what the giants mean for you.
Visitors can use this route to review relevant Billshark information and continue to the next page that best matches their savings or account needs.
Billshark publishes this information to help visitors make informed decisions about recurring expenses and related account actions.
Pay-TV and internet providers rank dead last for customer satisfaction, yet the biggest cable and wireless companies keep consolidating power.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is an independent national benchmark that measures the satisfaction of consumers across the U.S.
It seems the larger these companies become, the worse the service they provide.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Sprint has entered into exclusive talks with Comcast and Charter Communications, the two largest U.S.
As Billshark reported here recently (Cable Company Dinosaurs.
According to insider reports, the agreement is simply a chance to discuss potential investments in improving Sprint’s network, but it wouldn’t necessarily preclude eventual acquisition by either T-Mobile or Comcast and Charter.
If the arrangement remains outside the realm of full-blown acquisition.
DSLReports said.
As TechDirt reported, “How all of this shakes out (and whether it’s good for anybody not named Sprint, Comcast or Charter) remains unclear.
All this makes one long for the days when the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was still enforced.
Meanwhile, though, you still have Billshark on your side, helping you in your fight to keep them from lining their pockets at your expense.
According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), an independent national benchmark that measures consumer satisfaction across the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint entered exclusive talks with Comcast and Charter Communications, the two largest U.S.
An epidemic of cord-cutting by cable customers has led to some desperation moves by the cable companies, as the future looks increasingly wireless.
If the arrangement stays outside full-blown acquisition, it could be positive news because it would keep the four companies intact for now, providing at least a veneer of competition among providers.
Billshark is on your side, helping you in your fight to keep these companies from lining their pockets at your expense.
Our experts handle providers for customers and share updates throughout the process.
