Pay TV providers are pushing against new online content companies who threaten the long-established high-dollar cable packages. Meanwhile, consumers want to watch whatever they desire, whenever they want it, and on multiple devices.
Comcast, for example, has taken a number of steps to protect its businesses which GigaOM highlights in this article.
1. Blocking P2P: The FCC compelled Comcast to manage its broadband network in a way that didn’t center on protecting its TV business after the company was found to have actively blocked peer-to-peer files.
2. Implementing data caps: Comcast instituted a 250 GB per month data cap on its users, saying that it would reconsider the cap as Internet usage rose. The 250 GB limit still remains even though traffic has increased, but customers now have a meter.
3. The Level 3 peering fight: “In 2010 Level 3 Communications, the middle-mile Internet provider that is also a content delivery network for Netflix, accused Comcast of seeking an additional payment from Level 3 in order for the CDN to deliver content from its network to Comcast subscribers. In effect, Level 3 was saying Comcast was trying to charge it more to deliver its CDN traffic,” GigaOM writes.
4. Protecting Tivo and its Xfinity traffic over the Xbox from its cap: That 250 GB limit does not include traffic from Comcast’s own services, giving users incentives to opt for Xfinity over other services.
5. Prioritizing its own traffic over other traffic at the packet level: Similar to how AT&T allotted bandwidth for its U-verse TV offering, Comcast tagged packets for Xfinity traffic.
6. Secretive plans with Verizon: Awaiting approval by the FCC, the deal would let the two companies share technology and give Verizon cable spectrum.
7. Possibly making Hulu available for pay-TV subscribers only.
Pay TV providers are pushing against new online content companies who threaten the long-established high-dollar cable packages. Meanwhile, consumers want to watch whatever they desire, whenever they want it, and on multiple devices.
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