cable tv

Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T, says his company's proposed merger with Time Warner will not hurt competition.

AT&T Deal For Time Warner Casts Renewed Attention On CNN

12:36pm October 25, 2016

by David Folkenflik

AT&T's chief promises to maintain CNN's journalistic independence after parent Time Warner merges with the telecom giant. CNN got a $100 million boost this year, propelled by coverage of Donald Trump.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is projected on a screen as he speaks Wednesday night in Las Vegas during the third presidential debate. The Trump campaign streamed the event live and produced post-debate coverage on its Facebook page.

Politics & Government

Did Trump TV Launch Last Night?

12:33pm October 20, 2016

by Scott Detrow

Donald Trump's campaign ran its own broadcast of the presidential debate Wednesday night. Many saw it as the first incarnation of a rumored Trump cable news channel.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler says lack of competition in set-top boxes has meant consumers pay more to get TV services.

National

FCC Wants To Replace Your Cable TV Box With An App

7:23pm September 08, 2016

by Brian Naylor

The FCC has seen the future of cable TV, and it looks like the apps on your smartphone. The agency will vote later this month on a proposal to free consumers from the set-top box.

FCC Wants To Force Cable Companies, And Their Set-Top Boxes, To Adapt

3:08pm February 18, 2016

by Brian Naylor

A proposal being launched Thursday could result in boxes that subscribers could buy, not just rent, and that could provide streaming online content alongside traditional cable channels.

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A study by two U.S. senators estimated that 99 percent of cable TV subscribers rent their set-top boxes and pay on average $231 a year to do so.

National

FCC Chairman Issues Proposal Seeking To 'Unlock' Cable Box Market

3:55pm January 27, 2016

by Eyder Peralta

Almost all cable subscribers pay to rent a set-top box netting the industry billions a year. Chairman Tom Wheeler says ending that practice would lead to more innovation in the way we consume TV.

Economy

What Do We Know About People Who Don't (And Never Did) Have Cable?

5:16pm October 14, 2015

by Alina Selyukh

One analyst finds that economics is the key driver behind the growing phenomenon of so-called "cord-nevers," people who never subscribed to cable or satellite TV.

Groups Aim To Make It Easier To Own A Cable TV Box Instead Of Renting

7:54pm October 13, 2015

by Brian Naylor

A study estimated that 99 percent of cable TV subscribers rent their set-top boxes and pay on average $231 a year to do so. Groups want to make it easier for consumers to own similar devices.

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Altice President Patrick Drahi has struck a deal to buy Cablevision from the Dolan family, in a deal that includes $10 billion in equity and $7.7 billion in debt.

Cablevision, 5th-Largest U.S. Cable Firm, To Be Sold In $17.7 Billion Deal

11:19am September 17, 2015

by Bill Chappell

It's the second time this year that Altice's founder, French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, has targeted a large American cable company. This spring, Altice bought Suddenlink for $9.1 billion.

Sports
Arts

Intended For Millennials, Dish's Sling TV Is A Cord Cutter's Dream

6:57pm January 26, 2015

by Eric Deggans

Dish Network soon debuts its Sling TV streaming service, with a small group of cable channels for $20 a month. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans tried it and says Sling TV is a welcome challenge to cable.