FNC raises rates on cable operators…
Multichannel News’ R. Thomas Umstead writes about FNC’s new fee rate it is looking to get from cable operators… (via TVNewser)
Fox News Channel, by its own account, is fair, balanced and, now, expensive.
The home of Bill O’Reilly and the “No Spin Zone” is about to quadruple the fee it charges cable and satellite distributors when it begins negotiating new carriage deals next year, according to News Corp. officials.
The top-rated news channel will seek payment of $1 per month, per subscriber from cable and direct-broadcast satellite operators that want to carry it, according to a News Corp. executive on the condition of anonymity. That compares with the 25-cent fee Fox News currently receives from most distributors.
If it holds the line on that charge, Fox News very likely would also become the most costly channel to distribute. By comparison, its chief rival, Cable News Network, charges 60 cents per subscriber, per month for carriage.But News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch probably sees $1 as cheap compared with CNN’s rate. In an August meeting with Wall Street analysts, he noted that Fox News “now has more than doubled the audience of CNN.”
Does anybody know what other cable networks (TBS, USA, HBO) charge for their distribution?
Comment by Charles — October 31, 2005 @ 5:10 pm
And to think my cable bill will go up just to keep a channel I don’t need on the line up! How pathetic!! And I bet we won’t hear no one complain how selfish Murdoch is being now will we? Seems like Murdoch is getting the BIG head. Can’t wait til his world comes tumbling down.
Comment by Anon — October 31, 2005 @ 5:47 pm
Anon, You’re paying for all kinds of channels you don’t watch. Get a life.
Comment by Roxxy — October 31, 2005 @ 6:38 pm
Really, Roxxy. I pay for all those ESPN channels that I never watch.
Comment by MM — October 31, 2005 @ 7:02 pm