PITTSBURGH, October 2, 2012 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement on news that Major League Baseball has signed eight-year TV deals worth $12.4 billion with ESPN, Fox and TBS.
“The plain truth is that these MLB deals will send monthly pay-TV bills streaking skyward. They will make life hard for families whose incomes, hammered by the recession, can’t keep pace with the greed of broadcasters, cable networks and sports leagues. And these MLB deals follow the announcement of equally harmful deals between the National Football League and CBS, NBC, Fox and ESPN worth more than $42 billion.
“Cable or satellite TV service consisting of a few dozen channels at a reasonable price is a great deal. But insane sports contracts are destroying a business model that once balanced the interests of consumers, pay-TV operators, programmers and advertisers. If sports leagues, broadcasters, and programmers are unable to moderate themselves, then ACA will have no choice but to join with consumers to seek intervention in this increasingly broken marketplace.”
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.4 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/