PITTSBURGH, February 26, 2013 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement based on Cablevision System Corp.’s press release that it has filed a federal antitrust suit against Viacom Inc. for illegally forcing purchase of programming services:
“The American Cable Association has been consistent in saying that the tying and bundling practices of the major cable content companies force cable operators to pay for channels they don’t want to offer to their customers. It’s a problem not just for Cablevision but also for hundreds of small and medium-sized cable operators. If the courts can address this problem, then we believe this would be a good outcome for consumers.”
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/