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From the monopolists' perspective, I guess every day you delay can be measured in vast sums of money. Moreover, if they're aware of the reality that the "Set to

From the monopolists' perspective, I guess every day you delay can be measured in vast sums of money. Moreover, if they're aware of the reality that the "Set top box" has a very limited lifespan in the future, they may just be milking the market while they have it, and to hell with anything else.

wmeredith 10y ago
> I guess every day you delay can be measured in vast sums of money. Comcast's revenue stream generates about $9 million dollars per HOUR[1]. So yes, every day they delay nets them more money than most people can comprehend. That's not to say that all of their revenue is directly tied to their set top boxes, although a huge portion of it certainly is. It nicely illustrates their monstrous incentive for preserving the status quo every minute (worth $143,000) they can. [1]http://cmcsa.com/earnings.cfm http://cmcsa.com/earnings.cfm
- Aelinsaar 10y ago
  I mean... I want to believe that I'd be able to say "My time is coming to an end" with that kind of revenue, but I doubt it. That is serious money.
gumby 10y ago
The economics of this business is just weird. Last year comcast gave me a deal: TV + Internet for much less than the price of internet service alone. A "special deal" for one year. I took it. The year was almost up so I called yesterday to cancel. Turns out I can renew this "special" deal, and it's still cheaper than IP service alone. And the agent said to just call again next year and they'll give it to me again. The TV boxes are in the closet -- the agent said if I returned them they would cancel the deal and I'd pay the list price for IP service. Ironically Nielsen selected my home as a place to track my "tv" viewing but when I told them we don't watch cable or broadcast they weren't interested. Every three months I have that conversation over again. What's funny is they just announced they had "found a way to track Netflix viewing" -- yet they could have been tracking it the same way they track other TV viewing: by asking people. But they don't. Hmm. BTW odious as Comcast is (and boy do they plumb the depths) I have to praise them for providing full routable IPv6 to every house. I know in Europe and SE Asia that's old hat, but for the US it's exotic.
- starnixgod 10y ago
  Dump the boxes and pick up a cable card. Comcast rebates you $2.50 for having a cable card on your account[0]. [0]: https://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy https://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy
  - gumby 10y ago
    That's hilarious. The hack value makes it worth the hassle for the $2.50. Plus it will take up less room in my closet!

wmeredith 10y ago

> I guess every day you delay can be measured in vast sums of money. Comcast's revenue stream generates about $9 million dollars per HOUR[1]. So yes, every day they delay nets them more money than most people can comprehend. That's not to say that all of their revenue is directly tied to their set top boxes, although a huge portion of it certainly is. It nicely illustrates their monstrous incentive for preserving the status quo every minute (worth $143,000) they can. [1]http://cmcsa.com/earnings.cfm http://cmcsa.com/earnings.cfm

Aelinsaar 10y ago
I mean... I want to believe that I'd be able to say "My time is coming to an end" with that kind of revenue, but I doubt it. That is serious money.

gumby 10y ago

The economics of this business is just weird. Last year comcast gave me a deal: TV + Internet for much less than the price of internet service alone. A "special deal" for one year. I took it. The year was almost up so I called yesterday to cancel. Turns out I can renew this "special" deal, and it's still cheaper than IP service alone. And the agent said to just call again next year and they'll give it to me again. The TV boxes are in the closet -- the agent said if I returned them they would cancel the deal and I'd pay the list price for IP service. Ironically Nielsen selected my home as a place to track my "tv" viewing but when I told them we don't watch cable or broadcast they weren't interested. Every three months I have that conversation over again. What's funny is they just announced they had "found a way to track Netflix viewing" -- yet they could have been tracking it the same way they track other TV viewing: by asking people. But they don't. Hmm. BTW odious as Comcast is (and boy do they plumb the depths) I have to praise them for providing full routable IPv6 to every house. I know in Europe and SE Asia that's old hat, but for the US it's exotic.

starnixgod 10y ago
Dump the boxes and pick up a cable card. Comcast rebates you $2.50 for having a cable card on your account[0]. [0]: https://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy https://www.xfinity.com/equipmentpolicy
- gumby 10y ago
  That's hilarious. The hack value makes it worth the hassle for the $2.50. Plus it will take up less room in my closet!