Re: Why aren't more people fighting the News Corp. takeover?

4dtvman ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote in rec.video.satellite.dbs:
> News Corp. is on the verge of taking over Directv. Isn't anyone
> concerned? Where's the outrage?

Why should there be outrage?

News Corp will provide an infusion of cash to DirecTV, allowing it to
get more satellites up and to provide other better services (interactive,
cheaper and more powerful DVRs, etc.).

Rupert Murdoch is a strong supporter of PVRs, interactive TV, and although
Fox network does not yet do HD, Murdoch has stated that HD over DirecTV
is a priority for him.

>                                 Why aren't the special interest groups
> fighting this takeover like they did when they defeated the attempted
> takeover by Dish Network?

Because cable companies (the only real opponent to the Hughes/Echostar
merger) don't see the same immediate problems with their bottom line with
this takeover.  This is because they are short-sighted.

> However, a takeover by News Corp. accomplishes nothing. No bandwidth
> will be freed up and not one extra channel will be added as a result.

No, but the Spaceway satellites will be able to be brought to bear much
quicker with Murdoch's cash behind Hughes.  The cost of re-purposing and
moving the satellites--as well as creating new receivers and getting them
distributed as replacements--isn't small, and it can only help to have
more cash in the mix.

-- 
Jeff Rife                |  
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