SATELLITE TV WINNER ON COST DIGITAL SERVICE NOT HELPING CABLE INDUSTRY TO COMPETE.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer WESTLAKE VILLAGE - For the first time ever, the average cost of satellite service is less than that of cable television, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a study released Tuesday by J.D. Power and Associates. The study showed that, while the average monthly cost of satellite television service is up 8 percent since 1998, cable television has increased in cost by 41 percent during the same period. The cable increase is due in part to such upgraded or additional services as digital television, video-on-demand and high-definition television high-definition television (HDTV) Any system producing significantly greater picture resolution than that of the ordinary 525-line (625-line in Europe) television screen. Conventional television transmits signals in analog form. that are being actively marketed to consumers. ``Digital cable hasn't turned out to be the solution the cable industry needed to stem the tide Stem The Tide An attempt to stop a prevailing trend. Sometimes referred to as "stop the bleeding." Notes: If a stock is continually falling, stemming the tide would be an attempt to halt the free fall and change its direction. See also: Reversal, Trend of migration to satellite providers,'' said Steve Kirkeby, senior director of telecommunications research at Westlake Village-based J.D. Power. ``Although digital cable subscribers report higher satisfaction than do analog cable subscribers, both groups dramatically trail satellite subscribers in overall customer satisfaction, with cost of service being a key issue.'' The study is based on responses from 7,340 U.S. households that evaluated their satellite or cable television providers. Sixty percent of the households surveyed subscribe to Verb 1. subscribe to - receive or obtain regularly; "We take the Times every day" subscribe, take buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; cable, down 8 percent from 1998's study. Meanwhile, satellite subscribers have increased from 7 percent in 1998 to the current 17 percent. ``I think customer service has clearly been the key to our growth over the last 10 years,'' said Andy Wright, president of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communication Association, an industry trade group. ``Survey after survey has demonstrated that it offers superior choice, superior value and superior customer service. I think the future is extremely bright.'' Time Warner Cable This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. , which serves in excess of 350,000 households in parts of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch Stevenson Ranch, California (in the 91381 ZIP Code) is a Los Angeles County, USA, unincorporated community west of Santa Clarita a few miles south of Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. The Stevenson Ranch fountain was redone in 2007. , the South Bay, and Orange County, said the cable industry is not being complacent. ``We realize people have a choice in their video service provider,'' said Deane Leavenworth, vice president of corporate relations for Time Warner Cable. ``Our prices are very competitive with satellite, particularly when you consider there is no long-term contract, no equipment to purchase, and we carry more local channels at no extra cost. Plus, our digital product offers far more channels at a comparable price.'' One area where cable providers may have an opportunity to stem this migration to satellite is in bundling telephone and Internet access See how to access the Internet. with cable TV service, Kirkeby said. With growing consumer desire to combine multiple services in a single bill for convenience and simplicity, the study found that 34 percent of cable subscribers want to combine their cable service with some other telecommunications product or service. Satellite providers DirecTV and Dish Network See DBS. received the top two customer satisfaction rankings among the 13 major providers of cable/satellite TV service. DirecTV received top ratings in performance and reliability, cost of service, billing, and offerings and promotions. Following DirecTV and Dish Network in the rankings were cable providers Cox, WideOpen West, Cable One, RCN RCN n abbr (= Royal Canadian Navy) → kanadische Marine and Time Warner, respectively. Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: CABLE VS. SATELLITE SOURCE: Daily News research |
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