Small Cable Attacks ESPN on Programming Costs

[Gregg Lengling]

The American Cable Association, the organization representing small cable operators, is launching a national campaign to support larger MSOs like Cox in their skirmish with ESPN over the costs paid for programming delivered by the network.

ACA's Matt Polka said the organization is starting an "unrelenting grassroots campaign" to inform Washington, D.C., on programming price increases and "media conglomerate abuse." The ACA campaign will include links from its website (http://www.americancable.org) to the Cox website (http://www.makethemplayfair.com), contact by ACA members with representatives and senators, personal visits in Washington, D.C., and other rallies and events.

Polka said the ACA wants more operator-consumer choice through tiering rights and other marketplace controls.

"ACA fully supports the efforts by Cox to reign in ESPN's outrageous price increases," Polka said. "When inflation is at its lowest level in 40 years, price increases at more than 11 times the rate of inflation are completely unjustified. Every cable operator should be doing all it can to support Cox and ACA in our battle to protect the value of basic cable for American consumers."

In response, ESPN said, "ESPN's value is consistently validated by cable operators and viewers. ESPN has long-term agreements with the vast majority of small cable operators. We are committed to reaching a deal with Cox that reflects ESPN's value."