Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Time Warner Cable Faces Lawsuit Over Sports Package Bundling
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: June 28, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
Time Warner Cable will soon square off against angry customers who brought a class action lawsuit against the cable giant over sports package bundling. Subscribers are being forced to pay higher costs for sports channels they don’t want.
Time Warner recently paid out $8 billion for the rights to carry L.A. Dodgers baseball games and $3 billion for rights to carry Los Angeles Lakers basketball games. However, in carrying these exclusive sports channels, many local network subscribers will now be required to pay as much as $4 more for the Lakers channel on their cable bills each month for these packages, many of whom say they don’t want the channels. Once the Dodgers channel is up and running, another $4 to $5 will be tacked on to local cable bills each month.
The group who brought the case against Time Warner argues that non-sports fans cannot unsubscribe from those networks because they are bundled with their expanded basic levels of their cable, satellite, or telephone service, the New York Times reports. They contend that bundling packages in this way is a violation of entertainment law and are seeking to draw more support from the public against the cable giant.
“A very large segment of the consuming public is not sufficiently interested in Dodgers games to pay $50-$60 per year, but they have no way of unsubscribing from either the Lakers or Dodgers telecast, which together will add (or will if unrestrained) about $100 per year to the subscriber’s TWC bill,” the complaint read. “TWC’s bundling results in defendants making huge profits, much of which is extracted from unwilling consumers who have no opportunity to delete unwanted telecasts.”
The legality of bundling has been a issue facing cable providers in recent years, and many cable subscribers and networks decry the practice. Most notably was Cablevision’s anti-trust lawsuit against Viacom, in which it argued against being forced to pay for 14 ancillary channels it did not want in order to gain access to eight main channels.
- Industries: Entertainment & Media
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Navigating Disputes: Hire a Partnership Dispute Lawyer
A falling out between partners can be disastrous for any business. In many cases, the partnership will not survive. If you are in an unworkable situation with your partners, it may be time to consult a partnership dispute lawyer experienced in handling partnership breakups and dissolutions before the situation deteriorates any further. It is easy […]
Author: Jay McDaniel
Section 363 Sales in Bankruptcy: What Businesses, Lenders, and Buyers Need to Know
When a company enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many assume the process will culminate in a lengthy reorganization plan. However, distressed businesses are increasingly being sold through a different mechanism — a sale under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. A Section 363 sale allows a company, as a debtor-in-possession in bankruptcy, to sell […]
Author: John D. Giampolo
Zoning Laws Explained: What You Need to Know Before Buying Property
Before buying property, it is critical to determine whether local zoning laws may affect your plans. If you plan to redevelop the property, you will want to confirm that local zoning regulations permit development as intended. If acquiring property that is already developed, you must verify that the use is permitted in the underlying zoning […]
Author: Wendy Rubinstein Quiroga
Special Needs Trusts in New Jersey: Planning for Your Loved One’s Future
For parents of a child with a disability, estate planning raises concerns that go well beyond deciding who will inherit their assets. Parents may spend years making sure their child has the right care, services, and support. Eventually, they must also confront a difficult question: Who will take over when they can no longer do […]
Author: George McGowan
What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property
Before buying a New Jersey rental property, an investor should verify realistic operating numbers, the property’s legal and regulatory status, lead-based paint and flood compliance, the existing leases and tenant protections, and the right ownership structure. A rental property is more than a piece of real estate; it is an operating business subject to legal, […]
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, an irrevocable trust can sometimes be modified even though its name suggests otherwise, and one of the primary tools for doing so is a process called decanting. Whether decanting is available depends on the specific terms of the trust and the discretion given to the trustee. Key takeaways: New Jersey has no […]
Author: Marc J. Comer
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.