FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2014
TVfreedom.org shares 2014 data with U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill on Pay-TV/Internet Service Failures Across America
Washington, D.C. – In direct response to her ongoing efforts to examine the confusing and deceptive billing practices of the cable and satellite TV industry, TVFreedom.org today shared 2014 data on pay-TV/Internet service failures across America with U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and U.S. Senate Commerce Committee members.
According to an independent analysis by TVfreedom.org of data on Downdetector.com, there have been 3,050 substantial service failures experienced by the five largest pay-TV service providers in the United States during the first five months of 2014 (January 1 – May 31, 2014).
“This data highlights concerns regarding pay-TV service and broadband network reliability across the nation,” the TVfreedom.org letter states. “In light of increasing profit margins for the nation’s largest multi-billion dollar pay-TV service providers, unreliable service or faulty infrastructure raises questions about the commitment each of these companies has to consumer service quality.”
Consumers’ unhappiness with their television service is validated in a 2014 telecom survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center which found that customers predominantly feel ‘overcharged’ and ‘overwhelmed’ by their pay-TV service providers. In fact, consumers participating in the survey gave low scores to the biggest cable and satellite TV companies on value, reliability and customer service.
The letter acknowledges that while some of those outages may have lasted just a few hours or were addressed within days of the initial service failure, the average U.S. consumer must typically bear the brunt of this type of service degradation without explanation or compensation.
To view the congressional letter, please click here.
Please visit the TVfreedom.org YouTube web page to watch consumer-friendly videos aimed at pushing back on the pay-TV industry’s gamesmanship in the marketplace and the ongoing abusive billing and business practices hurting consumers.
About Us
TVfreedom.org, is a coalition of local broadcasters, community advocates, network television affiliate associations, multicast networks, manufacturers and other independent broadcaster-related organizations committed to helping protect consumer interests, ensure emergency and weather related programming access, promote the value of broadcast-TV programming, and preserve a fair and free video marketplace. In the coming weeks and months, the coalition will look to add to its charter membership and will work closely with consumer and community groups, as well as public safety and law enforcement organizations.