Big Channel Bundles in the Crosshairs at the ACA Summit

This week, in Washington, D.C., the 23^rd annual American Cable Association's Summit gathered cable operators and lawmakers to discuss important matters of policy related to the industry.

Key politicians and figures presented views and explained new developments to attendees.

ACA President and CEO Matthew Polka wholly endorsed skinny bundles, and advocated for smaller channel packages to be more easily available to consumers.

"ACA is sending the message that large programmers' insistence on big bundles, carriage mandates and tiering penalties need to go the way of dial-up Internet access. They simply won't work for ACA Members and their customers in today's app-enabled world of greater choice," Polka stated. "I believe [a skinny bundle] needs to become an industry standard.”

During a panel session, Gene Kimmelman, CEO of Public Knowledge, agreed.

“The big traditional bundles will become obsolete,” Kimmelman proclaimed.

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) revealed that it was likely that the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, a bill “to ensure that small business providers of broadband Internet access service can devote resources to broadband deployment rather than compliance with cumbersome regulatory requirements,” had bipartisan support.

“Legislators recognize the difference in costs associated with small businesses,” Pompeo said.

And in another exchange, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) expressed approval for television innovation.

“If there’s not competition, if there are not choices [in platforms], then [consumers] don’t have access,” Doyle remarked.

With such strong support for the skinny bundle by cable leaders, will this pressure more companies to start offering it?

Author: Brian Cameron
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