Will anyone actually buy this argument?
Seeing this episode when it came out vs in 2023 really hit different. It never dawned on me how finely honed their comedy was that season.
Which episode is that?
Basic Cable
South Park: Season 23, Episode 9
I’d like to think that this is all some massive gambit by the FCC to get all these assholes on record so they can build some massive RICO case to take them all down in a massive price fixing and defrauding scheme.
But I am high right now.
Believe it or not, the same study actually said giving me a million dollars is also a good thing
I accidentally send you 2 million could you please send back 1 million?
How many gift cards is that?
WHY DO YOU REDEEM
“See when I slap you in the face that’s actually a really nice thing of me to do. Because if I don’t slap you in the face I’d kick you in the groin really hard instead. Do you want to get kicked in the groin? No? That’s what I thought.”
Cable companies say they’ll will raise the price without early termination fees? Oh please. They’ll do that whether there’s early termination fees or not. They’re just threatening to bump it up on the schedule.
CW: DV >!“we’ll have to raise prices if early termination fees are banned” has a real “look how you made me hurt you” abuser vibe.!<
I’m imagining the logic is something like “predatory fees generate $xx million in revenue a year, so if we lose that revenue source we will have to put our other fees up to compensate, because as a multi-billion dollar company our shareholders will get all butthurt if our profit drops by a fraction of a percentage point next year”
“Early termination fees are good because without them, we will just do something worse.”
Which is better because then they are being upfront about the charges, and more people can tell them to fuck off.
Something better, as the price would be overt and transparent rather than arbitrary and hidden.
Me, the cable company: “If you don’t let me charge people an assortment of fines and fees after they’ve signed up for service, then I’ll increase our base rate before they sign up.”
Consumers, looking at the high price of cable: “Fuck, I can’t afford this. Guess I won’t sign up.”
Me, the cable company: “Regulations are destroying my business!!!”
Right? Gosh forbid we stop them from tricking people into spending money they don’t have. That would be un-American.
Only if they buy the argument that it’s too difficult to explain what the hidden charges are for so they shouldn’t have to.
Yes, Republicans.
What are these Cable TV companies smoking? I want some!
high grade monopoly is a tough habit to kick
Early termination fees are not that horrible. They can give you a monthly cost where some of the costs for installing it might be distributed over they contact period. Fine and ok
But i should still be able to cancel my contract without jumping through 11 loops and queues.
If you sign up for a given contract, that’s what you have agreed upon. It sucks if you only have one option and they can set a ridiculous price. So if you want to regulate pricing, that’s a different matter. Cancelling is something else altogether.
What costs to install equipment? Most homes are already wired for their services. The lines they roll out to new users are usually subsidized by taxes and running coax into a house is not that expensive.
If you sign up for a given contract
Listen, it says clear as day down here in the fine print that I get a pound of flesh closest to your heart. I don’t see what you’re complaining about, a contract is a contract.
“installing”
You mean when they send someone out to flip the switch and then come look at the TV screen to make sure the switch worked? You know my ISP doesn’t even send someone out anymore. They just do it remotely with me on the phone.
Oh look. The “We’ll hurt people a different way if you stop us from hurting them this way!” argument.
I wonder who else has made that argument? Oh yeah the Mafia and Cartels.
Cable companies “We’ll raise monthly prices if you ban termination fees”
Lol, they’re going to raise them anyway!
CEO’s always think in quarters, they said “we don’t raise monthly prices (in this quarter) if you don’t ban termination fees”
Thanks for adding the link to the article, but it might be more convenient if you also add the link to the post description.
Currently this comment is showing up at the bottom of the thread for me.Fair! I intended to have it in the original post but it didn’t take. Likely my error.
