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From: guy@anasazi.UUCP (Guy Finney)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: No more freebie satellite viewing
Message-ID: <490@anasazi.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 19-Jan-86 13:21:43 EST
Article-I.D.: anasazi.490
Posted: Sun Jan 19 13:21:43 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jan-86 09:15:23 EST
References: <161@decvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: guy@anasazi.UUCP (Guy Finney)
Organization: Anasazi, Phoenix Az.
Lines: 21

In article <161@decvax.UUCP> minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin minow) writes:

>Private individuals who want to view HBO and/or Cinemax must
>purchase a decryptor for about $300, then pay a monthly
>fee to the service provider.  The fee is comparable to what
>a cable viewer would pay.

HBO says the monthly fee can be paid to any of their authorized agents.
That means any cable company legally distributing their programming.
Unfortunately, fees will vary enormously from system to system.
HBO wants to charge $20/month if they bill you.  They say the cable
companies can charge whatever they want.  Gouge-o-rama time.

In more optimistic news, I recently read where Anheiser Busch (sp)
told ESPN they wouldn't pay the same ad rates if ESPN really did
scramble.  They (AB) know what the viewership numbers are, and don't
want to spend the same money to reach fewer people.  Who knows,
the marketplace might work out after all!
--
Guy Finney
{decvax|ihnp4}!terak!anasazi!guy