Still Waiting for NHL Cable Refunds
Many people pre-order NHL Center Ice, the season subscription package available on digital cable and satellite tv that allows you to watch almost every game.
Many of those same people haven’t seen a dime back yet from their tv providers. Phil Mushnick of the NY Post makes note of that while taking a swipe at FCC Chairman Michael Powell:
That brings us to FCC chairman Michael Powell, who this month leaves office. He said his last official act will be to insist cable companies refund the tens of millions of dollars in subscriber fees they have pocketed for the cancelled NHL season.
“The cost of NHL rights and telecasts are factored into cable bills and then marked up,” Powell said. “To not refund or credit that money constitutes stealing on a massive, national scale.”
Of course, he neither insisted upon nor said any such thing. Powell, during his four-year tenure, never made a peep as cable-rate increases remained frequent and regularly surpassed inflation/cost-of-living rates.
Last year I learned my lesson about pre-ordering Center Ice - I took advantage of a deal from Time Warner, and then they charged me again for the package in the fall after they had to work on my cable line and reset my service. No more pre-ordering for me.
I hope those of you who have pre-ordered get your money back.
I’ve said it before, but if the NHL wants to reach out to fans next season they’ll make Center Ice dirt cheap and do whatever they can to get their NHL channel included into sports packages for no extra cost.
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