Cable programming

Cable programming costs and/or retransmission consent fees are responsible for rise in cable prices. The cost of cable television has skyrocketed where consumers are not able to afford cable television anymore. These higher fees harm consumers and severely affect lower-income consumers. Broadcasters have the upper hand with the rise of higher cable fees. Cable operators have little bargaining power over broadcasters. If operators refuse to pay higher fees broadcasters will shutdown television signals. Broadcasting signals will only be restored once an agreement has been reached to raise programming rates.