Spaulding: Make Movies Core

Starz Encore Group LLC president of distribution Que Spaulding told a
satellite convention audience earlier this week that MSOs should think about
offering a scaled-down package of basic services, along with a premium-network
subscription-video-on-demand package, for $30.

'The time has come for the industry to consider repositioning its packages so
that popular movie services act as the core programming package and cease being
burdened by buy-through pricing,' he said.

Spaulding added that one-half of the 13 million noncable and
non-direct-broadcast satellite subscribers spend $25 renting movies each month.
If entry-level cable service cost less, those households could become cable
subscribers (for $30 per month) and satisfy their desire for movies, he
reasoned.