The Need for Cable Competition is Universal

Is it funny that folks in Bangkok, Thailand recognize the need for competition in the cable television market – and see the lack of it as evidence that the country is part of the Third World – but the world’s sole remaining superpower doesn’t yet have competition?  Or is its just sad?

My reference point is a blog posting in the Bangkok Post in which Bill complains that he has no choice in his Bangkok cable television provider.

“This is one of many reasons why Thailand is and will be in the Third World for some time to come. In developed countries, in cities with 10 million inhabitants, there is usually a choice of cable TV providers. In Bangkok there is only one. Remember the original UBC slogan: "You've got to watch us"? And guess which government official's family controls it."

While Thailand doesn’t yet outrank the U.S. in widespread broadband deployment, which is the technology that will bring competition, innovation, better pricing and better service to the cable television industry, look who does:  Korea, China, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Switzerland, Taiwan, Belgium, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Israel, Japan, Finland and Singapore.

I feel your pain, Bill.