Topic: Cable Fees

The hosts explore the idea of launching a "Value for Value" cable TV network (V4VTV). They analyze a spreadsheet of cable carriage fees, noting that networks like ESPN receive over $10 per household, while smaller channels like Magnolia or the Food Network receive significantly less.

A proposal is made to launch a No Agenda cable channel to capitalize on industry carriage fees, which are estimated at one dollar per household. The plan involves lobbying providers like Comcast to host a stream featuring various podcasters. Historical references to the launches of MTV, CNN, and TechTV provide context for the difficulty of securing network distribution.

Rachel Maddow reportedly earns between $24 million and $30 million annually under a contract with Comcast-owned MSNBC. Her compensation, which exceeds that of Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts in some years, is funded primarily through mandatory cable carriage fees rather than traditional advertising. This financial structure allows the network to maintain high-paid talent regardless of specific show profitability.

A host recounts an appearance on Tom Merritt's Daily Tech News Show, which involved technical difficulties with Google Hangouts and Mac drivers. This leads to a discussion of the website "What You Pay For Sports," which exposes how cable subscribers pay nearly $80 a year for ESPN through carriage fees regardless of whether they watch sports.

Thousands of students in London protest against a government plan to triple university tuition fees from £3,000 to £9,000. Protesters broke into the Treasury building on Whitehall while MPs voted on the measure, which passed with a narrow majority. The hosts discuss the privatization of student loans and the increasing financial burden placed on the "human resources" of the United Kingdom.