Bridge Ratings says current and potential subscribers do not believe a satellite merger is in the public interest.
Eighty-seven percent of those responding to its survey expect subscription rate hikes; 65 percent expect a reduction in programming quality; and 82 percent are expecting a decrease in the number of available channels.
When news of a possible merger began surfacing in 2006, Bridge started consumer studies to determine the perceptions of current and potential subscribers.
The merger announcement led Bridge to examine the data more closely, the company said.
