I've seen a lots of MasterCard MasterPass advertisements on Hulu Plus recently.

It's my understanding from others around here that Chase isn't allowing any new Mastercards and will be transitioning all Chase-branded Mastercards to Visa in early 2014.

Also, Discover is "linked" to DC in many countries (not U.S.). Used Discover at places posting DC many times in Brazil. (You do have to call Discover first to get an 'OK to use" in a specific country).

The Diners Club network doesn't really seem to exist anymore, it just seems to be a brand name. When I use my UK Diners Club here in the UK the receipt will normally say "Discover" and occasionally "Diners/Discover". The Discover logo is normally the logo shown on doors as well (Often with the Diners Club logo next to it though).

Define "losing ground". You seem to be looking solely at popular rewards cards. There are way more credit cards issued in the US than are not talked about on FT (because they don't earn anything that anyone on FT is interested in) than that do get talked about on FT.

So if you mean "losing ground" on FT, perhaps. If you mean "losing ground" as in their overall business model, the discussions on FT about "hot" rewards cards and which networks those are on is close to irrelevant.

...and honestly losing ground on FT might be a good thing from a financial perspective

is there a reason to use MasterPass app? Paypal offers discounts via it's app....

While preparing for a trip to London and Dublin, I realized that every card I intended to take is a MasterCard. In the end I decided to also take the Chase BA VISA only because it had been used to pay for ballet tickets.

To me, VISA vs MC is just as same as Coca Cola vs Pepsi. They pretty much offer the same exact thing and all it comes down to is personal choice.

If you're agnostic, you're also free to say no thanks to both and go with Dr. Pepper! :D

In the USA we have this impression because the banks which owned MasterCard and VISA for several decades operated an illegal duopoly. Now that this has ended they compete with each other, banks are free to also offer Amex-network or Discover-network cards, and we are beginning to see some product differentiation between MasterCard and VISA as they look for ways to retain (VISA) or gain (MasterCard) market share and revenue.

I am not reporting that I chose cards because they are MasterCard, but rather the cards I chose based on benefits and features increasingly are MasterCards. We still put a fair amount of spend on VISA cards, but most of it is internet purchases or recurring charges, and the physical cards seldom make their way out of the safe.

I don't recall hearing even anecdotal reports of a transaction where one card was okay, but the other type was specifically not allowed (Visa or MasterCard only - NOT both).

MC is gaining market share in terms of total cards, and spend vs. V. Not just in the US, but also globally. While V is still larger, MC is gaining ground

For example, Costco Canada will be moving to MasterCard only, no Visa, no AMEX. There are other merchants which only accept one and not the other, but this is the largest example. Also, when travelling, I've been places where only MC is accepted and not Visa. Not as common in the US, but it does happen.

Sam's Club is MC only. The Olympics are Visa only (according to commercials). In Brazil I found lots of places that accepted only Visa (or sometimes only Visa debit).

I can think of a couple of locations in South America. I've also been to places in the US (restaurants) that have only taken Amex.

Florida Power and Light, which accepts credit card payments through Western Union Speedpay, accepts American Express, Discover and MasterCard, but not VISA.

Also, see recent discussion here, at post 343, mentioning an educational institution which accepts MasterCard, but not VISA:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23561246-post343.html