Would it be that much of a technological challenge to let people choose which stations to buy? The reason why I ask is because most people probably really only watch 5 or so stations, I think most of us could do without the 80 home shopping network stations. So is there a practical reason other than politics?
2006-07-13 06:07:30 · 7 answers · asked by Justin L 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
What's missing for me is WHY it would be more costly to allow consumers to buy their cable per channel.
The reason why cable is a monopoly is because we don't want cable lines running all over the place, and that's fair...but why don't these companies or even satellite companies even give us the option to choose which stations we want...would it make things that much more difficult on them?
2006-07-18 06:25:39 · update #1
Nice mustache!
As I understand it, at the moment is not cost effective for cable companies to have full customization of channels. But with technological advances in the transmission of data, the ability to process user's information and the tendency towards niche markets we will start seeing full customization soon. Channels will disappear and you will have direct access to the shows you want to watch and when you want to watch them.
2006-07-13 06:17:50 · answer #1 · answered by Lumas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only real reason I've ever heard (and it's definitely not other than politics, sorry), is that the smaller stations (e.g., those 80 home shopping networks) would throw a fit because no one would get their channels. So these stations (or the companies that own them, rather) put a lot of pressure on cable companies to not allow an a la carte system.
Don't know if that's right, but it's the only explanation I've ever heard.
2006-07-13 06:12:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One reason is numerous channels are owed by the same company. These companies demand that if the cable/sat. provider, offers one of their channels in a particular package they must provide them all. Also the cost to purchase channels individually is pricey and by the time you purchased everything you wanted you may as well get the whole package. Dishnetwork did do this in their early days you could pick any ten with a few exceptions for $10.00 they raised the price to $15.00 and then the offer disappeared altogether. You would be amazed how fast programming prices would drop if people would just turn it off. But we know thats not gonna happen.
2006-07-13 14:01:07 · answer #3 · answered by antennawiz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the ability to choose your own channels one-by-one is not yet a service that is available by any cable company on the globe, but from the looks of things, it may be coming in the near future with IPTV(TV service through the internet).
IPTV will mean that any company that sells internet will have the option to be television providers as well. its coming in the near future (my personal estimate would be somewhere within the next year or two, though i'm no expert.)
if you'd like to know more, i've provided the link below.
2006-07-13 07:11:57 · answer #4 · answered by Skoot 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Canada (Shaw cable company) you can order the stations you want in bundles and extra stations are 1.99 each/ month. Works pretty well but with the bundles you do end up with a few that you don't want but that's better than 50 that you'll never watch.
2006-07-13 06:57:25 · answer #5 · answered by cooltoque 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question!! I bet it is becaue then that would make everyones lives much easier and all of the other stations wouldn't be as profitable.
2006-07-13 06:12:47 · answer #6 · answered by Diamonds_4Ever 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If people chose the channels they wanted then most of the channels would become unprofitable.
2006-07-13 06:11:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋