This would require cable companies to offer individual channels, with a separate price for each one, instead of package deals with several channels bundled together. For example, if you just wanted CNN, MTV, and HBO, you could just order those instead of having to get a 100 channel package that includes all 3.
Why or why shouldn't cable companies be required to offer this kind of service?
2006-07-14 06:55:57 · 6 answers · asked by timm1776 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
See http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10281 for more details.
2006-07-14 06:56:11 · update #1
It is not just the cable companies. They buy their programming from content companies, who make and distribute the channels (Disney, etc). Those companies often will not sell single channels to cable, or will make single channels priced so high that no one would pay for them except in a package. So whatever you think you want to make the cable companies do, you have to insure they are able to financially do it, considering their content suppliers policies too.
But though I would like this kind of ala carte, I don't think it should be a law. Pretty soon, internet video tv will be here, and probably offer those kinds of things to compete. And so the market will force cable and their suppliers to adopt that model.
2006-07-14 07:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by Rjmail 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm all for a la carte. I have a satellite package, and more than half are shopping, food, religious and sports stations. Of those, only 5 are worth watching. If it were a requirement, maybe it would get rid of some of the useless and just plain silly stations.
Sure, these companies hit you with their pitch: "over 200 stations for only....", but look at the lineup. Ninety percent of them are shopping, sports, religious and food. I know that some people like these, but do we need 5 or more of each?
I don't think anyone should pay for stations that they never watch. And who on earth needs 200 channels anyway? Egad.
2006-07-15 06:50:33 · answer #2 · answered by Eyes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Separating the channel packages will not help consumers. It will reduce channel availability.
Many of the channel sections that you see now would not be able to make it under a system of a la carte payment.
2006-07-14 06:58:18 · answer #3 · answered by Answer Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there became some regulation hostile to that because cable organizations are afraid they're going to lose funds, and the FCC's pushing for that to be chnaged in customers' choose. you would save like 13% or something in case you would possibly want to choose a l. a. carte. curiously, you are able to by 2007.
2016-11-06 09:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by deperte 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would put a lot of the other channels out of business.
2006-07-14 07:00:34 · answer #5 · answered by DEEJay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the government needs to keep its paws out of ALL the things it does not belong in. and thats one of them. the cable companies will do what the free market tells them to, and thats the way it should be. at least in a FREE society.
2006-07-14 07:06:26 · answer #6 · answered by byteme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋