money.cnn.com — The Federal Communications Commission is expected to suggest that cable companies could best serve their customers by allowing them to subscribe to individual channels instead of packages of several stations
Nov 29, 2005 View in Crawl 4
cablecarrierNov 29, 2005
@pr0t0I know all that, I was just making a cheap joke
ravishalNov 29, 2005
Now If only the FCC could step in and say how much commercial time each channel gets during a half hour time and how it is shown on the screen. I don`t know about you. But I am more tired of 2 or more commercial breaks plus commercials during credits and on some networks Ads that pop up during the show. If you add it all up you get 8 to 12min of commercials during that half hour show. Making the show 18 to 22 min long, Makes less and less room for content.
rattelerDec 1, 2005
"If the FCC forces them to modify their business model, then it's not "in the interest of the free market" because it's not a free market anymore."Cable isn't a "free market" anyway. If you lucky you have a choice between 2 providers. (Not counting Satalite, which does have fair competition.)In NYC there is no "choice" for cable provider. It's based on who serves the area you live in. No competition means NO FREE MARKET.Sci-Fi Channel, Science Channel, E!, probably BET, all PAY to be carried by your cable provider, and make their return in Ad revenue. MTV, Disney ESPN, Etc are popular enough that they actually CHARGE the cable provider to carry them, and as part of the deal the cable proivder MUST include them in basic packages, as well as their other channels. This guarenties their ad revenue because they can claim every cable provider as a potential viewer.Ala cart will only hurt ESPN, and MTV when people decide their not worth the money, and the cost that is being dumped on those who don't watch them has to to go to those who do.All the nich channels will do fine, and will have REAL demographics on who watches.If anything, this will help the cable companies who are being extorted by the like of Disney, MTV, and ESPN. Out of a $60 monthly cable bill they represent more than half that cost, and you can't get rid of them. Yet!!!!
discolokeDec 4, 2005
They should just make everything on Demand, i watch on demand one way or another via internet or actual cable box. Man Comcast is evil, and stupid, I rather pay them more to be less stupid, and more based around my needs. That is if I needed to pay more via this Ala Carte crap, why you guys all speaking french anyways. lol
haystackDec 4, 2005
Unbundling channels isn't good enough. People want unbundled SHOWS rather than just channels. That's why Tivo exists today: because cable companies force consumers to weed through too much junk.
drbutlerDec 14, 2005
One thing that most people forget to realize, and working for my local cable company I experience this first hand, is that for you to receive any channels ala cart you will need a set top box (i.e. digital box) for your TV, and where I live some people do not want a set top box. I would love the ability to pay for just the channels that I want to watch but right now it is just impossible logistically and monetarily. Of course all of this is a mute point when they make TV’s that have some sort of digital converter inside of it or make use of TV’s that can use Cable Cards/Smart Cards.