A La Carte Cable TV

[Joanne98]

A La Carte Cable Good for What Ails Television

By Jonathan Rintels
MediaChannel.org

NEW YORK, July 21, 2004 -- Today, cable and satellite operators force consumers to subscribe to cable networks in take-it-or-leave-it packages and bundles, with no option to pick and choose among wanted and unwanted networks. Providing consumers with the right to choose which cable and satellite networks they wish to subscribe to will enhance viewpoint diversity, reduce media concentration, avoid government regulation of so-called "indecent" content on cable, and promote free, creative, diverse, informative, important, and entertaining television.

Most large cable operators, media conglomerates, and even some existing cable networks defend and even extol today's take-it-or-leave-it packages and bundles as providing a wide diversity of viewpoints and voices.

However, networks targeting women, minorities, seniors, and other demographics less desirable to advertisers are in extremely short supply, particularly compared to the number of viewers in these groups who watch TV. The African-American audience is especially underserved by the handful of networks programming to its interests, the largest of which, BET and TV One, are owned in whole or part by either a media conglomerate or a cable operator. In short, the status quo is indefensible.

The reason packages are so inherently un-diverse is simple: These take-it-or-leave-it cable network bundles are shaped not by consumer and audience choice, but by the demands of media conglomerates and cable operators who have a chokehold over cable carriage. As a result, take-it-or-leave-it programming packages are larded with networks unwanted by consumers that are in the package only because they are affiliated with broadcast media conglomerates or cable operators.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert234.shtml

I LOVE this idea. It will bring more competition to the media.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. The real reason the industry will fight this tooth and nail

is that there are millions of folks like me who would be content with fewer than five channels. If we could order a la carte, we could no longer be charged for channels we don't want, and industry revenues would plummet. Their whole business model is premised on a lack of choices for the consumer.

[Moderator]

2. Good article. Please remember DU copryright rules though.

DU copyright rules restrict posted excerpts from copyrighted materials to four paragraphs.

Thanks
Moderator