Cable
Providers Pressured for ‘a la Carte’ Programming
(AgapePress) – Pro-family groups are pressuring the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and members of Congress to force cable television providers to allow consumers
more choice when it comes to programming options.
My reasons are different from those mentioned in this article, but I’d still like
to see a la carte cable programming made available. Cable companies are regional
monopolies and should be subject to antitrust suits.
Competition would mean better service and options for customers. I’m tired of being
told which channel packages I can choose from, instead of which channels. I don’t
watch most of the channels in my basic package and there are several in larger packages
I want. Unfortunately, the larger packages cost a lot more and contain even more
“fat”. Give me “lean” cable! Let me choose which channels I
do and do not want!
Do they all serve the same areas or do they have separate territories? Everywhere I’ve been in PA, the cable companies have territorial monopolies. Maybe MA is different.
I’d love to be able to pick out individual channels too. My brother Kevin completely did away with his cable because he decided all he wanted was ESPN and the other sports channels, but kept finding himself wasting large chunks of time watching things he didn’t much care for.
However, I don’t know that competition will bring that. There are three different cable providers in Boston and they all do it the same way.
[…] July 20th, 2004 by Funky Dung The fight for a la carte cable has crossed over into main-stream media. […]