The MPAA doesn't want you to pick your cable stations

I already have a la carte programing. It's called Custom Channels on DirecTV. It's about 60 channels of the 100s they offer. And I'm paying less than a $1 per channel. So no thanks to a la carte. First they'll do cable, and then they'll go for the internet.

ESPN might be about the only channel I would care about. Perhaps TNT. Basically, I can "find" all the TV shows that I watch online. The only thing I need my cable for is sports, some of which I could get over-the-air if I had to.

I watch football, basketball and NASCAR. Whatever channels they are on, I want. Other than that it's just as easy to get online.

I've been waiting for a la carte pricing for ages. Here's my list:

FSC
ESPN (the whole family of them)
Setanta Sports
Comedy Central
FX
USA
Fox News
CNN
CBS
ABC
NBC
FOX
Fox Sports NW
AMC
History
Discovery

Not sure how satellite operates in the States, but up here in Canadia, if I don't want to order an entire package (though most are set up quite well) I can order an individual channel at I think $1.99. It might even be 99 cents. I like the idea of both being offered.

I guess part of the problem for cable companies would be having to essentially have a long list of channels, allowed and disallowed, for each of their subscribers. Certainly it's a lot easier to just have a few tiers rather than loads of individual channels.

I'd like ala carte options. Like being able to add say 4 or 5 channels from an upper tier for a third of that tier(assuming it's like 20 or more in that tier). Hell just being able to remove the bible belt and shopping channels from my box would be excellent

In a way we have a la carte programming now - via itunes and the xbox video marketplace. Have toy ever seen how much each show would cost? Its not cheap.

A la carte advocates hope that each of the 10 channels they watch will be like a dollar. There's no way that would ever happen.

I'm seriously considering going back to basic cable. When I'm paying 80 bucks a month for mostly channels I have blocked, where's the rationale. I'm sure it's not as simple as this, but if Sirius/XM is going to be able to offer a la carte stations and they have over 100 of them, why can't cable do the same thing?

PBS.
Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, VH1, MSNBC, SciFi, USA, CW, Fox, Bravo, HBO, Showtime, AMC (and I guess now Lifetime, since ProjRun is moving.)

we arn't talking about forced A la carte, I think more of what we are talking about if people having to bay for a huge block of programing they never watch, for me that's every sports channel ever, just to get a few that we do. As for it effecting ad's what is it gonna channel, if I watch a show on a network I will buy the channel, if I don't watch a show I wont watch the channel either way, yet those people get my money. I have never once watched any of the music channels or the sports channels, yet they have been in the package I have have for 8 years, just so I can get the rest of the channels I want, my money going towards something I NEVER use. I hate it.

or once I agree with the MPAA. A la carte pricing would more likely
increase the price of cable and discourage risky shows from channels.

Right now, I get more than 200 channels for less than $100 - 50 cents
each. I only watch maybe 10 channels regular, so how much are those
worth to me? When I have to choose every channel based on price and
time watched, it adds a lot of work to me, the customer, without
adding any value to the end product. I might have a smaller total
bill, but I will pay more money for fewer channels.

Cable providers have to calculate the worth of every single channel
and manage millions of subscriber's channel choices, adding a lot of
overhead to what is now a simple service.

This also ignores the major business model of cable channels - they
are paid per subscriber. Cable companies pay Comedy Central several
cents for every subscriber of Comedy Central. More popular channels
demand higher pay. But once customers choose the channels, those
prices will skyrocket (based on the market) and will be passed on to
customers.

The First Amendment argument is some people are offended by one
channel and don't want it in their house. But they don't have to
order cable. Or they use the V-Chip. There are many ways to control
television from the home. We don't need FCC rules increasing the
price for us all.

******

Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/