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Congress To Force Cable a la Carte Plans
unassimilatible writes "Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain seems to be leaning towards sponsoring legislation mandating something I have wanted for a long time: Forcing cable companies to offer "a la carte" programming packages. No U.S. cable or satellite currently offers such a plan. However, as the Washington Post reports, "That may change, if some lawmakers and consumer groups get their way, as the cable industry finds itself under increasing scrutiny. Lawmakers report that their constituents are angry about cable bills that have risen at three times the rate of inflation since the industry was largely deregulated in 1996." McCain money quote: "I go down to buy a loaf of bread. I don't have to buy broccoli and milk to go with it." Bottom line is, cable companies have a government-authorized monopoly, so maybe they need to recieve government-mandated "innovation." Why should I pay for 15 non-English channels?"
Why should I pay for 15 non-English channels?
Dude Xuxa, ilLvatello, those chicks are all so hot and slutty.
This
Because your tv probably doesn't support more than a 100 channels :P
This is the sig that says NI (again)
Don't drop PAX! They play the censored version of Sopranos!
Tony, how in the *beep* did you think I *beep* *beep* *beep* the car *beep* *beep* and take his *beep* head *beep* over to Frankies *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* the end.
Josh
Lawmakers report that their constituents are angry about cable bills that have risen at three times the rate of inflation since the industry was largely deregulated in 1996.
I thought the theory was that unregulated markets drove down prices and were good for consumers...
lol, tech tv survive? don't get me wrong, cat schwartz is a hottie, but if I need tech info I have waaaay better sources than what tech tv shows.
sci-fi go away? heh. sci-fi will NEVER go away. there are too many geeks out there with questionable taste for cheese like Lexx for that channel to ever die. which is good, because decent programming can then still survive on that channel.
Yeah, but it's balanced out by the hours and hours of utterly inane stand-up comedy.
Don't forget that quality has also dropped noticeably.
Prove it. I call bullshit. The 'poor quality' argument is a favorite of the "HEY EVERYONE, I DON'T OWN A TV, LET ME TELL YOU WHY" crowd.
I enjoy: The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sex and the City, The Simpsons, The Daily Show, The West Wing, Arrested Development, Survivor (the only reality show I watch or have any interest in), Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Dennis Miller's new show on CNBC, ESPN SportsCenter, HDTV live sports, and now HBO has rolled out their next good show, Deadwood.
There is PLENTY of quality programming on TV.
Just because there is also plenty of unadulterated SHIT out there doesn't mean the quality of all programming is down. You say the quality has "dropped noticeably." Prove it. I don't see it. I also don't read my horoscope or believe causation when there is only correlation.
Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
...and then spend an hour Removing all the shopping and religious channels, as well as Fox News and A&E.
Indeed, and don't forget Discovery Health! Nothing like flipping into footage of gastric bypass surgery during dinner...
Ummm... are you sure about that?
Key to financial independence: Spend less than you earn. Save and invest the difference. Do it for a long time.
It really torques me to read these kinds of stories. The government LOVES to step in and play the hero when they solve a "problem" THEY created.
Hmm...
Authorizing a monopoly = Problem
Legislating a 'solution' != Praise
There is no other institution on this earth better at taking credit for fixing something it shouldn't have broken.
Citizen---"Ow! You just broke my leg"
US Govt.---"Here is a federally authorized and provided crutch"
Citizen---"Thanks for nothing!"
US Govt.---"You're welcome."
Populace---*Cheers for the benevolent government who is sensitive to the needs of its citizens*
Boooooooooo!
The greatest hindrance to success is a well-rationalized excuse
"I go down to buy a loaf of bread."
You just can't make stuff like that up. I say he has bigger problems than the cost of cable, but who's to say? Maybe if his cable bill was lower he could afford bread on the salary we provide for him.
Can the cable companies really disambiguate...
;)
You just reminded me which buzzword I find most annoying
c-hack.com |
I haven't watched cable TV in 7 years.
Area Man, is that you?
TODO: Insert witty sig
But even at those prices, I'd still save money.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
Patent this idea immediately! Call it something catchy, like "Pay-Per-View".
do not read this line twice.
I don't know about your town, but in my town, Winchester, VA, USA, I can stand in one parking lot and throw rocks in four directions, hitting, in order, a Target, a Wal Mart, a Lowes, and a Home Depot.
None of them have a local monopoly, but they all call the law when you throw rocks at them.
--Having a cable connection is like having a meth pusher on speed dial. If you've used it once, you'll want more. If you have easy access to it, you'll access it frequently, and spend many hours staring glassy-eyed across your living room, happy as a potted plant, losing your mind synapse by synapse.
We truly live in a nation of living dead.
I can't believe they're legislating this nonsense. "We the people legally demand the correct dosage and we want it affordable!" (Twitch.)
Goebbels would be tearing up with pride.
-FL
I could handle all RUSH all the time, but who else is there? Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Celine Dion? That's probably why most of the Canadian population lives close to the US border - to pick up US radio!
Excessive drinking is fine...in moderation.
My parents... are litterally in a 'rock in a hard place'
The cable company has frozen them in carbonite inside a cave?
(Or do you mean that they are, figuratively, between a rock and a hard place with respect to their TV viewing options?)