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FCC Call For Comments on a la Carte Cable

Posted by timothy on from the high-level-meddling dept.

The Importance of writes "A couple of weeks ago, Slashdot readers commented on the possibility of a la carte cable pricing. Now the FCC is officially seeking comments [PDF] on the issue. One commentator thinks bundling between content producers and the cable companies is more important than bundling between cable company and consumer."

5 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Disappearing channels by pvt_medic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Basically if you have the option of only picking the stations you want to watch, many good networks are going to disappear because people dont routinely watch them, and only watch them when they have specials on.

    If i were to ask you to list all the channels you would pay for, would you forget one that you like but only occasionally watch?

    --
    30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
    Score:5, Troll
    1. Re:Disappearing channels by Planesdragon · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Basically if you have the option of only picking the stations you want to watch, many good networks are going to disappear because people dont routinely watch them, and only watch them when they have specials on.

      You misunderstand. It's not going to be what stations you watch, but rather what stations you pay for.

      If i were to ask you to list all the channels you would pay for, would you forget one that you like but only occasionally watch?

      Not if I can get flags for TV shows, actors, wrtiers, and production houses.

      "SciFi, The History Channel, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, a news channel or two, and the channels that show Enterprise, Smallville, and whatever Joss Whedon does next" should be a valid choice.

  2. That's supply and demand at work. by JeffHunt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Pure capitalism. If I want to sell something to you that you don't want, should you feel bad? Nope.

    --

    "It was hell!" recalls former child.

  3. This isn't new. by ezraekman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ala Carte cable pricing has been around for years, at least in California. There was one of those fun "within ten years" laws that required cable companies to allow subscribers to purchase any single channel separately from the standard lineup. Of course, it didn't specify prices... so naturally, the cable companies have no reason to price it reasonably. (Most individual channels were between $10-15.) I don't recall the particular bill/mandate in question, but I remember bothering Comcast about it, just for fun. :-)

  4. Re:If the FCC is doing this... by will_die · · Score: 3, Informative

    That is the same argument the cable companies are using against this idea.
    I tend to agree unless it is written so that it make it so that all channels have access to all areas, so that a place that does not currently get the sci-fi or the food network can now get them. This solves the problem of smaller channels getting a market.
    Then you just have to solve he problem cost, that is a different story unless you implement price fixing.
    Overall I think anything at the federal level on this will fail, however it may force local governments which provide the monopoly to think and branch out.