McCain backs a la carte cable, puts pressure on cable
Feb 17th, 2006 by Brian A. Thomas
McCain backs a la carte cable, puts pressure on cable is just one of the new stories of late that show TV is heading to bad ground. I have to agree that a la carte will result in a vast TV wasteland. While I would hope Discovery Channel and History Channel and the like would survive, I have to doubt the other Discovery and History Channels would survive in an a la carte world. Forget any artsy channels, or channels with fresh and original programming. All we have to do is see what the top rated shows are on network TV to see what an a la carte cable set would do to TV. A la carte may result in lower bills for consumers, but the “as much as 13 percent” [emphasis mine] lower price on cable bills isn’t worth it for all the choices that we would loose. The only good thing to come from a la carte would be the loss of all those dumb shopping channels.
If you don’t like the channel, use the TVs blocking feature, or the cable box’s blocking features if your TV is too old to have blocking features. Sorry you have to pay for it, but the loss of religious channels, educational/informational channels, and other channels showing good and original programming need to stay around, and the only way they can survive is to avoid a la carte.
