TV Channels : Time to Thin the Herd

It's time for some channels to meet the same fate as a low rated tv
show would.

This debate over "a la carte" is showing the cable companies in the
same light as big oil. I've seen no improvement in programming in the
last few years. Just more repeats and infomercials. The more the tv pie

lauracap...

If my cable company said, pick 2 premium channels (I have HBO and
Showtime right now) and 20 other channels, for a set fee per month I
think I could do it (bye, bye golf channel)...but I'm sure the day
after I made my decision something I wanted to see would be on one of
the channels I didn't pick.

Like, what if you opted out of ESPN right before ABC gave up Monday
Night Football? Or what if that broadcast TV show you really liked was
canceled after 3 episodes and went to the sci-fi channel to air the
remaining 10 eps, and you didn't pick the sci-fi channel?

I was "this close" to dropping Showtime and then they aired Sleeper
Cell, probably the best thing I saw on TV this year so I changed my
mind.

jayembee...

Perhaps, but most of the really good stuff makes it out on DVD
quickly these days. Within days of all the good reviews of SLEEPER
CELL, Showtime announced its DVD release (it's streeting in March).

Lately, I've been watching the Comedy Central a lot (late blooming
South Park nut, love Mencia) but 3 years ago I would have kissed it
off.

I think I'll stick with the current scenario of choices.

Ppffhhtt...

If the system they establish in the U.S. is anything like in Canada,
then you should be able to switch channels once a month, and as many of
them as you like, even upgrade to 30 channels from 20 one month and
downgrade from 30 to 20 the next. Don't buy into the threats the cable
companies are pitching at everybody, the technology already exists to
make it all very flexible and to your individual liking.

Araxen...

The first place to do this will be in a cash cow. Will it be the Cable
co's or Satellite?

is sliced the less quailty we get. Look at Bravo, it used to be quailty
now we get marathons of Bobby Brown EVERY week.

Erin Woodbridge's Bestest Friend, Ian J. Ball...

And, again, there's a "sweat spot" - too few channels (e.g. The Big
Three universe) you have near monopolies and program quality will suffer
(from lack of innovation); too many channels (e.g. the 500+ channel
universe) and the available 'talent pool' is spread too thin and there
won't be enough talent to fill all the hours & channels (hence,
infomercials, etc.).

The real question is - *where* is the "sweat spot"?

Ian (I suspect it's somewhere between 50-100 channels, but I'm just
guessing...)

Of course the cable companies would hate "a la carte" and they say
prices would go up with LESS channels (re.Oil Companies). But with
people choosing just what they really watch the channels will feel the
heat to improve their programming or die. Funny but I thought the
ratings were for that but I guess they just keep chugin along as long
as the cable people have them on the line-up. We don't need a golf
channel, it should be a part of a well rounded sport channel. We don't
need 6 versions of HBO or Showtime.

If people are not watching some channels the channels should go and we
shouldn't have to subsidize them.

akjack...

If "people are not watching" your favorite channels, should those
channels be removed?

I believe the cable companies are "saying" prices would go up with
FEWER channels. Do you really want to learn the correct answer?