Another problem is that most smaller channels are owned by the big ones. Whenever you hear a cable company is in negotiations with say ABC they're not just talking the broadcast channel but Disney, ESPN, and others.
Been using "a la carte" for almost 10 years now and I sure wont go back to packages. The only place in north America that I know offer this is the Quebec province in Canada. Its not even available in other Canadian provinces.
The thing is Cable and Bell Fibe do also offer regular packages, but at least we have "a la carte" option if we want. Most people here want a mix of english and french channels, complicating the packages content so they came out with this solution.
You will notice that some channels are bundle has one "choice" inside the "a la carte" line up. I like that.
On top of the "a la carte" packages, we must take the basic:
So the minumum cost for "a la carte" in Quebec is $24 + $18 so $42/month. The funny thing is people always assumed you pay for unwanted channels in packages (true), but when chosing 15 channels you find out its not that easy. I always have to drop some I would have wanted on some occasion.
Yup, patch a bad policy over a bad policy over another bad policy and what do you get? Our government and legal system.
If what you say is true that "policy got us into this mess", then you can either: (a) fix it with policy or (2) get rid of the policies altogether. Do you want to put new shingles over a rotting roof?
Well, it would be more effective for keeping dry than simply ripping off the roof with no plan for a new one, now wouldn't it? Or were you hoping the invisible hand would magically build you a new roof? Sorry, the invisible hand only pleasures itself.
This is not good for a future Apple TV. It's good for current and future cable subscribers, don't get me wrong. However, if a-la-carte subscriptions will be enforced, it will make any future Apple TV less revolutionary. We want the cable companies, and cable service to be as horrible as possible, until after Apple TV (the real Apple TV) launches.
This is not good for a future Apple TV. It's good for current and future cable subscribers, don't get me wrong. However, if a-la-carte subscriptions will be enforced, it will make any future Apple TV less revolutionary. We want the cable companies, and cable service to be as horrible as possible, until after Apple TV (the real Apple TV) launches.
You're are assuming Apple goes without the ISP's. I am not so sure of that. I personnally thinks Apple is or at least was trying to go with Cable partnership.
Fuck McCain. He's the last person on earth I'd want setting any kind of direction for this. Although he's clueless about absolutely everything, I figure this area is one in which he's the most clueless.
**** McCain. He's the last person on earth I'd want setting any kind of direction for this. Although he's clueless about absolutely everything, I figure this area is one in which he's the most clueless.
This is a puzzling post.
What does your disdain for McCain have to do with the merits (or lack thereof) of a la carte cable pricing!?
Add: Interesting that the four-letter word is still in the original post, but hidden in the quote in my reply!
Do you know how many small city professional teams survive only because of revenue sharing? More choices is always better than less.
If they're not offering anything that people are willing to pay for, then what's the point of them existing? It's like saying the Zune should get to survive because it has to share revenue with the iPod.
Yep, and everytime this comes up, all the small channels and the people who watch them, especially those that cater to a particular race/ethnicity (BET), foreign language channels (spanish language) and religion (all the christian channels) scream bloody murder and attempt to block any attempt at A-la-carte pricing...
What's to stop the cable companies from charging even more for a la carte and and essentially still ripping us off?
Why blame just the cable companies? Disney, HBO, etc. are the ones charging cable companies. And how about the shows themselves? Must the NFL charge Disney/ESPN billions for Monday Night Football for one fame a week?
Yep, and everytime this comes up, all the small channels and the people who watch them, especially those that cater to a particular race/ethnicity (BET), foreign language channels (spanish language) and religion (all the christian channels) scream bloody murder and attempt to block any attempt at A-la-carte pricing...
And don't forget the lame hunting and fishing channel too.
If they're not offering anything that people are willing to pay for, then what's the point of them existing? It's like saying the Zune should get to survive because it has to share revenue with the iPod.
Problem is that there just isn't enough people in a smaller city.
Comments
Been using "a la carte" for almost 10 years now and I sure wont go back to packages. The only place in north America that I know offer this is the Quebec province in Canada. Its not even available in other Canadian provinces.
The thing is Cable and Bell Fibe do also offer regular packages, but at least we have "a la carte" option if we want. Most people here want a mix of english and french channels, complicating the packages content so they came out with this solution.
You will notice that some channels are bundle has one "choice" inside the "a la carte" line up. I like that.
On top of the "a la carte" packages, we must take the basic:
So the minumum cost for "a la carte" in Quebec is $24 + $18 so $42/month. The funny thing is people always assumed you pay for unwanted channels in packages (true), but when chosing 15 channels you find out its not that easy. I always have to drop some I would have wanted on some occasion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianCPA
Yup, patch a bad policy over a bad policy over another bad policy and what do you get? Our government and legal system.
If what you say is true that "policy got us into this mess", then you can either: (a) fix it with policy or (2) get rid of the policies altogether. Do you want to put new shingles over a rotting roof?
Well, it would be more effective for keeping dry than simply ripping off the roof with no plan for a new one, now wouldn't it? Or were you hoping the invisible hand would magically build you a new roof? Sorry, the invisible hand only pleasures itself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
Sorry my attempt at humor without being political. No offense intended.
No No - you misunderstood. No offence taken. I was probably being political. Hard not to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dillio
This is not good for a future Apple TV. It's good for current and future cable subscribers, don't get me wrong. However, if a-la-carte subscriptions will be enforced, it will make any future Apple TV less revolutionary. We want the cable companies, and cable service to be as horrible as possible, until after Apple TV (the real Apple TV) launches.
You're are assuming Apple goes without the ISP's. I am not so sure of that. I personnally thinks Apple is or at least was trying to go with Cable partnership.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
Again, that's how small city pro teams survive.
I'm sorry, I don't know what a "small city pro team" is. Are you talking about sports? Production crews?
It's interesting that while a la carte is desired for television channels, it is absolutely not desired for the Internet.
There's obviously a fundamental difference somewhere, but can someone articulate it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slurpy
**** McCain. He's the last person on earth I'd want setting any kind of direction for this. Although he's clueless about absolutely everything, I figure this area is one in which he's the most clueless.
This is a puzzling post.
What does your disdain for McCain have to do with the merits (or lack thereof) of a la carte cable pricing!?
Add: Interesting that the four-letter word is still in the original post, but hidden in the quote in my reply!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
Do you know how many small city professional teams survive only because of revenue sharing? More choices is always better than less.
If they're not offering anything that people are willing to pay for, then what's the point of them existing? It's like saying the Zune should get to survive because it has to share revenue with the iPod.
Yep, and everytime this comes up, all the small channels and the people who watch them, especially those that cater to a particular race/ethnicity (BET), foreign language channels (spanish language) and religion (all the christian channels) scream bloody murder and attempt to block any attempt at A-la-carte pricing...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mistergsf
What's to stop the cable companies from charging even more for a la carte and and essentially still ripping us off?
Why blame just the cable companies? Disney, HBO, etc. are the ones charging cable companies. And how about the shows themselves? Must the NFL charge Disney/ESPN billions for Monday Night Football for one fame a week?
Sports
Quote:
Originally Posted by winterspan
Yep, and everytime this comes up, all the small channels and the people who watch them, especially those that cater to a particular race/ethnicity (BET), foreign language channels (spanish language) and religion (all the christian channels) scream bloody murder and attempt to block any attempt at A-la-carte pricing...
And don't forget the lame hunting and fishing channel too.
Problem is that there just isn't enough people in a smaller city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
It's interesting that while a la carte is desired for television channels, it is absolutely not desired for the Internet.
There's obviously a fundamental difference somewhere, but can someone articulate it?
Wow thats wierd, you are paying xtras for data coming from various website? Note that unlimited data for some TV stream websites could be worth it.
1. ABC
2. NBC
3. Fox
4. CBS
5. ESPN
6. AMC
7. TBS
8. TNT
9. FX
10. ESPN 2
11. A&E
12. ABC Family
13. NFL Network
14. HBO
15. CW
I'm pretty sure my wife and I could survive just fine with only these 15 channels. 95% of our tv watching comes from these stations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
Problem is that there just isn't enough people in a smaller city.
What does a smaller city have to do with it?