[susannah59]

I have for years wished that there were some way of having cable or a Direct TV-type setup where you could order only the channels you want; nothing would be automatically included. You could get Food Network, HGTV, Discovery, Weather Channel, and so forth (maybe a religious network, a sports network, a local channel, or whatever you chose) and only the channels you yourself wanted came into your home. You would in no way have to support the shows and networks you don't like.

One of the most appalling shows I've seen recently is Maury Povich. In my job, I call on people in their homes, and so I'm stuck with whatever is on the TV if it's on when I'm there (and no, lots of people don't turn the TV off or even turn the sound down). His show is lots of who's having sex with who, baby mama/daddy drama stuff. Ick.

[palmer]

What you are wishing for exists, it is all on the internet. It can be a chore to find all those topics you listed, but it is worth it. There is no justification for having broadcaster do that for you, you should choose everything. I got rid of my TV in June 1999 and while I used to watch at friends I don’t even do that any more (I can hear it from the other room). It is almost all crap now, including some of the channels you named.

[LostInBayport]

I have for years wished that there were some way of having cable or a Direct TV-type setup where you could order only the channels you want

It has been bandied about for a long time; it's called "a la carte programming". I too would love the chance to pick 8 or 10 channels and reduce my costs.

The reason it is fought is because so many channels filled with utter crap (think MSNBC, LOGO, BET, Oprah, etc.) would have to close down because not enough people would pay to have them. As it stands now, they get a dime or quarter from your bill because you are a forced subscriber. That is how they survive.

In other words, in a market where consumers truly could choose their cable/satellite content, lots of channels would have to change their content to attract subscribers or become extinct. The left knows sane people will not pay for their junk.