[discostu]

Never gonna happen, and this conflict is why. The NFL, like most other cable networks, wants to be able to make money even if people aren’t watching, even on people that will never watch their channel. As long as the majority of networks charge based on subscribers in the tier cable companies will never offer ala cart, and as long as there’s an ESPN there will be networks charging by subscriber count.

[SoothingDave]

The Big Ten Network and Comcast are battling it out here over the same issue. Comcast is taking out full-page ads saying how they are fighting for the consumer by only wanting to offer BTN on a sports package. Let people who want it pay for it, without making other people pay for a channel they don't want.

That's a great argument, except Comcast has best beware that they don't stir up that exact same sentiment about every single channel they carry. They are just asking for it.

I would love to get a Comcast exec on and ask him why the same philosophy shouldn't apply to people who don't want MTV or A&E.