Posted on 05/10/2013 10:23:58 AM PDT by BO Stinkss
John McCain, the media’s favorite “maverick” – unless he’s actively running for something – has just introduced a bill in congress called the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013. Normally, my iron clad rule of thumb is to take any side this guy is against but I have to admit he may have a point here. The bill would allow consumers to buy only the cable channels they want “a la carte” and not have 500 others jammed down their throats. Does anyone recall the original promise of cable TV? More than 30 years ago we asked, “why should we pay 20 dollars a month for TV when it doesn’t cost anything now?” The official answer was, “because programming will be commercial free!” Not only that, we were going to get much more than the dozen or so channels we were used to. That was then. My, how times have changed. They were certainly right about the channels. We got hundreds. And then, hundreds more. And every damn one of them has commercials up the wazoo except the classic movie channel. (Their policy is to remain commercial free but to destroy your will to live with commentary by Drew Barrymore and Cher.) The cost of cable, which is easily over 200 dollars a month, doesn’t even include any of the other movie channels which are all “extra”. Why in God’s name am I paying for hundreds of channels of programming I have absolutely no need for?
I’m not the parent of small kids anymore so I don’t need Nickelodeon or any of the kids networks.
I’m an English speaking American so I don’t want 10 Spanish language stations.
I’m not a liberal so I have no use for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, HBO, or “Comedy” Central.
I’m not gay, (or even sure about all those letters in that LGBTQ thing), so I don’t need Bravo, Logo, or HDTV.
I have no interest in professional sports so I don’t want ESPN, or any of the other 20 sports networks.
I don’t choose my entertainment based on the color of people’s skin so I have no use for BET.
I’m old enough to remember the original Global Cooling Hoax so I don’t want the Current network.
I love my country so I don’t need Robert Redford’s channel.
I’m not an imbecile so I have no use for MTV or E!
I’m not a 10th Century Savage bent on beheading people because I just saw a woman without a dishrag on her head so I don’t want Algore-Jazeera.
In fact, ironically, more than 30 years after first getting cable I think I can now narrow my viewing preferences down to a dozen or so channels. Look, I don’t want to dictate to anyone else what they can and should be watching. If you want to start a new LGBTQ network, go right ahead. More power to ya. And if you want to choose between 20 LGBTQ networks on your cable system you have my blessing. I just don’t want to pay for it anymore.
Cable choice... Bring it on!
My worry is that ala carte pricing in TV will follow the model established by airlines ($5 to use the head....).
Cable right now is as the Boss would say, 57 channels and nothin's on.....
My guess is if I could buy the channels I wanted for 99 cents per channel per month, I'd have about 20 maybe 30 of them out of the 700 out their...
What does that say about Hollyweird and the Industry...
I don’t watch television but I have to buy basic service if I want Internet. Nonetheless, by what Constitutional authority is McCain’s proposal authorized. My cable is regulated by the franchise agreement reached with our town officials and a county commission. As much as I like the idea, I reject the notion it is any business of the federal government.
$200 a month. Where the hell do you live?
my worry is anything McCain touches gets worse or crashes.
we’ll probably end up with a 24/7 Megan McCain talk show.
Yes, you probably do. You must also recognize that ANY business person seeking to sell or represent its entire slate of offerings would naturally be predisposed to offer packages that includes some of his lesser subscribed paying companies? It’s business.
McCain and his crotchety assed so-called Maverick moniker needs to butt the eff out. He has no idea about capitalism - he has only experience in being a crazy a@@hole.
While they’re at it they can stop the monopoly too. I want to be able to choose which cable provider I want, not which one the town shoves down my throat.
Your cost would likely go up.
Even a clock that’s stopped is right twice a day, and with this idea it looks like McCain has taken a break from knifing conservatives in the back and mugging for the cameras long enough to propose something that would really hurt the content providers who fund and encourage the lefties.
Over half of the networks would go bankrupt if the customers were not forced to pay for their products. Imagine if you could actually choose your own programming, your cable bill would be much smaller..........
It would be nice if they had a tiered setup. Basic plan, you pick ten channels. The next level pick ten more. They could still charge for the premiums.
I am forced to support CNN in the basic programming and have to pay extra for FOX news. Let Mr choose not to take CNN if I don’t want it. Let them earn a living rather than sponging off everyone via the basic package.
Same with me. I’m sick of paying for Logo, BET, Telemundo, Univision, ect ect.
That’s about what it would cost here in the Panhandle of Florida as well, if all the channels are included, even the premiums like HBO, CINEMAX, STARZ, THE MOVIE CHANNEL, ETC....
I wholeheartedly agree. I was just commenting on the inevitabilities of business. Demand drives price. The only avenue to any purveyor of electronic mish-mash where some are good, most are bad is to offer a crapload of it in the basic package to try and trick you into believing you get more for less. Business.
All this sounds good but it really isn’t. Here are a couple of reasons why this is all a waste of time.
1. At least with DirecTV you can set a directory that just has Fox News in it and nothing else. Add whatever you want to that. I assume but do not know that the cable companies have a similar scheme.
2. I’m pretty sure that a huge number of those channels nobody wants are paying DirecTV and the cable companies to carry their 24/7 commercial offerings. Jewelry, appliances ... Those channels subsidize the rest. Take them away and the price of the rest goes up.
3. I’m sure there’s at least one other good reason. I just can’t think of it right now.
That works for me...
Well Mclame’s bill will only stay alive until he gets bought off.
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