While the programming starts moving online and producers start seeing increasing value in creating made-for-internet product, the FCC continues to struggle with the idea of a la carte cable programming. While the arguments on both sides of the a la carte issue have merit, the recent statement by the FCC has such political motivation that the numbers and conclusions don’t feel right:
able and satellite television bills could fall by as much as 13 percent if consumers could choose only the channels they wanted to watch, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday, reversing its earlier conclusions.
The core issue is that this will allow consumers to prevent programming that they don’t want children to watch. Rather than suggesting that parents do more turning off of televisions (which will prevent the youngsters from viewing unsavory programming), the plan is to revamp the whole system. Of course, the Federal government won’t foot the bill for the work forced upon the (well-to-do) cable industry.
While I am all in favor of a la carte programming — goodbye Pax, Toon Disney and the Surgery Channel! — nothing will ever lower cable prices.