DirecTV open to dropping less popular channels

[TMC]

http://www.multichannel.com/article/...e_Networks.php

New York - DirecTV will look long and hard at its programming lineup
in an ongoing effort to keep programming costs in check, including
paring channels that are lacking in viewership, executive vice
president of content strategy and development Derek Chang said at the
satellite giant's Investor Day conference here Thursday.

Chang said that historically DirecTV had carried some networks simply
because cable lacked the channel capacity. But in the current 200-plus
channel universe, having an extra network or two that your competitor
doesn't isn't the advantage it used to be.

"In our battle to manage our economics, we will look to repackage
channels where we have over-distributed, or frankly just to remove
certain channels from our platform if they are not relevant," Chang
said at the conference. "Is there a place for channels that only serve
a small fraction of our audience? Should we have to pay retrans fees
and continue to carry channels which were once considered to be part
of the equation when we didn't pay retrans fees? As the marketplace
changes, these questions become more important for our entire
industry."

[LUNCH]

I don't have Direct TV,but it's a stupid idea.I think 95% of all the tv stations are worthless,even the so-called popular stations.Some of the less popular channels(according to direct tv or whomever) may be the better channels for all I know.--Anyhow, unless cable/sat companies become alot more flexible plus give people the opportunity to just pay for the channels they view, I think they are going to continue to lose alot of customers.

[TKMetal]

I am sure DirecTV is really thinking of all the bandwidth they'll have for more infomercial channels.

[comedyfreak]

I'm glad I have Dish Network.