Why paying only for the channels you watch is a bad idea - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-20-2012, 02:53 AM

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...papers/263895/

The end of cable bundling could lead to higher prices and lower quality.

Regulus · 10-20-2012, 07:56 AM

Poor Pay-TV. They're in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. For years they've been adding more useless channels, and passing the costs of these channels on to the customers in the form of (what else?) higher prices, along with a sh

tload of commercials.

: People are realizing they are getting screwed at both ends, and are showing their appreciation by "Cutting the Cord" and seeking their entertainment and informational needs somewhere else.

Ever heard of a Price Plateau? This is the point where a business cannot continue to maintain a profit, even if they continue to raise prices and/or lower the quality. It's the business equivalent to "Jumping the Shark" and the only way to head is south. The Pay-TV industry is reaching this point (if it hasn't already), people simply refuse to pay anymore, and they drop out. Pay-TV is going to have to go a-la-carte, even if it means doing away with hundreds of channels (I read somewhere if Pay-TV went a-la-carte only 10-12 channels would survive (I'm sure ESPN, CNN and FOX News are among them). The Television Industry will soon see a dilemma, go a-la-carte or face a total collapse. Lay off 75+% of your workforce, or lay of 100% of your workforce. Please choose ONE.

LUNCH · 10-20-2012, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...papers/263895/

The end of cable bundling could lead to higher prices and lower quality.

Frankly(aside from a few good channels left) I don't see how the quality can get much lower than it is now.

Mr. Television · 10-20-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

Frankly(aside from a few good channels left) I don't see how the quality can get much lower than it is now.

That's what I was going to say. Of the cable channels probably only about 10 should survive.

loaferman · 10-20-2012, 08:41 PM

The writer is not factoring in that there are many channels that have ratings barely above a test pattern. They do not pull their weight. We may end up paying a little more for the ESPN's and so forth, but there is a price level where consumers will balk. In other places besides the US it seems possible to not force people into bundles. $80-$100 a month to watch TV is just too much, most people only watch a few of the channels they have, maybe at most 10% of the ones they have access to.

factsoflife · 10-20-2012, 09:35 PM

I'm fine with things the way they are. I hope it never changes.

mets82 · 10-20-2012, 10:30 PM

Honestly, I dont see a problem with paying for only the channels you want or paying ala carte. In this economy, you would think paying for your cable would be down but they keep jacking up the price. And Im not including buying movies via your cable company, PPVs and computer service. Add all that in and the price you pay for cable is ridiculious in 2012. You would think that all the cable providers would want to cheapen the cable bills considering how many different alternatives there are now. Apps, I-Phones, I-Pads, Tablets etc.

What is the problem of just letting you have the channels you want and be done with it?I can understand if you had 50 channels and you liked 30,35 of them and you pay the whole bill like it was years ago but now its obscene. I mean you like 30 to 35 channels now and thats out of 200, 250 channels? Whats so fair about that?

And yes, I understand cutting the cord. But what about, if for a change, someone gets held accountable for a change?

Mr. Television · 10-20-2012, 10:37 PM

And some of the channels I watch, I just watch for a couple shows. I can't stand AMC but I do watch Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. The only show I watch on FX is Justified. USA Network I watch 3 shows but the rest of the network is junk. All they air is reruns of the same stuff over and over. So I 'm not even getting my money's worth for some of the channels I am watching.

Tubehead · 10-20-2012, 11:02 PM

tv station down hil
nick at nite /nickloden
abc family they don't show classc 1990s show any more
disney channel
tnt too much law and oder
usa
tv landto much focuing on their own sitcoms
sic fif or now know as syfyf really gone down here they stop airing classc sifif shows nowthey just play horro moives
the hub it not close but its getting their
TBS how many time can we see every one loves raymond or friends ?

curent favorites
me tv
anttied tv
the hub i don't like their new scudler much i wish they would show batman with adadm west and bring back the wonder years

Tubehead · 10-20-2012, 11:06 PM

tv station down hil
nick at nite /nickloden
abc family they don't show classc 1990s show any more
disney channel
tnt too much law and oder
usa
tv landto much focuing on their own sitcoms
sic fif or now know as syfyf really gone down here they stop airing classc sifif shows nowthey just play horro moives
the hub it not close but its getting their
TBS how many time can we see every one loves raymond or friends ?

curent favorites
me tv
Antenna TV
the hub i don't like their new scudler much i wish they would show batman with adadm west and bring back the wonder years

loaferman · 10-21-2012, 09:00 AM

If they created a tier that had the major channels (TBS, USA, ESPN, etc.) and the major networks at a reasonable cost, then put those secondary channels on a higher priced tier you would see how much those other channels really pull their weight. They know this won't work so they force you to buy something you don't watch. The main cable networks and local channels like CBS should cost half of what the average cable bill is now. That way they don't have to do a la carte. Just have 2 tiers for TV networks and a premium tier for stuff like movie channels. Most of those channels we pay for are not wanted.

10-20-2012, 02:53 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,226	Why paying only for the channels you watch is a bad idea http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...papers/263895/ The end of cable bundling could lead to higher prices and lower quality.

10-20-2012, 07:56 AM	#2
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Poor Pay-TV. They're in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. For years they've been adding more useless channels, and passing the costs of these channels on to the customers in the form of (what else?) higher prices, along with a shtload of commercials. : People are realizing they are getting screwed at both ends, and are showing their appreciation by "Cutting the Cord" and seeking their entertainment and informational needs somewhere else. Ever heard of a Price Plateau? This is the point where a business cannot continue to maintain a profit, even if they continue to raise prices and/or lower the quality. It's the business equivalent to "Jumping the Shark" and the only way to head is south. The Pay-TV industry is reaching this point (if it hasn't already), people simply refuse to pay anymore, and they drop out. Pay-TV is going to have to go a-la-carte, even if it means doing away with hundreds of channels (I read somewhere if Pay-TV went a-la-carte only 10-12 channels would survive (I'm sure ESPN, CNN and FOX News are among them). The Television Industry will soon see a dilemma, go a-la-carte or face a total collapse. Lay off 75+% of your workforce, or lay of 100% of your workforce. Please choose ONE.
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

10-20-2012, 08:41 PM	#5
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	The writer is not factoring in that there are many channels that have ratings barely above a test pattern. They do not pull their weight. We may end up paying a little more for the ESPN's and so forth, but there is a price level where consumers will balk. In other places besides the US it seems possible to not force people into bundles. $80-$100 a month to watch TV is just too much, most people only watch a few of the channels they have, maybe at most 10% of the ones they have access to.
	__________________ “It was ‘Will and Grace,’ it was the social media. Literally. That’s what changed peoples’ attitudes. That’s why I was so certain that the vast majority of people would embrace and rapidly embrace” gay marriage, Biden said. “Think behind of all that, I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry. The influence is immense, the influence is immense." -Vice President Joe Biden May 2013

10-20-2012, 09:35 PM	#6
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	I'm fine with things the way they are. I hope it never changes.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

10-20-2012, 10:30 PM	#7
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,060	Honestly, I dont see a problem with paying for only the channels you want or paying ala carte. In this economy, you would think paying for your cable would be down but they keep jacking up the price. And Im not including buying movies via your cable company, PPVs and computer service. Add all that in and the price you pay for cable is ridiculious in 2012. You would think that all the cable providers would want to cheapen the cable bills considering how many different alternatives there are now. Apps, I-Phones, I-Pads, Tablets etc. What is the problem of just letting you have the channels you want and be done with it?I can understand if you had 50 channels and you liked 30,35 of them and you pay the whole bill like it was years ago but now its obscene. I mean you like 30 to 35 channels now and thats out of 200, 250 channels? Whats so fair about that? And yes, I understand cutting the cord. But what about, if for a change, someone gets held accountable for a change?
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

10-20-2012, 10:37 PM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	And some of the channels I watch, I just watch for a couple shows. I can't stand AMC but I do watch Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. The only show I watch on FX is Justified. USA Network I watch 3 shows but the rest of the network is junk. All they air is reruns of the same stuff over and over. So I 'm not even getting my money's worth for some of the channels I am watching.

10-20-2012, 11:02 PM	#9
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	tv station going down hill tv station down hil nick at nite /nickloden abc family they don't show classc 1990s show any more disney channel tnt too much law and oder usa tv landto much focuing on their own sitcoms sic fif or now know as syfyf really gone down here they stop airing classc sifif shows nowthey just play horro moives the hub it not close but its getting their TBS how many time can we see every one loves raymond or friends ? curent favorites me tv anttied tv the hub i don't like their new scudler much i wish they would show batman with adadm west and bring back the wonder years

10-20-2012, 11:06 PM	#10
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	tv station going down hill tv station down hil nick at nite /nickloden abc family they don't show classc 1990s show any more disney channel tnt too much law and oder usa tv landto much focuing on their own sitcoms sic fif or now know as syfyf really gone down here they stop airing classc sifif shows nowthey just play horro moives the hub it not close but its getting their TBS how many time can we see every one loves raymond or friends ? curent favorites me tv Antenna TV the hub i don't like their new scudler much i wish they would show batman with adadm west and bring back the wonder years

10-21-2012, 09:00 AM	#11
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	If they created a tier that had the major channels (TBS, USA, ESPN, etc.) and the major networks at a reasonable cost, then put those secondary channels on a higher priced tier you would see how much those other channels really pull their weight. They know this won't work so they force you to buy something you don't watch. The main cable networks and local channels like CBS should cost half of what the average cable bill is now. That way they don't have to do a la carte. Just have 2 tiers for TV networks and a premium tier for stuff like movie channels. Most of those channels we pay for are not wanted.