Satalite channel selection

[Bob_Vaughn]

I have cable at our home and there are about 10 channels that we regularly watch. When I check the channel line up on Dish and Direct web site I am disappointed that the channels that we watch are not available on both networks. To come close we would have to take the most expensive packages. You would think that they would have an alacart package with just the channels we watch.....Is the other satellite companies other than Dish and Direct that can be picked up in the US??

[Dutch_12078]

wa8yxm wrote:

Now why should I sell you a few channels for a couple bucks a pop that you want when i can sell you a 200 dollar a month package of channels 90% of which you do not want? I mean what kind of profit can I make doing that?

Reason Numebr (I long ago lost count) why I do not have satellite TV.

So that dishy looking thing in your sig photo is just a lawn ornament? :B

[Dutch_12078]

As long as program suppliers insist on bundling less popular channels with their more popular channels when negotiating retransmission contracts with the cable/sat services, don't expect to see à la carte choice any time soon.

[fpresto]

The argument that most providers make against ala carte programing is that not enough people would chose the smaller networks such as BET, etc. for them to stay in business. So we subside them by forced buying of the expensive packages. This, of course, is really just an excuse and a money grab but it makes the providers look like they actually care. It will not change anytime in the near future as the Cable/Satellite providers are some of the largest donators to Congress and also have a huge number of paid lobbyists in DC.

[wa8yxm]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
You would think that they would have an alacart package with just the channels we watch.....Is the other satellite companies other than Dish and Direct that can be picked up in the US??

Now why should I sell you a few channels for a couple bucks a pop that you want when i can sell you a 200 dollar a month package of channels 90% of which you do not want? I mean what kind of profit can I make doing that?

Reason Numebr (I long ago lost count) why I do not have satellite TV.

[Tennessee_Nomad]

Don't know where this will go but it's an interesting idea. Here's a couple of links to some interesting reading. Don't know if it's what your looking for but it's worth a look.
Click 1
Click 2

[lanerd]

Yep....that be the case. We too, only watch about 15 to 20 channels of the 250 provided by DISH. Lots of "foreign" speaking channels are included in the 250...never have understood that.

However, I'm not sure if I would be willing to pay more for ala carte. So we will just stick with what we have.

Ron

[enblethen]

Are these network channels or locals?
What are they?

[Ed_Gee]

Bob,
The battle between TV program providers ( both Cable & Satellite ) and we consumers over the lack of Ala-Cart programming has been on-going for some time. I believe it has heated up somewhat recently but I do not see this change occurring in the near future. The Satellite/Cable companies do raise a good point - if they offer Ala Cart programming, those channels with few viewers are going to become very expensive....or not be available at all....something that could affect your channel selection. I wish the FCC would weigh in on this on the side of consumers, though.