Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete
Not so. Cable providers not offering al-a-carte services is prof of that. If viewers were allowed to pick each of the channels they paid for you would see a lot of channels go belly up.
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QP Pete--
IIRC, the debate over a la carte services is a bit more complex than cable providers vs subscribers <<
LINK>>.
In my experience, MSO's (multi system operators or divisions of larger cable companies) regularly ask software developers for features that give viewers a de facto a la carte option via parental control and customizable channel line ups. This is to say that one can easily program one's cable set-top box so that one never has to view certain channels or types of programs.
Meanwhile, ongoing advances in metadata harvesting and DVR hardware give viewers the ability to encounter more and more shows that suit their tastes while preserving the "lean back" experience the digital cable industry hangs its hat on.