On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 01:18:47 GMT, "Steve K."
wrote:

Richard C. wrote:
I would prefer a package that was ONLY HD (nothing else) for about $25 per month.

Well I would prefer an ala carte system of $1 per channel and $2 per HD
channel (not including "pay" channels like HBO, Showtime, etc...)

There's no reason we should have to pay for channels we don't want. The
technology is there for ala carte. If any satellite or cable company
had the balls to switch to ala carte, you would see a huge migration to
ala carte by the masses. I think most people would rather have it
"their way".

The technology id there but a cable company can't make a profit on a
purely ala carte basis.
Thumper

"Thumper" wrote in message
...
: On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 01:18:47 GMT, "Steve K."
: wrote:
:
: Richard C. wrote:
: I would prefer a package that was ONLY HD (nothing else) for about $25 per
month.
:
: Well I would prefer an ala carte system of $1 per channel and $2 per HD
: channel (not including "pay" channels like HBO, Showtime, etc...)
:
: There's no reason we should have to pay for channels we don't want. The
: technology is there for ala carte. If any satellite or cable company
: had the balls to switch to ala carte, you would see a huge migration to
: ala carte by the masses. I think most people would rather have it
: "their way".
:
: The technology id there but a cable company can't make a profit on a
: purely ala carte basis.
: Thumper

================
And why not?

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 07:44:32 -0700, "Richard C."
wrote:


"Thumper" wrote in message
.. .
: On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 01:18:47 GMT, "Steve K."
: wrote:
:
: Richard C. wrote:
: I would prefer a package that was ONLY HD (nothing else) for about $25 per
month.
:
: Well I would prefer an ala carte system of $1 per channel and $2 per HD
: channel (not including "pay" channels like HBO, Showtime, etc...)
:
: There's no reason we should have to pay for channels we don't want. The
: technology is there for ala carte. If any satellite or cable company
: had the balls to switch to ala carte, you would see a huge migration to
: ala carte by the masses. I think most people would rather have it
: "their way".
:
: The technology id there but a cable company can't make a profit on a
: purely ala carte basis.
: Thumper

================
And why not?

The overhead to provide a particular channel to say .05% of your
viewing audience often out paces the return you get. Would you
continue to offer Tea berry flavored ice cream in your store if hardly
anyone ate it? The only way some channels will be offered is in a
package with other channels with a greater audience.

Bundling services is a long recognized way to lower the companies cost
to provide and thusly holds down prices overall.
Thumper

"Thumper" wrote in message
...
: On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 07:44:32 -0700, "Richard C."
: wrote:
: :
: : The technology id there but a cable company can't make a profit on a
: : purely ala carte basis.
: : Thumper
:
: ================
: And why not?
:
: The overhead to provide a particular channel to say .05% of your
: viewing audience often out paces the return you get. Would you
: continue to offer Tea berry flavored ice cream in your store if hardly
: anyone ate it? The only way some channels will be offered is in a
: package with other channels with a greater audience.
:
=====================================
Sounds like a GOOD thing to me............
If no one wants to subscribe, dump the crap!
=====================================

: Bundling services is a long recognized way to lower the companies cost
: to provide and thusly holds down prices overall.
: Thumper

Richard C. wrote:
=====================================
Sounds like a GOOD thing to me............
If no one wants to subscribe, dump the crap!
=====================================

Exactly. I don't see why "thumper" would want to keep paying for all
the crap he doesn't want to watch.

You keep hearing about "video on demand" for the internet. When they
can deliver true high quality signals, and even HD, and you can simply
pay for the things you want (ala carte) you will see the death of the
"tier" system.

Steve

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 22:30:38 GMT, "Steve K."
wrote:

Richard C. wrote:
=====================================
Sounds like a GOOD thing to me............
If no one wants to subscribe, dump the crap!
=====================================

Exactly. I don't see why "thumper" would want to keep paying for all
the crap he doesn't want to watch.


Because Thumper knows that if the companies do it your way they will
go out of business.
You keep hearing about "video on demand" for the internet. When they
can deliver true high quality signals, and even HD, and you can simply
pay for the things you want (ala carte) you will see the death of the
"tier" system.


Don't hold your breath. If the tier system ever goes away you will
pat more than now.
Thumper
Steve

Thumper wrote:
Because Thumper knows that if the companies do it your way they will
go out of business.
That doesn't change the fact that I would prefer ala carte and I think
other would too. You sure care about the "health" satellite and cable
companies an awful lot. Weird. Ever hear the term "the customer is
always right"? Generally when there are more options, the consumers
will benefit.

"Steve K." wrote in message
hlink.net...
Thumper wrote:
Because Thumper knows that if the companies do it your way they will
go out of business.
That doesn't change the fact that I would prefer ala carte and I think
other would too. You sure care about the "health" satellite and cable
companies an awful lot. Weird. Ever hear the term "the customer is
always right"? Generally when there are more options, the consumers
will benefit.


Let me jump in here for a minute. When cable first started in Houston, the
cable company (long since disappeared) provided a modified ala'carte system
for the first couple of years -- until they went bankrupt and a different
company took over. When they first went on the air, they provided 8 local
stations in one group. Everything else was provided on an ala'carte basis.
I just dug up one of their first receipts. The local stations (6) were
$5.75 per month. HBO (only one channel) was $ 9.95 per month. All other
channels (11 of them) were $1.95 a month. HBO and Disney were the only
movie channels (Disney was $1.95 also). The other channels that cost $1.95
a month were
1. Disney
2. CNN
3. NBC (New York)
4. WGN
5. CBS (New York)
6. WBS
7. MTV
8. Weather Channel
9. HSN
10. ABC (Atlanta)
11. MBC

There was a total of 18 channels, and with the exception of the locals, all
were ala'carte. That system only lasted until the company went broke a
couple of years later. The new company ditched the ala'carte system and
financially was successful. Ala'carte didn't work here in the early 80's,
it might now, but I personally think it would be too expensive.

Bill

"Bill Sanders" wrote in message
. ..

"Steve K." wrote in message
hlink.net...
Thumper wrote:
Because Thumper knows that if the companies do it your way they will
go out of business.
That doesn't change the fact that I would prefer ala carte and I think
other would too. You sure care about the "health" satellite and cable
companies an awful lot. Weird. Ever hear the term "the customer is
always right"? Generally when there are more options, the consumers
will benefit.


Let me jump in here for a minute. When cable first started in Houston,
the
cable company (long since disappeared) provided a modified ala'carte
system
for the first couple of years -- until they went bankrupt and a different
company took over. When they first went on the air, they provided 8 local
stations in one group. Everything else was provided on an ala'carte
basis.
I just dug up one of their first receipts. The local stations (6) were
$5.75 per month. HBO (only one channel) was $ 9.95 per month. All other
channels (11 of them) were $1.95 a month. HBO and Disney were the only
movie channels (Disney was $1.95 also). The other channels that cost
$1.95
a month were
1. Disney
2. CNN
3. NBC (New York)
4. WGN
5. CBS (New York)
6. WBS
7. MTV
8. Weather Channel
9. HSN
10. ABC (Atlanta)
11. MBC

There was a total of 18 channels, and with the exception of the locals,
all
were ala'carte. That system only lasted until the company went broke a
couple of years later. The new company ditched the ala'carte system and
financially was successful. Ala'carte didn't work here in the early 80's,
it might now, but I personally think it would be too expensive.

Bill



The 11 ala'carte stations where $ 1.95 EACH per month.