Cable Channel Choice

Technology Review has an interesting article on the cable TV industry overstating the costs associated with allowing individual channel purchases. I didn't even know this option was being debated. In summary the article says: don't get your hopes up.

Despite the renewed interest from Congress on the topic, it’s unlikely that a la carte models will be mandated during the current legislative session. The last thing President Bush—or any sitting administration—wants to do in the months before an election is anger the networks that will carry his message to the electorate. And with such heavyweights as Comcast and Time Warner Cable staunchly on the side of bundling channels, don’t expect Congress to enact legislation that at the very least would cause the industry to reconfigure its business models, most likely sending cable stocks into a tailspin. Still, it’s clear that thanks to steadily increasing subscription costs and the renewed indecency debate, the cable industry is in the crosshairs. It’s also clear that the technology costs they cite as to their defense is a red herring.