America's Media Speaks Out for Cable Choice!

A year ago we told you about the concept of "Cable Choice", being able to pick and choose -- and pay for -- only the cable networks you wanted to allow into your home. A year ago the cable industry said it was impossible. They said that technology prohibited such an option. We proved that the technology did exist.

Then the cable industry said they would help customers to block networks they didn't like. We exposed the flaw that consumers would still be forced to pay for the unwanted networks that they chose to block.

Their next pathetic argument against Cable Choice was that it would force smaller, niche and minority-targeted networks into bankruptcy. Prominent consumer organizations exposed the fallacy of that argument showing evidence that such networks might actually benefit from Cable Choice.

Then the cable industry struck fear into the hearts of many by saying that Cable Choice would have the undesired effect of increasing the cost of a cable subscription while giving the customer fewer channels. We have exposed that, too, as a fallacy; and we pointed out that the cable industry already increases their fees at 3-4 times the national rate of inflation. And now the Federal Communications Commission is agreeing with us, saying that a recent analysis by their economists shows that costs would not increase with Cable Choice.

Knowing that their backs were against the wall, the cable industry did last month what it said it would not and could not do: provide a "family tier" of cable networks so that parents could protect their children from graphic and gratuitous programming. And over the past few weeks we have exposed the fatal flaw of this 'last gasp' attempt by the cable industry to prevent Cable Choice. Make no mistake: While this option appears -- at first blush -- to be a good solution, it does absolutely nothing in reality to help families. Family tiers were designed by the cable industry solely to appease Washington lawmakers, not to give a real solution to families concerned with harsh cable content.

Thanks to the efforts of the PTC and its broad array of partners in the cable choice battle, the public -- and our public servants -- are becoming aware of the merits of Cable Choice. Across the country newspaper stories and editorials are calling for real cable choice.  Here is just a sampling of what is being written.

"...Cable companies should offer customers a choice of channels they want. If they don't Congress should change the law to require it."

Winston-Salem Journal

December 21, 2005

"Imagine being able to select and pay for only the cable channels you want, like choosing dishes in a buffet line...We think Americans would welcome the flexibility and choice, and perhaps lower bills, that could come with a la carte pricing."

Denver Post

December 15, 2005

Section: Denver & The West; Page B-O7

 "...Comcast...has joined several other U.S. cable companies in agreeing to offer 'family-friendly' channel packages next year...This falls short of what would benefit consumers most freedom to purchase only the channels they want to watch."

The News Sentinel, Fort Wayne Indiana

December 15, 2005

Section A; Page 8

 "...the cable TV industry...clings to its outmoded business plan, requiring that we buy channels in bundles...it would likely take an act of Congress, which probably won't do anything without a lot of pressure from voters. So if you're sick of paying for channels you don't want, tell your congressman."

Saint Paul Pioneer Press

December 7, 2005

Section: Business; Page 2C

"You get what you pay for, the saying goes. Unless you're talking about cable television, in which case you pay for what you get...You can't buy the channels you want without getting some that you don't. That may be about to change...Charles Dolan, the chairman of Cablevision, has thrown his support behind a la carte pricing. 'We don't believe in the long term that selling programming a la carte will be detrimental to either programmers or cable operators,' Dolan said in a prepared statement. 'Our experience indicates a la carte will result in a more affordable service for all with more programming options.'"

Houston Chronicle

December 23, 2005

Section: Business; Page 1

"It is entirely appropriate to jawbone cable companies, who operate under government-regulated monopolies, into giving concerned customers something they've long clamored for."

Portland Oregonian

December 23, 2005

Section: Editorial; Page C06

"The argument that a la carte will kill some networks falls flat in a free-market society."

The Charlotte Observer

December 14, 2005

This fight is far from over. We face well-financed opponents who will spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars to turn public sentiment in their favor. And with the current system they can spend hundreds of millions in order to protect their billions. But what we have on our side is logic, reason, commonsense, and more than a million members who will not be fooled or lulled by our opponents. With our help we will continue to bring to fruition something that America's families should have had from the beginning: A real choice about the cable channels that come into their home.

But we must keep the pressure on. We must make sure our elected officials know that we demand cable choice NOW. So write your Congressional representatives today and tell them you want Cable Choice. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Call your city council members and your mayor. Let's keep the momentum going so Cable Choice becomes a reality.

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