This is because of network providers insisting on bundled contracts (i.e. in order for Time Warner to provide MTV, it must also buy MTV2, VH1, Nickelodeon, etc).

Additionally, the more channels that are available to more subscribers, the more ad revenue can be charged. If a-la-carte was available, you decide you don’t want certain channels from Viacom (for example you only want MTV & VH1 but not Nickelodeon and the other 15 Viacom channels), then Viacom will just charge more for MTV and VH1 to make up for lost ad revenue (and the provider will charge more for their increased expense to Viacom and their lost ad revenue).

Finally, it will create massive backoffice redtape for the provider to manage individual channel availability to the subscriber rather than a select number of pre-determined packages. Of course the provider will pass the cost of this along (increased IT infrastructure, customer service reps to handle calls from people who call daily to add/remove the channels they don’t want to watch this week because repeats are on, etc).

And of course even if that were possible, the individual channel availabilty would only be on the digital channels since there is no realistic way to manage it in the analog (currently they use a filter to determine from the most basic analog and the full analog package …. feasbile with 2 package options, but not feasible when there are 80 channels with virtually unlimited combinations).

Ala carte should be the standard. Who watches those religious shows, foreign language etc etc and Im paying nearly 100 month along with the high speed internet? MAJOR RIP OFF.

Im moving out of state anyway–Im sure tw is not offered there. Cox seems to be the major provider where I am going.

I cant believe I would have to subscribe to both premium tiers just to get the 4 shows I want.

On the bright side, I am satisfied with their customer service.

This is the problem when 1 company is allowed to monopolize any market.

Why can’t I sign on online and pick and choose what I want to watch when I want to watch it? I would be much happier paying $2-$3 per channel per month for the 5 or so channels I actually watch than $60 or more to a cable company for sports and other channels I don’t need.

Viacom has it right. I watch Colbert and South Park online anytime I want at my convenience. It’s much better than waiting for it to roll around on TV. I hope Time Warner dies a quick death between their fee hikes and failed negotiations with content providers. This past week has just proven how much of a dinosaur cable is today.