Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscribe

[Cmike2]

http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2013/03/19/verizon-wants-to-charge-people-for-tv-they-watch/


News To Me with George Mathis
Verizon wants to charge people for TV they watch

8:00 am March 19, 2013, by George Mathis
Nature, and the Screen Actors Guild, do not approve. (SyFy)

Nature, and the Screen Actors Guild, do not approve. (SyFy)

Lovers of obscure television programming may cut their cable bill under a new plan proposed by Verizon Communications.

The Wall Street Journal reports Verizon, the sixth largest pay-TV provider in the U.S. wants to charge people based on what shows they actually watch.

Crazy idea isn’t it?

Those who watch popular programming would presumably pay more than couch spuds who enjoy Syfy reruns of Sharktopus or maybe even Dinocroc vs. Supergator.

Verizon is discussing its plan with “several ‘midtier and smaller’ media companies, reports the WSJ.

Even though Verizon’s fiber optic internet and TV service is not available locally, the a la carte idea may change the industry.

Cable companies typically charge users for a cable package that likely includes dozens of channels no one in the home will ever watch.

ESPN, for example, is one of the more expensive channels for cable providers. ESPN pays the NFL almost $2 billion per year to televise football.

That huge cost is passed on to millions of people who never watch sports.

Is that fair?

Not really, but it’s the way it works.

Computer chip maker Intel is currently testing a set-top box that allows consumers to pay per channel. Forbes says that business model may “kill the cable industry as we know it.”

I doubt that. But giving people a choice would be disruptive.

I know I would pay for only four or five channels, other than the ones I can pick up via antenna.

How much would those four or five channels cost? No one knows, yet.

Which channels would you pay for? Which ones would you ditch?

 

[doggish_098]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

great fucking idea... why should i have to pay for channels i never watch? you should be able to get an a la carte service.


to fucking bad fios is not available in my neighborhood

 

[Crown&Coke]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I would only pay for the ESPN channels, NFL Network, NBA TV, Discovery and History and those type channels,HGTV, DIY, AMC, FX, USA, And Starz but only until the end of Spartacus. Other than that I would be good. ​

 

[Cmike2]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I would only pay for the ESPN channels, NFL Network, NBA TV, Discovery and History and those type channels,HGTV, DIY, AMC, FX, USA, And Starz but only until the end of Spartacus. Other than that I would be good. ​

DAMN, thats just about the only channels i watch too. throw in animal planet, national geographic and science with the sports channels, and im good too.........and a couple of cartoon channels for my kids, my bad, and im good......

 

[Strait_Laced]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

i'm with verizon fios and verizon wireless for years. excellent service, but verizon never was and never will be the low price leader.
wait for the trap

 

[EPDC]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

A few years ago I would have been all over a la carte pricing.....now, fuck paying for tv channels.

 

[woodchuck]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

There was an a la carte option up for debate in the Senate about 15 years ago, and the cable lobby killed it. This would be great if it happened.

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

There was an a la carte option up for debate in the Senate about 15 years ago, and the cable lobby killed it. This would be great if it happened.

^this

 

[ankhheru]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

A la carte is almost always more expensive. Almost always. I'm sure this will prove to be the truth in this case. For most it may make a slight to moderate dent in what they pay to view however people with larger families and children and other potential viewers will will pay out the backside.

expect a service charge for each change. Every time you see a special show or series and want to pick up that station or drop a station they will hit you up to do it.

 

[sammyjax]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

A few years ago I would have been all over a la carte pricing.....now, fuck paying for tv channels.

this only works for cats that live alone or in a house full of fucking nerds.

i smack keys and switch wires. my old lady and kid pick up remote controls.

 

[Rocky Miavia]

this only works for cats that live alone or in a house full of fucking nerds.

i smack keys and switch wires. my old lady and kid pick up remote controls.

WTF does paying less for TV equal all that judgement?

Verizon could kill their competitors if they did this in areas where there's a choice of providers. Cable itself is a ripoff for numerous reasons. Better to just pay for internet and watch TV that way.

 

[chilibrick]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

this might hurt certain ethnic channels (especially the black ones). maybe this might get them to improve programming.

 

[xcluesiv]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

DAMN, thats just about the only channels i watch too. throw in animal planet, national geographic and science with the sports channels, and im good too.........and a couple of cartoon channels for my kids, my bad, and im good......

pretty much

 

[Cmike2]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

A la carte is almost always more expensive. Almost always. I'm sure this will prove to be the truth in this case. For most it may make a slight to moderate dent in what they pay to view however people with larger families and children and other potential viewers will will pay out the backside.

expect a service charge for each change. Every time you see a special show or series and want to pick up that station or drop a station they will hit you up to do it.

but its a START......SOMETHING has got to be done about these cable costs. that shit is like having a car payment.......

 

[sammyjax]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

WTF does paying less for TV equal all that judgement?

Verizon could kill their competitors if they did this in areas where there's a choice of providers. Cable itself is a ripoff for numerous reasons. Better to just pay for internet and watch TV that way.

calm down broseph, i mean nerds in the sense that i am one, i.e. better with computers and finding the places to watch all the tv replacing stuff. i barely watch tv too, but if i cut back from cable to just internet we would all suffer. them because they don't know how to work shit and me because i won't get to enjoy mine for having to go tend to theirs every 20 minutes.

i agree that cable is a rip, as are so many other things digital.

but you made 'nerd' a bad thing, not me

 

[EPDC]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

this only works for cats that live alone or in a house full of fucking nerds.

i smack keys and switch wires. my old lady and kid pick up remote controls.

Nah, it works for us (wife and two kids) just fine, thanks to our Roku box. Been cable free damn near 3 years, don't miss out on anything.

 

[Winslow Wong]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I went 3 years without cable and only got it recently to keep up with election coverage and the NBA-

Every TV show I watch I end up downloading anyway - I hate commercials and like to skip boring scenes.

An a al carte package will kill small time nothing channels that nobody watches.

Viva La Choice

 

[sammyjax]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

Nah, it works for us (wife and two kids) just fine, thanks to our Roku box. Been cable free damn near 3 years, don't miss out on anything.

it's funny but as much as i hear about this shit i haven't fucked with one.

i download all the programming i want to watch while i'm at work and i just watch it on whatever's free when i want to. what's the roku's claim to fame, and what's the difference between that and cable? do you have young kids? do you have to have one for each tv?

 

[sammyjax]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

For one I like the option to find something on a channel I don't watch often.

yeah i dig that too.

 

[EPDC]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

it's funny but as much as i hear about this shit i haven't fucked with one.

i download all the programming i want to watch while i'm at work and i just watch it on whatever's free when i want to. what's the roku's claim to fame, and what's the difference between that and cable? do you have young kids? do you have to have one for each tv?

We have a 3 & 2 year old. Two Rokus, on two TVs. Netflix ($8) Hulu Plus ($8) is all we pay. Plus with PlayOn, we stream damn near every cable channel we need. I don't download anymore either, Icefilms is on PlayOn, and that shit is dope.

 

[tanks1]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

If they do this, i'm going to switch to their service.

 

[NewyorkRealTalk]

Big red is going to fuck us somehow.

Speaking of.. I have an unlimited data line on verizon up for grabs if anyone wants it.



Gs3

 

[sammyjax]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I have an unlimited data line on verizon up for grabs if anyone wants it.

what do you mean

 

[peterlongshort]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

Captain's log Stardate 2012193:

"...The humans are finally catching on to my teachings. First a la carte cable, next, elimination of pre-season football and Thursday night games....I feel as if my work is almost done here."

 

[Koolinme]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I'd like the idea for the sole purpose of unsubscribing to channels that cancel programs I like.

For example I'd LOVE to cancel Cartoon Network for cancelling Young Justice.. that shit got me fucking pissed.. LOL... for real tho. And I know that losing a subscriber outright hurts a network on a very tangible level..

I hate paying for cable and knowing that CN is getting my money still after that dick move.

 

[JamesATL]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

i would love this, but as others have said, al acate prices would probbly be higher

but it was it was TRULEY pro-rated, like insurance was.


ie. now you get 50 channels for $50 a month. +/-

if you could pick your channels for (lets say $1 per channel)
and i could choose lets say 10 channels for $10 a month. or 20 for $20 EVERYONE would do this.

hell, even at $1.25 per channel.

but it wont be, it would probably be like $5 per channel

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

Smh at people believing companies are going to sacrifice revenue for your benefit. Smh at people listing 50 channels in their post.

Who watches tv tv anymore?

 

[NewyorkRealTalk]

what do you mean

I have an unlimited data cell phone line available if anyone wants it. It's an extra one.



Gs3

 

[Cmike2]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

i would love this, but as others have said, al acate prices would probbly be higher

but it was it was TRULEY pro-rated, like insurance was.


ie. now you get 50 channels for $50 a month. +/-

if you could pick your channels for (lets say $1 per channel)
and i could choose lets say 10 channels for $10 a month. or 20 for $20 EVERYONE would do this.

hell, even at $1.25 per channel.

but it wont be, it would probably be like $5 per channel

thats how i was looking at it. they got to charge 1 dollar for me to consider it.

 

[mike123]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

A few years ago I would have been all over a la carte pricing.....now, fuck paying for tv channels.

they're 5-10 years too late on this one
streamin, downloads an a flashdrive is all i need

 

[Mr. Del]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

Good for customers, bad for TV shows. Most channels will suffer, also.

America probably needs less TV, anyway.

 

[gene cisco]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

WTF does paying less for TV equal all that judgement?

Verizon could kill their competitors if they did this in areas where there's a choice of providers. Cable itself is a ripoff for numerous reasons. Better to just pay for internet and watch TV that way.

I agree. So now people are happy to pay for television with commercials in it as long as they pick the channels? When cable first started out, you paid for premium channels. The other channels were just thrown in. Now people pay for the "basic" channels and don't even get premium channels.

I don't know what hustle they will come up next. What about putting commercials on DVDs? You have to pay $10 more for the commercial-free DVDs. EA is already trying that with video games.

 

[bham_brotha]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

Roku, playon, icefilms, 1channel, netflix & supervox... I stream pretty much every channel live and have unlimited movies at my disposal. No thanks cable.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

I have FiOS and i love the idea but it would NOT kill the Cable industry because Verizon doesn't install FiOS anymore in neighborhoods that don't already have it. They stopped doing that 2 years ago. So as long as you are in a neighborhood thats already laid the fiber optics you are good but those areas that don't have it are still stuck with cable (Comcast, TW, etc) unless Verizon changes their mind. This would be a big deal if Comcast decided to try this but that will never happen...

 

[King Natty]

Re: Verizon wants to charge cable customers for only the channels they want to subscr

We have a 3 & 2 year old. Two Rokus, on two TVs. Netflix ($8) Hulu Plus ($8) is all we pay. Plus with PlayOn, we stream damn near every cable channel we need. I don't download anymore either, Icefilms is on PlayOn, and that shit is dope.

You get sports channels? That's the main reason I keep cable

edit: PlayOn sounds dope, might have to give it a shot