US cable subscribers got record average of 189 channels in bundles last year. They watched only 17

[The Straight Story]

It's become a cliche: "Why am I forced to buy more cable channels I never watch?"

Now, new data show the common consumer complaint is true.

Last year, U.S. cable subscribers got a record average of 189 channels in prepackaged bundles but watched only 17 of those channels, according to a report this week by Nielsen. And the appetite to view more channels, even when offered vastly more television content, hasn't changed much in years. In five years, cable companies added 60 more channels for the typical subscriber, but viewers haven't increased their consumption of new content. They have consistently watched an average of 17 channels.

Consumers have long decried the cable bundle. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) and other lawmakers have tried and failed to break apart channel bundles forced on consumers with legislation that would allow consumers to pick programs a la carte. The average monthly cost of a cable television subscription is $90, and some analysts expect that to increase to $125 in a few years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/05/07/cables-forced-bundles-are-getting-fatter-but-no-one-is-watching-more-channels/

[avebury]

1. I would cut the cable before I would pay

much more then I pay now.

[penultimate]

2. I spend most of my time switching between ESPN83 and CSPAN - After Dark

[Politicalboi]

3. This sounds like Obamacare

Why do I have to pay for what I don't need.


Although cable would be great if they ONLY charged you for how many channels you watch.

[karadax]

7. Or charge for how long you watch.

A subscriber gets every channel but you're charged a per hour rate for consumption. You don't lose anything. (pay $90 today for 200 channels vs eventually paying $90 for just the 17 channels you watch. It'll happen. $5 a channel is a good price point for an a la carte menu).

I like the per hour model because it might discourage excessive tv watching.

[HeiressofBickworth]

11. That would be a budget-buster for me!

I watch very little TV during the evening and into the night as I'm usually on the computer during that time. I have tinnitus (ringing in my ears) and being in a quiet room makes it seem worse. I turn the TV on in my room when I go to bed and leave it on all night to cut down the sound of ringing. Charges by the hour would be terrible!!! I realize I get more channels than I could ever watch, but it's like insurance. Out there someone is paying so I can watch the channels I want and I'm paying for the channels they watch.

[Populist_Prole]

4. I hate paying for all the sports bullshit I never watch while having to "up-buy" to get a channel

Why can't we go ala-carte? I'd be happier having less total channels for the same money if I could have the ones I want and weed out the bullshit.

[pipoman]

5. Can't you set up a favorites channel file?

[Populist_Prole]

6. No it's in rigidly packaged groups

U-Verse. Groups in several levels. The most basic package has lots of channels but so many I have no interest in whatsoever. If I want a specific channel that's on another level I have to upgrade to that level, and so forth.

They got me over a barrel and I know it.

[House of Roberts]

8. Here they hold you hostage with the DVR tuner.

Once you pay for it, you get all the channels except the premium ones.

[Archae]

9. It's all those religious channels I always ignore.

My Mom has a satellite dish, and she gets tons of shopping channels she ignores.

[Shoulders of Giants]

10. I dumped cable three years ago and hooked up all my Tvs with Rokus with Netflix and Hulu

Now I pay less, and can actually find things I want to watch.

[Ron Green]

12. "It doesn't matter what you watch;

it only matters THAT you watch."

- Neal Postman

[Sunlei]

13. I will never pay for any cable 'package' with republican fox in it. And I never have.

And I resent the way "foxRW crams" themselves & many "religious RW beg for cash" crams themselves on many of the "free TV" stations. On top of that the RW always tries to chip away,destroy & ruin the best of 'the publics' 'free TV' like PBS.

Our Gov. (Federal not state or local) needs a 24/7 free national TV station. That can be the station where anyone who runs for Congress/Senate /President will address the citizens for an hour each- field live questions from "the people".

[Fumesucker]

14. An old complaint