Tutor
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5 Messages
Why can't I CHOOSE the channels I receive?
My parents pay far less for DISH and get more channels. The only reason I keep AT&T is because I need reliable internet. I'm frustrated with a lot of channels with NOTHING to watch. This is compounded by the fact that I get multiple Spanish language channels (not just local broadcast) and I don't speak Spanish and I get multiple sports channels and I don't watch sports--well I will watch the Olympics. I also don't watch cartoons and there's lots of those available to me. Most of my TV watching is local broadcast or PBS. I'd love to get BBC or WGN without paying extra. I would gladly drop all the Spanish, sports and cartoons to get some intelligent adult TV that's in a language I speak, that doesn't include men bashing each other's skulls and doesn't make me lose IQ points. Why can't we choose the type of service we want instead of just getting one the choices we can afford from AT&T's cookie cutter products?
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
That Don Guy
Guru
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325 Messages
10 years ago
What you are describing is called "a la carte service" and has been debated for years if not decades.
The main reason you can't pick and choose channels has to do with how the channels themselves make money. For the most part, each one cuts a deal with each TV service (e.g. Xfinity, DirecTV, U-Verse, Dish, Time Warner Cable) where the service pays the channel a certain amount for each household capable of viewing it (usually less than 50 cents, but ESPN charges something like $5). Note two important factors here: (a) it is the TV services that are paying the channels, and not the other way around; (b) it is based on how many people can view a channel, and not how many people actually do.
With "packages," a lot of channels that very few people would watch are grouped together with the more popular channels, and the additional cost of carrying these channels is offset somewhat by the fact that the channels do not have to charge as much as they otherwise would because of the number of households that can watch the channel, most of which never will.
If you changed this, and made everything a la carte, then most channels - including the popular ones - would have to charge more in order for you to view them. Want BBC America? $3/month, thank you very much. That $5/month for ESPN? More like $10. Also remember that the service itself has to add to these costs so it can pay for providing the service (e.g. buying and sending out the cable boxes).
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skeeterintexas
ACE - Expert
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28.3K Messages
10 years ago
Which package are you paying for: U200, U300, U450? The package will determine what channels you get. That's how it works with all providers.
If you are unhappy with your package, you should either upgrade or downgrade.
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rdljr
Guru
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332 Messages
10 years ago
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TexasProud
Tutor
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5 Messages
10 years ago
I have the family package, but don't have a family. Therefore, I don't need cartoons, sports or channels in languages I don't speak. Providers should focus more on the needs of their customers not just putting together packages that don't specifically fit anyone's needs. I can't afford to upgrade to a "better package" but I would like the one I have to better suit my needs. Prior to being a teacher, I worked in the corporate world. We didn't make our clients accept specific product packages. They picked the products that suited their needs and we often customized the products for them (much to the chagrin of the contracts and other departments).
This isn't rocket science and I don't like being held hostage. There's only two cable providers in my area and their rates are not competitive. As a teacher it's imperative that I have reliable internet access at home for writing and researching lesson plans, preparing grades, emailing parents and more. I'm just frustrated with paying $160 a month and not getting much in return. I know I can get internet with AT&T and cable or dish elsewhere, but I doubt I would save much money.
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rdljr
Guru
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332 Messages
10 years ago
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skeeterintexas
ACE - Expert
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28.3K Messages
10 years ago
You could certainly use Dish for your television provider and Uverse for your internet. BBC America and WGN are both available on Dish.
If you watch local broadcasts along with PBS, get an antenna and watch OTA free.
A wise consumer will check to see what channels are offered on which package and make an informed decision.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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36.9K Messages
10 years ago
They're not? That's strange. I mean, aren't they competing? Is one really low?
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mitchflorida
Scholar
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187 Messages
10 years ago
The solution is for you is to replace Uverse TV with Dish Network and keep Uverse Internet.
Next question?
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TexasProud
Tutor
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5 Messages
10 years ago
You'd think they'd want to compete, but their rates are pretty much identical. I think there's a 5 cent difference on the basic. I thought deregulation was supposed to toake care of these issues, but I guess not...
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TexasProud
Tutor
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5 Messages
10 years ago
I've acutally done that. I'm a big nerd when it comes to saving money. I've looked at all the packages, compared and contrasted them with my budget. I've setted on what I can afford on a teacher's salary with a child in college.
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TexasProud
Tutor
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5 Messages
10 years ago
I've been thinking about that, but I'm hesitant. My parents get more channels, but horrible customer service. Dish doesn't have their own technicians, but uses third parties to install/repair the equipment. Sometimes it takes several days. Of course, my mom is far nicer than me. Her local technician is her neighbor's son and she doesn't want to offend anyone by being assertive. It woldn't bother me.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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36.9K Messages
10 years ago
If they are about the same, then they are "competitive." They may not be as low as you'd like.
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dhascall
ACE - Master
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1.4K Messages
10 years ago
Tell me @TexasProud, what cable providers allows you to pick and choose what channels that you get? Not U-Verse, not TWC, not Comcast and so on. When AT&T made the recent deal with CBS, one could bet that CBS said if you want Showtime, you better keep carrying Smithsonian, FLIX and SHO2. There is a move afoot to offer channels via Roku and so on, on an ala carte basis but not all.
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saduser
Contributor
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1 Message
9 years ago
Not that it will make any difference that I post, but I truly agree, "Why can't "I" the consumer select the cannels I want in a TV package (specifically U-Verse). I was told by a representative just today, that it's the "FCC" who determines what channels are packaged, I find that hard to believe! So the FCC tells me how I spend my dollars?? I am a senior, I do not watch a lot of TV, but when I do, I would like to have a channel line-up that I am satisfied with, when paying the bill.
It was suggested that I contact the FCC---GRAP !!
CBMC
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