| An example of Ala Carte Broadcast radio is the ultimate example of ala carte.
For ease of the example, you have 10 FM and 10 AM stations where you live. On some of those 10 FM stations, there may even be format duplication (ex. 2 Country stations). Each one of those stations has maybe just a little different music rotation, or lays their stopsets in different areas of the clock. So you switch channels as you go down the road, when you hears stuff you don't like, want to skip spots, etc. Both stations make enough money to survive. If one of them screws up, and revenue drops, they change their format, improve their programming, or go away.
OK on the AM side, there are a boatload of talk stations, and an all polka station. If the all polka station can't pay the electric bill, it either changes format, or it turns in its license.
If 99% of the available audience doesn't like polka, they don't subsidize the station by listening...hence the MARKETPLACE determines who survives and who dies.
If 99% of the populous don't watch HSN and QVC, either put something INTERESTING on there, or lease the transponder to someone else. Again, the MARKETPLACE decides who lives and who dies.
So what if its a billing nightmare for the providers. Tough.
With todays Conditional Access Systems in sat receivers, and cable boxes, it should be a no brainer to feed me the channels I want to pay for. You can change your DirecTV programming from the web. Build a website and let me select my channels from a menu...no phone wizzard needed...and bill me appropriately. Why is this so hard, and stirs so much debate? |
