Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA
| reply to SRFireside
Re: They will get what they want
I think this might be a good compromise between only offering packages and complete a la carte. Have a bare-bones default lineup which would include broadcast channels, shopping channels*, and a few of the most popular cable stations. Then let users either add on packages like they currently do (Sports, Movies, Kids, etc) or buy a "custom channel package" which would let the user select 5 of their favorite stations. Want more than 5 more stations? Buy another custom package and add 5 more stations. Repeat until you've got a lineup that suits you.
In addition, to help promote niche channels, cable companies could include a "Preview Channel" in the default lineup. This channel would take its content from a different non-default channel from week to week. This week it's HBO. Next week, it's Sci-Fi. The week after that it's Oxygen. You never know quite what you'll find on that station. That might help generate interest in niche (or recently added) channels.
* They pay the cable providers for access as opposed to the other channels which require the cable providers to pay them to air their content. That's why I'd add them by default.
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-Jason Levine
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