07-08-2015, 09:52 PM
Robert M wrote:
And this is the double-edge sword of "pay per channel". Individual channels can be costly. HBO Now ($14.99 per month), CBS All Access ($6 per month). Some channels like ABC provide access free of charge if you have a cable TV subscription, i.e. Optimum TV, FIOS TV. Some of the content is free without a subscription.
Rob,
Showtime, HBO, and the like are premium channels, which command $20/mo a la carte.
The sister channel packages like HBO/MAX and SHO/TMC can effectively cut that cost in half, but you can't compare a commercial broadcast channel like ABC to the premiums.
Trust me when I say that getting rid of cable TV isn't necessarily going to be cost effective or provide a good bang for the buck for some people. They'll get rid of cable but then sign up for NetFlix, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, CBS All Access, etc. Each service adds to the price tag and, sign up with enough of them, and the overall cost becomes surprisingly high!
Right, you're making the same argument that the MSOs make, but it can still be beneficial some some viewers. There is also the issue of choice, and control, which are limited, if not nonexistant right now. And the hope is if a truly competitive market opened up, there would be pricing adjustments as well.
For some, it's worth it just to be free of the cable hegemony, even if there are no cost savings involved.