Cable companies are pressuring media companies to package
their channels into bundles that represent what consumers really want, as a way
of offering lower prices, according to a story in the Washington Post today by
Cecilia Kang, link here.
The concept seems important to me because major networks
need to provide ways to cover regular programming when it is preempted in some
locations by breaking news, especially sudden presidential news conferences or
severe weather warnings.
For example, in Washington DC NBC has a regular hi-def
channel (211 in Arlingtopn on Comcast) and is supposed to use 208 as a backup,
but often does not use it, meaning the episodes of some shows are missed
entirely in some areas (although they can usually be found online the next
day). Networks should set up backup
channels on cable that can always carry scheduled programming , and include
them in cable packages.
The availability of many programs online is undermining the older business model for cable. (I'm watching Sunday night's "Revenge" right now as I write this. Nolan is irresistible!)
For my own reference as much as anyone’s, here’s the Comcast
lineup.
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