500 channels and nothing on is an old adage this TV Addict has been hearing for the better part of our thirty-something years on this planet. It’s also an old adage we’ve never quite agreed with. Like money in the proverbial banana stand, there’s always something to watch on television if one take a moment or two to look closer.
That said, the cost-benefit of our ever-expanding cable bill, coupled with our daily responsibility that has us compiling theTVaddict.com’s “On TV Tonight” grid has recently got us thinking about one thing: Should consumers (and by extension the U.S. Congress that is currently looking into such matters) be clamoring for seasonal pricing in addition to a la carte cable pricing?
Full disclosure: Despite only watching a fraction of the channels offered, this TV Addict has never really had a problem paying for our so-called 500 channels. The way we see it, the bigger issue is that consumers pay the same amount for cable during the months of June, July and August than they do during September thru May. Do you know how little television this so-called TV Addict watches in June, July and August? Oh sure, the major broadcast networks will have you believe that they’re attempting to program year around, but let’s face it… With the exception of CBS’ upcoming Stephen King miniseries UNDER THE DOME we can’t think of one show we’ll be watching on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and The CW. Not one! Which raises the slightly awkward albeit painfully obvious question: Isn’t there a better way?
Wait, there is!
For years now, Airlines have been charging customers different prices for flights depending on a multitude of factors including time of day, week, popularity of destination, demand etc. While more recently, major professional sports teams have followed suit. Case in point, our hometown Toronto Blue Jays charge more for a ticket versus the dreaded Yankees or Red Sox versus the not-so-entertaining Marlins or Royals. Yet for some reason or other, us non-cord cutters continue to shell out the exact same amount of money for an evening of reruns and reality versus, say, a Tuesday night schedule packed with new episodes PARENTHOOD, HART OF DIXIE, MINDY PROJECT, NEW GIRL?
Agree, disagree, post away.