Sick of paying for cable TV channels you don't watch? Reportedly
some operators are looking for a way -- through negotiation or
regulation -- to end channel bundling, where to get certain
channels (like MTV) they're compelled to pack others (like TV
Land) owned by the same company into their basic lineups.
According to Reuters, smaller operators like Suddenlink and
Mediacom are leading the charge, while even bigger companies
like Comcast, Time Warner and DirecTV are feeling squeezed in
retransmission fee disputes. However, as the LA Times points
out, it's still doubtful you'll be able to pick and choose
specific channels for a cheaper bill. What may be available
however are cheaper packages of smaller bundles, like the lineup
shown above that Comcast is testing in certain areas. What's
stopping true a la carte programming choices? Hybrid cable and
content companies, like Comcast with NBC Universal and Time
Warner, and sports -- someone has to pay for that billion dollar
ESPN Monday Night Football deal.