Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan threw his support behind the FCC’s recommendation of an a la carte option for cable subscribers, calling it “in the best interests of consumers”..he said in a statement. Cablevision is the first cable company supporting this proposal.
Dolan said that the opportunity to purchase programming on an a la carte basis would be in the best interests of consumers, and will not be detrimental to either programmers or cable operators.
The National Cable and Telecommunications Association is not in favor of the move.
Meanwhile AT&T (fka SBC) is also throwing its weight behind a la carte…it told the FCC that it wants to offer a la carte programming to its video/IPTV customers.
AT&T plans to start selling video services later this month. But to sell its TV services a la carte, AT&T would need the cooperation of programmers — who have so far refused.
IPTV competitor Verizon, which is selling video in a handful of markets, is also considering a la carte. “We are exploring it,” spokesman Eric Rabe says.
Staci adds: Cablevision’s stance re a la carte isn’t a departure; the MSO has offered various a la carte options for more than a decade, including selling YES Network that way until an arbitrator ruled otherwise. Also, Charles Dolan has testified before Congress on the subject. While Cablevision’s own smaller cable networks could lose out in an a la carte world, the company may be betting on more income from premium nets.
Related: New FCC Chairman Says New Study Proves A La Carte Cable, DBS Can Benefit Consumers
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