Below is a typical Expanded Basic cable package*. Uncheck the networks you don't want and we'll calculate your new bill. Sadly, this is just a demonstration of "how cable should be" and won't reduce your real cable bill. We'll use your vote – the choices you voice here – to help educate the public and tell cable companies, programmers, and our public servants that bringing consumer choice to cable is a must!
*Cable companies and programmers do not reveal their contracted programming rates. Each of the 1,000+ cable operators in the US negotiates their network agreements separately, which will result in a range of programming fees. While every effort has been made to offer an accurate and representative picture of average programming prices, these rates should never been presented or published as fact. Read more about Data Reliability.
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Cable, Meet Choice. Choice, Meet Cable.
You should be able to choose and pay only for the cable channels you watch. Not a sports fan? Why should you have to pay over $80 per year for ESPN, ESPN2 and one -- or often more -- regional sports networks? Offended by Comedy Central, MTV, E! and SPIKE? Why should you have to fork over $30 per year for programming you can't abide?
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Understanding the Racket
Let's start with the consolidated ownership of cable networks: 4 companies own the 10 networks with the highest programming fees; and, 6 mega-media companies own the 20 networks with the highest programming fees. Put differently, 6 companies pretty much rule Expanded Basic.
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Click Here to see Who Owns What
Click Here to read the FCC's "Further Report" on Cable Bundling
Click Here to See Recent Press/Media about Cable Choice
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