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"I think what they want is an a la carte arrangement of channels. I personally would love to have some of the premium channels but can't afford them. I'd gladly trade all of the kiddy, game, religious, spanish, and "music" channels for one.
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Actually, that's coming, but not until digital cable service is everywhere. In order to customize your selection of channels, you'll need them all to be digital. Digital cable is actually an extension of the internet. Your digital cable box has an IP address, just like your computer. Once everything is digital, cable companies will be able to offer you whatever package you want. Right now, though, basic cable is mandated by most cable company's franchise agreements in the community.

It's full of channels which use advertising to pay for programming, so the cost to the cable company is low to provide basic cable service.

They charge too much for it, of course, but there it is.

You'll have your customizable cable system in a few years, where you pay for the channels you watch and don't get the channels you don't pay for. It won't be cheaper, though.