Comments of Brian Dietz, Senior Director, Communications National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) Regarding Survey by "Concerned Women"
The opinion poll is badly flawed because those surveyed clearly weren't informed of the negative impact of a la carte. Our guess is that if consumers were asked whether they'd prefer to have cable or satellite service for free, they'd also answer with a resounding "yes." The fact is that cable consumers couldn't enjoy the diversity of programming they have today if programmers had to sell and package their services in an a la carte manner. As pointed out by many network executives and entrepreneurs, a la carte packaging and pricing would halt efforts to launch diverse new channels. It also would further diminish diversity, limit choice, and raise prices among channels that currently exist, and turn back the clock on a marketplace that has blossomed with wide choice and great value for American consumers.
NCTA is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States. NCTA represents cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry.