Push for a la carte Cable to Combat TV Violence

A push for a la carte cable television programming has been made in reaction to violence on many networks.  The Federal Communications Commission in late April releasesd a report stating that an a al carte system would enable parents to keep their children from exposure to violent shows by not subscribing to those channels that carry them. 

Kevin Martin, FCC Chairman, says it cannot happen without federal legislation.  Martin is a supporter of channel choice, but the issue has gotten little exposure on Capitol Hill.  Senator Jay Rockefeller is expected to unveil a bill addressing television violence, and opposes the the creation of an a la carte system. 

Cable companies are required by federal law to provide basic tier service consisting of local and public access channels.  The second tier, known as "expanded basic" includes most of the cable networks.  Either you get all or none of the channels. 

Some of the reason cable companies prefer to not go to a la carte systems is because fewer channels means fewer advertising dollars, require more customer service representatives, higher marketing and billing costs. 

Congress has yet to address the a la carte system.

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