Wacky Wednesday--Cable/Satellite TV Is Bad

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~So many channels diluting the pool of advertising means there’s not enough funding to make really good shows.
~The same effect is seen on the talent pool. If there were 300 teams in MLB, the actual quality of the games would be terrible.
~They’re expensive.
~Channel surfing becomes a substitute for purposeful use of the TV. You watch it to find out what’s on rather than to actually watch something, the way you do when there’s only 5 channels.
~Because it isn’t broadcast, it’s not covered by the decency standards of the FCC.
~Too many different programs and programming niches mean that people are isolated from each other rather than brought into a common cultural landscape.
~To remain “informed” about current popular culture is such a time-intensive thing that it’s really an impossible task.
~Fewer outlets mean more selectivity in programming.
~So many channels to pick from, how can anyone even make an informed decision?
~What percentage of the total number do you actually watch?
~As culture fragments, subcultures become all there is, and counterculture just doesn’t exist.
~More options to watch mean more television gets watched, displacing other activities. Is this something we all need more of? Just the loss of time alone is huge.

Post-show thoughts: The concerns here are legitimate. Cable/Satellite do not come without a serious price. However, the possibility of having minority views aired, seeing shows unlikely to be approved by a risk-averse and massive network, and being able to view content that just isn't popular enough to justify network airing (sports, HGTV, Discovery, etc.) are some of the clear advantages of cable. In short, though it has come with a big price tag (in many senses), cable has also survived the one key test I always like to apply: what does a free market do with it? And since free markets reward competition and variety, cable works. That alone satisfies me, although I also recognize that many people are foolish in their use (abuse) of television and these problems are generally worsened by cable/satellite.