The federal government will soon unveil plans to force cable and satellite TV providers to offer consumers so-called pick-and-pay services, says the federal industry minister.

Consumers are frustrated over being forced to buy large bundles of channels they don’t want when they sign up for satellite and cable TV services, says James Moore.

As viewer habits evolve, there’s no reason why all television service providers can’t offer consumers the ability to pick and choose the channels they want, he says.

The two largest cable and satellite TV service providers — Bell  and Rogers  — offer subscribers basic packages that include the main television networks and selected other channels. But upgraded packages, at a higher cost, have channels bundled together by category or viewing interest.

Canada’s broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, urged cable and satellite companies in 2011 to adopt a pick-and-pay pricing model when it unveiled new regulations aimed at preventing television broadcasters from restricting consumer choice.

“It’s not a command economy, we’re not going to put in place onerous regulations. We’re a government of deregulation,” Moore insisted.

“But from time to time, we think that the best interest of consumers need to be enforced in the marketplace.”

Some critics, however, have questioned whether such a payment regime will result in lower overall prices for television services.

source Castanet