• PC Mag via Fox News, Friday, August 24, 2007 11:15 AM

FCC chairman Kevin Martin is backing a la carte cable programming -- at least in a letter he sent to several minority groups. He says his support of the idea, under which consumers would be able to buy channels individually rather than in a package, would boost poorer minority groups.

He notes one Nielsen study showing that the average cable subscriber pays for 85 channels, but only watches 16. "Indeed, cable rates have more than doubled in the last 10 years. Cable companies often point to the increased number of channels being offered as an explanation for the increase in prices," Martin writes.

Martin adds that while everyone would benefit from a la carte, "minority consumers, especially those living in Spanish-speaking homes, might benefit most of all." Currently, those people have to buy pricy packages to get Spanish-language channels. Martin also says that a la carte purchasing could boost programming diversity.

Read the whole story at PC Mag via Fox News »