How Much Would A La Carte TV Cost You?

By | January 31st, 2006 comments icon (3) Comments


future tv graphicThis is a question that many have pondered, but few have actually put to paper and worked out the numbers. Enter Matt Jacobs, a blogger and self-proclaimed nerd, who decided to calculate how much his TiVo season pass scheduled shows would cost him individually for a year (via Carpe Visum). His findings: “The difference isn’t ridiculous, but if you tack on the cost of watching live television (sports, awards shows, etc.) it will add up quickly.” With only a savings of $12.66 a month off his typical all-you-can-consume $54 a month cable bill, it shows – at least in his case – that A La Carte isn’t much of a benefit. And it’s also worth noting that episodes are usually not available at the same time the broadcast airs, if you were to take the iTunes route, for example. Moreover, if you like the spontaneity of television when channel surfing, you will no doubt be missing on some unanticipated programming.

UPDATE: Matt Jacobs has revised his post and states: “I’ve updated some of the numbers based on comments and a glaring omission on my part (The Daily Show). The difference is MUCH more prominent now.” With an additional 168 episodes, his monthy A La Carte bill went up an additional $336 more (Ouch).





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  • byKnight

    :confused: I’d gladly trade a $54 monthly cable bill for $42/month downloading just the programs I want. That’s a significant savings.

  • manielse

    I thought “A La Carte TV” was based on a per channel basis, not per episode (like iTunes)? That being said, when you assume that major networks (abc, nbc, cbs, fox, and soon to be cw) are “free to air”, I think the number of other channels that one watches is rather low and would be willing to loose a show that you catch in a blue moon. Just my opinion though.

  • Genius74

    manielse,

    That how I understood “A La Carte TV” to be, on a per channel basis. Per show basis would obviously be a ripoff. I wish they would come on with the a la carte per channel, because the wife only watches the Lifetime channels and maybe TNT/TBS, otherewise the TV viewing is all OTA (HD of course!)..