M.J. said:
There are way too many channels on television nowadays. I would like to see the vast majority of cable channels eliminated, and the rest merged. I find the amount of choice with cable/satellite to be too overwhelming, and I simply don't watch TV like I used to for that reason. It is common marketing knowledge that giving consumers too much choice might actually turn them away - for example if a restaurant menu is too large.
"Choice" is a convenient way of covering up the negatives of the number of TV channels there are nowadays. I get sick of "there's always something on", because it means people stop interacting with each other and sit glued to the TV. When my former work got cable in our break room, suddenly we weren't interacting with each other - everyone was glued to the TV and didn't talk to each other. It was especially bad on weekends when the part-time teeny-boppers were there watching reruns of cable reality shows and Paris Hilton trash, or even televised poker. We never used to have poker on TV before there were so many channels it was needed to fill airtime! It had an effect on the workers and teamwork, even if others didn't notice it.
It's the same in many families. There doesn't need to always be something on. I shouldn't have to come home and see my parents constantly watching CSI just because it happens to be on some channel 24/7 now. It's such a waste. I miss the days when you simply didn't have the TV on in the afternoon if you were at home - you went outside instead. The family of one friend of mine eliminated its satellite dish awhile back and now relies on over-the-air television - and since there isn't always something on, the family dynamic is much different, more positive, and shall we say, old-fashioned than most families today. One kid will watch Arthur when it comes on, they'll watch hockey on Saturday night, maybe rent the odd DVD. They're not chained to the TV. For my family, some of the greatest quality time there is is at the cottage when there's no Internet or CNN, just eight TV channels, a radio for background music, and the great outdoors.
TV has its place in society. It is a vital link to local communities and to national and world events, and there is a place for entertainment and live sports. But, the choice should not be so overwhelming we become fixated on the box.
As far as choice goes, TV should be limited to the big four and a few other local stations, and there should only be a handful of cable channels including regional sports channels. The cost of cable can be reduced this way as well. There is no need for more than 15 or 20 channels.
