I grew up with the first instantiation of cable TV. When we moved to Beverly Hills in 1975, my mother chose to subscribe to the Z Channel. Much has been discussed about this early version of cable, including a fantastic documentary, Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, about Jerry Harvey, the chief programmer and genius behind the Z Channel.
It matters only in so much that I’ve had an on- and- off again relationship with cable for over 30 years now. I’ve seen the best ( Z Channel) and the worst (today’s flavors). I’ve also been a part of the industry and culture which is shifting the model and dynamics from the current media moguls to a new paradigm. Not necessarily better paradigm, not worse and wholly not figured out — that is evident.
Nonetheless, I believe my knee-jerk reaction (see below) to the article in the NY Times was based on this combination of factors. After all that has happened with media failures of recent years, tech disruption, and hyper-content-customization — I am quite shocked that little context to these factors has been paid any mind in the article.
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To the Editor:
Thanks to Joe Nocera for bringing the cable a
la carte question to light and presenting multiple viewpoints on the
subject. (Bland Menu if Cable Goes
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OMG, I so remember the Z Channel!!! That and Channels 11 and 13 for cartons on Saturday mornings. I remember how stumped my dad was by the new cable channel box — we went from turning the dial on the TV to pressing the single row of buttons (controller attached via cable) to pressing the triple row of buttons (still corded) in very short time — pressaging his lifelong struggle with new technology. Thankfully, he has finally figure out how to use a remote, if not text messaging.
Nice letter – I hope they pick it up, and the cable channels get a clue. KB and I are very unsatisfied with our DSL right now, but are not yet willing to invite the Demon Cable into our home.
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