Channel diversity in cable television

Abstract

Deregulation in the cable industry has been based largely on the assumption of existing diversity and competition, and on the promise of promoting diversity. While anecdotal evidence supports these conclusions, empirical confirmation of either the assumption or promise of diversity in cable has been lacking. This study examined levels of channel diversity for a sample of cable systems over time, finding that although there have been significant increases in channel diversity, there is still considerable room for improvement.