How weird is the spat between the cable companies (prominently Comcast and Time-Warner) and the NFL over whether the NFL Network should be carried on basic cable rather than on a specialty sports tier?  So weird that it has a university professor talking like a libertarian free-market champion.

Now that’s weird.

Elon professor Connie Book (who teaches in Elon’s School of Communications), who I know & like and who is a recognized expert on the cable industry & digital television, said this in an article about the issue: ”I think the marketplace works best when we let businesses hash it out.  I’m not in favor of the government forcing cable companies to carry the NFL Network.”

I want the NFL Network, and I would watch the NFL Network if I had access to it.  But just like I hate paying for channels that I don’t watch, I don’t want other cable subscribers to pay for the NFL Network if they’re not going to watch it.  I think cable and satellite TV should offer ala carte subscriptions, and as I’ve said before I think the rise of Internet TV will force the cable and satellite providers to offer ala carte service sooner than later.

The cable companies and the NFL are spinning this issue like crazy, and I’m glad to hear an Elon voice speak wisdom on the matter.