It is a better deal for the cable companies when you have to pay for a "package" that includes the channels that you want to see and the channels that you do not want to see. Consumers Union agrees that you should have control over what enters your living room. You should be able to, if you choose, just subscribe to CNN and CSPAN or MTV and HGTV or whatever you like. In many cases, your family might still choose a package (or tier) if it is cheaper, but there should be an a la carte option where people can choose what they want to watch and pay for those channels.
