CABLE TELEVISION COMPANIES MUST CONSIDER BOTH SELECTION AND PRICE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS

Cape Girardeau and Jackson's cable television company, Charter Communications, is looking to add 14 channels to its expanded basic cable service this summer.

The increase in the lineup has been long overdue, but it's too early to celebrate. Charter has announced the new channels will come with a price increase. Cable customers will no doubt weigh the new cost against smaller, dish satellite programs, which are approaching cable costs.

The local cable system serves about 14,500 households in Cape Girardeau and Jackson; about 95 percent of them have extended basic.

The city's Cable Television Advisory Board wants the City Council to survey customers regarding service, programming and the public access channel. The survey would ask customers what three channels they would like to see added to the existing lineup and what three existing channels they want removed.

As prices continue to rise, cable television is going to have to prove its worth to customers. At $29.60 a year for basic and expanded basic, cable already costs more than $355 a year. The cable company is going to have to stay competitive in both price and selection to fight off competition from the satellite dish networks.