Cut Cable TV or Not?

閱讀暖身
台灣電視即將邁入全面數位化的時刻；遠在太平洋另一端的美國人發現想看的電視頻道也沒幾台，而不想看的頻道卻為數眾多。其實多數人很想剪掉有線電視線路，並轉向可以彈性收看的網路付費電視，以擺脫日漸高昂的電視帳單。

進入本文前，請先想想以下單字：
(A)空中傳輸

(B)線路

(C)立法的

Rating company Nielsen indicates that 5.1 million households are getting (A) over-the-air reception and supplementing it with Internet-delivered pay programming. That trend is up by roughly 25 percent.

市調機構尼爾森調查發現 510 萬戶正使用空中傳輸技術收看網路付費節目，而收視戶使用網路付費趨勢約增加25%。

Lots of viewers want to cut the (B) cord from pay TV. Nielsen's report says the typical viewer only watches about 17 channels (1) on a regular basis.

不少收看戶想剪掉付費有線電視線路。尼爾森報告指出，許多收視戶定期收看的頻道約略只有17台。

Cable and satellite companies should resolve to (2) throw their weight behind urging lawmakers to forbid the bundling of channels by broadcasters. Broadcasters argue that such packages create more programming diversity and allow (3) niche channels an opportunity to find an audience.

有線及衛星電視公司可能需要考慮遊說議員，讓他們考慮禁止系統商將多個頻道包裹賣給收視戶。雖然系統商認為，這樣的包裹出售方式會創造節目多樣性，並且也給小頻道找到收視群的機會。

Cable and satellite companies have indicated that they would be open to allowing people to subscribe only to the channels they want. However broadcasters refuse to back the idea.

有線及衛星電視公司雖然宣示願意公開讓收視戶選擇他們需要的頻道，但系統商不支持這樣的構想。

Obviously most viewers are willing to watch unbundled TV programing, and they hope to decrease their bill in the process. That being said, the average cable bill is still rising. NPD Group estimates that the average cable bill will reach $123 a month by 2015 and rise to $200 by 2020.

顯然電視收視戶只願意看他們真正想看的節目，並且希望能夠降低費用。然而電視帳單的金額卻持續上升，NPD預估2015年平均收費會達到每月 123 美元，而 2020 年則可能漲到 200 美元。

Broadcasters apparently have no incentive to (4) budge. Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus believes broadcasters make too much money under the current system. "It is time for a (C) legislative fix, and cable and satellite companies should be at the forefront of that effort."

系統商並沒有讓步的理由。洛杉磯時報專欄作家 David Lazarus 認為美國系統商在這樣的體系下賺了太多錢。「不過現在是時候要求立法修正，而有線及衛星電視公司應該要站在最前線。」

口語詞彙
(1) on a regular basis定期地
等於 regularly。除了「定期地」，也有「例行」、「規律地」、「穩定地」的意思
Ex: I need a high income on a regular basis to support my family. 我需要一份穩定的高收入來支撐我的家庭。

(2) throw somebody's weight behind something
俚語，運用影響力去支持某項事物。throw 有「施加」的意思
Ex: If we can throw our weight behind our boss, maybe the plan will be put into practice. 如果我們支持長官，或許這項計畫就能付諸實行。

(3) niche 小的
niche 源自法語，有「小區隔」、「空間」的意思。常見用法是 niche market「利基市場」。
Ex: He needs to carve his niche at the company or he'll be laid off. 他必須自立尋求在公司的發展空間，不然他就要被解雇

(4) budge 改變意見
動詞，改變意見、讓步、推動、微移等意思。名詞時則是毛皮裝飾。
Ex: No one can budge me from my opinion. 沒有人可以改變我的意見。

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