Summary: Ever stared at your Verizon Fios bill and wondered if you could trim the fat by ditching those channels you never watch? This article walks you through the real financial implications of Verizon cable’s channel customization options. Using personal experience, real forum discussions, and financial breakdowns, I’ll show what’s possible, what’s wishful thinking, and how international standards around “verified trade” can reveal why cable pricing works the way it does.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably had that moment—remote in hand, scrolling through endless channels you never watch, and wondering: Why am I paying for all this? The dream is simple: only pay for the channels you actually use. But does Verizon Fios (what most people mean by “Verizon cable”) actually let you do this? And more importantly, from a financial perspective, does it save you any money? I’ve gone through the sign-up process, talked to reps, and even tried to hack together a custom package. Here’s the real deal.
Let’s get hands-on. First, I logged into my Verizon Fios account and went to the “Change Plan” section. There, three main options pop up:
Here’s what tripped me up: Even with “Your Fios TV,” when you pick your five favorite channels, you still get a bundle of over 125 channels. The five you pick just influence the mix—you can’t truly cherry-pick only what you want. I found this out the hard way after re-selecting my channels and realizing my bill barely changed.
See Verizon’s own forum where dozens of users hit this wall.Here’s the crux: True “à la carte” channel selection is not available. Verizon’s customization is more a marketing move than a real financial lever. You pay for small, medium, or large bundles, and the “customization” just affects a handful of included channels.
So how does this stack up financially? I ran the numbers, comparing Verizon’s “Your Fios TV” to streaming alternatives:
Financially, Verizon’s pricing is competitive, but the “customization” doesn’t actually let you drop unwanted channels and save. The bundle model persists because of how channel licensing deals are structured with networks—a point explained in detail in FCC filings.
Here’s where it gets interesting. The reason you can’t just pick ESPN, CNN, and HBO and pay only for those is largely financial and regulatory. Networks like Disney (which owns ESPN) require cable providers to bundle channels together in their contracts. If Verizon offered ESPN “a la carte,” they could face huge penalties or lose access to the channel entirely.
This isn’t just a Verizon thing—it’s a global standard for cable and satellite providers, rooted in market regulation and international trade agreements.
You might be surprised, but the way TV channels are bundled is influenced by the same principles that shape “verified trade” in cross-border finance. Here’s a quick table comparing how different countries regulate bundled services and trade verification:
| Country | Bundle Regulation Law | Legal Basis | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Communications Act (47 U.S.C. § 303) | FCC Regulations, Cable Act | FCC |
| Canada | Broadcasting Act C-11 | CRTC Mandates | CRTC |
| EU | Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) | EU Regulations | European Commission |
In the US, the FCC has explored à la carte requirements, but pushback from networks and the economics of content licensing have kept bundles the norm. Canada, interestingly, now requires providers to offer “pick-and-pay” channels (source: CRTC), but most consumers still end up with mini-bundles due to contractual restrictions.
Let’s look at a real case. In 2016, Canada’s CRTC forced cable providers to offer “skinny” basic packages plus à la carte add-ons. I tried this with Rogers (Canada’s Verizon equivalent). The result: Picking six channels cost more than just buying the “Popular” bundle! Why? Because the per-channel price was much higher—providers balance revenue by charging more for single channels. See the lively debates on DSLReports forum where users run their own calculations.
Verizon’s system is similar. Even if true à la carte existed, the per-channel cost would likely be so high that the bundle would still make financial sense for most.
“The economics of cable are designed to maximize revenue for both providers and networks. Bundles allow for cross-subsidization—popular channels carry the less popular ones. If everyone picked only ESPN and HBO, the rest of the industry would collapse, or prices would skyrocket.”
—Dr. Lisa McCarthy, Media Economics Professor, Columbia University (source)
After hours spent fiddling with Verizon’s site, calling customer support, and reading way too many forum threads, my conclusion is simple: Verizon doesn’t let you pick and pay for only the channels you want. Financially, you’re locked into bundles, and the “customization” is just a small tweak, not a real money-saver.
That said, competition from streaming and regulatory pressure in countries like Canada are nudging the industry toward more choice. But for now, if you want to save on Verizon, your best bet is to go for the smallest bundle, ditch the set-top box rental, and supplement with streaming.
In short, Verizon’s channel customization is more illusion than reality—at least from a financial perspective. You can influence your bundle, but you can’t truly unbundle and pay only for what you use. This is shaped by a combination of financial incentives, regulatory standards, and industry economics, as seen in both US and international markets.
For those determined to cut costs, my advice is: weight your actual channel needs, compare Verizon’s smallest bundles to streaming options, and check for any promotions or bundled internet discounts. And if you really want à la carte, keep an eye on regulatory shifts—Canada’s experience shows change is possible, but don’t be surprised if it still doesn’t save you much.
If you want to dive deeper, check out the FCC’s official page on à la carte cable and the CRTC’s Canadian pick-and-pay policy—they’re eye-opening reads on why your cable bill looks the way it does.