"It's only recently that cable original programming could be taken seriously, and I think now you're starting to see a lot of progress," he says.

Far more controversial are proposals to let the telephone companies provide cable programming.

In some cases, cable programming stirred community reaction and was followed by counterprogramming.

Along with their close relation, the niche drama, these shows make up an increasing percentage of cable programming.

"The fact is that if a consumer wants cable programming, he or she has only one source in all but a tiny handful of communities."

"It's one reason why cable programming has been so successful."

Enter the politicians, who until now have never displayed much interest in cable programming.

Enough to rank it as the fourteenth most watched weekly cable programming.

Not until 1975 was cable programming born, made possible by satellite communications.

The requirement for the second channel is intended to increase competition in cable programming.