The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that cable provider Eastlink rolled out a unique plan Tuesday that allows customers more flexibility in selecting what TV channels they want to watch. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says that the Halifax-based company says people will be able to customize their packages by swapping out channels they do not want from about 150 channels in the TV Channel Exchange. Eastlink chief executive officer Lee Bragg said customers will not be able to switch out the same channels on a nightly basis and must have an existing package of channels over and above the so-called skinny basic, which includes about 30 channels. The new system will be for TV customers who already have 50 or more channels in their Essentials Plus or Maestro bundle. Customers have complained for years that they are tied to costly cable packages that do not suit their viewing tastes or allow room to choose the channels they want. When asked why it has taken so long for cable companies to offer this kind of flexibility, Eastlink marketing chief Dan MacDonald said digital technology made it technically possible a while ago but strict contracts with content providers prevented such a move.