By this time next year television viewers will be able to pick and choose the channels they want and part of that choice will be a basic, bare-bones cable package with a maximum price of $25 per month.

The new policy was released today by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission following its lengthy “Let’s Talk” TV hearings last fall.

The new basic packages must include local channels in each service area, as well as channels currently on the CRTC’s mandatory distribution list such as public interest, educational and legislature channels where they’re available.

The CRTC says TV viewers will then be able to supplement this so-called “skinny basic” package with either individual channels available through a pick-and-pay model, or what it calls small, “reasonably-priced” bundled channel packages.

Customers who are happy with their current TV offerings won’t have to switch.