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Streaming and Cord-Cutting Take a Toll On the Pay-TV Industry
First time accepted submitter ClarkSchultz writes "Harris Interactive confirms that consumers streaming video content prefer the practice of binge viewing.The news isn't a big shocker to streaming concerns such as Netflix, Amazon, and Redbox Instant which have been mining viewer habits data, but it has an important read-through for broadcasters like CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC. Though ad rates could fall if more viewers wait until series are available for streaming, the payoffs for quality content are proving lush: 1) CBS says it paid $700K per episode for streaming rights to Under the Dome 2) AMC Networks has pointed to Netflix as contributing to the success of Breaking Bad after initial ratings were soft. If streaming wins, who loses? Front and center is the Pay-TV industry. A wave of merger rumors (Charter/Cox/Time Warner Cable/Comcast/Dish Network) indicates the industry knows the trend of subscriber losses to the cord-cutting phenomenon will continue. An online TV initiative from a tech heavyweight like Sony, Apple, Google, or Intel could also disrupt the industry enough to put cable and satellite companies into an even bigger tailspin."
With a good antenna, OTA is really nice these days. Unfortunately, most new tvs no longer include it, but ota also includes an episode guide.
Rather than spend money on a tivo, look into the homeworx or iview units. $40 for a digital tuner that acts as a pvr with your own USB drive.
I also use kat to catch other things. I'd pay for a similar service if it were available, but alas it is not, nor will it ever be.
1. Show your programs as scheduled.
2. After the show ends, post the episode for purchase within 24 hours.
3. After the season ends, post the entire season at a discount over individual episodes.
People want content and they want it right away. If you wait too long they will pirate it, or they'll just stop caring. Get the money while you can and stop worrying about breaking your business model, because TV is dying anyway. Adapt or die a quick death.
Nah, 4 tvs in one room, tuned to skinemax, spice, weather channel (don't ask) and playboy for an extended jack off session.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
There's billions at stake, created out of virtually nothing (replicating a digital signal). This supports thousands and thousands of rent-seeking monopolists. The holy grail of capitalism.
The RIAA/MPAA fights are just kindergarden name calling compared to the fight that's getting ready to be fought.
From society's perspective, we should be well into the fiber optic cabling of the entire planet. These people will fight that, because it obsoletes their model. Once you have fiber to your door - and I do, in small down Canada - it's over. It's just a matter of time and everyone knows it.
Google's fiber projects are just a small piece of what's to come. The dirty little secret is rolling these networks out isn't hard. It's all legislation and poltics stopping. The tech is ready.
Get some popcorn. It'll be fun. I haven't had a TV subscription in 7 or 8 years now.. saving me $100/mo or so. That's a lot of money, especially when it starts paying dividends.. but I sure don't own any broadcasters. :)
..don't panic
Is your contract up?
Don't be so sure. If you made any changes to your service during the initial contract period, you automatically get re-upped for another 2 years.
Free installation? Autmomatic 2 year contract. Added ESPN? Another 2 years. Eliminate something else? 2 more years.
And the customer service people do not tell you. And when you try to cancel, oh, there will be a $300- $400 cancellation fee.
It's not just them - they all do it.
That's why cable and satellite TV providers can all go to Hell for all I care.
cocksuckers
Not sure how well it will work with your provider, but I've gotten out of a lot of those bullshit fees and unauthorized contract extensions by demanding to be provided with a physical copy of the alleged updated agreement bearing my physical signature. No physical signature, no legal grounds, so fix it or I'll see you in court.
YMMV as always, but I've been amazed at how often that actually works.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
My problem is that the government allowed the telecom industry to charge the public to build the infrastructure to build high-speed and they've taken the money and done nothing with it. And the government hasn't taken the industries to task.
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
I'm just the opposite. I cut the cord for about two years and am now back to DirecTV. My wife and I were insanely bored with the Netflix/Amazon Prime offerings and I grew incredibly tired of them suddenly removing content we had on our lists. I was also sick of the sudden outages and after Netflix deleted my list for the 3rd time I had enough.
We can watch the new shows as they come on and can DVR them. I dont have to catch the shows I missed on TPB or Kickass.to and download them. I have access to everything I want AND I still have my Amazon Prime account should I actually want it (hint: we havent touched Prime since we got DirecTV back).
I'd love to cut the cord but the offerings out there are pathetic still.