Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
#126
DVD Talk God
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Then if I wanted AMC, why couldn't I just pay $1 to get that and nothing else? That's the thing that gets me- cable channels nowadays don't just show SOME commercials, they show a LOT of them, about as many as free over-the-air TV does (and sometimes even more I've heard.) Paying $1 per month with some commercials might be passable for some niche channels that could never survive being over the air, but it's just plain ridiculous what it costs for cable altogether and if I pay that much, I want NO commercials. (And when AMC was still American Movie Classics, they DIDN'T show commercials.)
If the amount per viewer is really that low, why not just raise the ad rates and let everyone watch for free, with the commercials being the payment? After all when someone pays to show a commercial, they want as many people to see it as possible. That's how it worked over the air for decades, I don't see anything so special about cable that I should have to pay for it AND watch commercials- and that's how I've felt for more than 30 years. It seems only in recent years that a lot more people are finally seeing it that way.
I eat often at places that have ESPN playing (and I've heard they get about $5 per month per cable subscriber.) Almost every time I look up at the TVs, they're in commercial break. Just where is that subscription money GOING?
If the amount per viewer is really that low, why not just raise the ad rates and let everyone watch for free, with the commercials being the payment? After all when someone pays to show a commercial, they want as many people to see it as possible. That's how it worked over the air for decades, I don't see anything so special about cable that I should have to pay for it AND watch commercials- and that's how I've felt for more than 30 years. It seems only in recent years that a lot more people are finally seeing it that way.
I eat often at places that have ESPN playing (and I've heard they get about $5 per month per cable subscriber.) Almost every time I look up at the TVs, they're in commercial break. Just where is that subscription money GOING?
Last edited by DJariya; 05-01-16 at 05:42 PM.
#127
DVD Talk God
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Most Millennial cord-cutters are also getting much of their content illegally when there are no compelling market alternatives. HBO says something like 25% of the audience for this season's Game of Thrones premiere were not actual HBO subscribers.
It's how they are watching network content.
It's how they are watching network content.
My sister and her husband make close to $100K per year combined and they live in a really nice house, but they are only minimal to moderate TV watchers and she doesn't feel the need to pay for TV. She would rather use the money for a vacation.
#128
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I wonder how accurate the cord cutters number is anyway. I know a few 'CCs' and every one of them share accounts to still get sports. It's amazing how easy and unfazed people are with stealing. I'd love to dump cable, I think the only two shows I watch on it are Walking Dead and Saul. Grabbing the BDs would be cheaper, but... sports. I just view my cable cost as my season ticket fees. Sure it'd be nice to use someone else's account to save $60 a month, but I'm just not down with that.
Like Djariya said, it's subsidized. EVERYONE pays that $1 not just those that watch AMC. The cost would be higher if only AMC viewers wanted to pay for just AMC.
Like Djariya said, it's subsidized. EVERYONE pays that $1 not just those that watch AMC. The cost would be higher if only AMC viewers wanted to pay for just AMC.
Last edited by Michael Corvin; 05-01-16 at 07:22 PM.
#129
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I wonder how accurate the cord cutters number is anyway. I know a few 'CCs' and every one of them share accounts to still get sports. It's amazing how easy and unfazed people are with stealing. I'd love to dump cable, I think the only two shows I watch on it are Walking Dead and Saul. Grabbing the BDs would be cheaper, but... sports. I just view my cable cost as my season ticket fees. Sure it'd be nice to use someone else's account to save $60 a month, but I'm just not down with that.
Like Djariya said, it's subsidized. EVERYONE pays that $1 not just those that watch AMC. The cost would be higher if only AMC viewers wanted to pay for just AMC.
Like Djariya said, it's subsidized. EVERYONE pays that $1 not just those that watch AMC. The cost would be higher if only AMC viewers wanted to pay for just AMC.
#130
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
My wife & I got rid of cable back in '09, couldn't see paying $60/mo. for 65 channels of shit + the annoying advertising. I decided back then to spend that money expanding our library of movies and TV shows on DVD & BD that we really wanted to see, minus the advertising. Couldn't be happier...
#131
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I cancelled about 4 or 5 years ago and I don't miss at all. Now I just watch Roku, Prime, and blu-rays. The only sport I care about is the NFL, and that is mostly on network tv.
#132
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I have downsized my cable package drastically, but it seems as everyone in the house is mainly watching Roku, Prime and Netflix. I see myself totally cutting the cord after my cable contract is up.
#133
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I dropped DirecTV after 10 years when we moved, put it on hold thinking I might start it back up. Nine months later and I rarely miss it at all. For about 7 months I just did Prime and Netflix (tried Sling but couldn't get into it). But now I've got Playstation Vue for a mere $29.99 a month and couldn't be happier--absolutely love it and it sure beats the heck out of $100/mo. for DirecTV I was paying (which went up constantly for the same exact service). Cord=cut.
#134
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I wonder how accurate the cord cutters number is anyway. I know a few 'CCs' and every one of them share accounts to still get sports. It's amazing how easy and unfazed people are with stealing. I'd love to dump cable, I think the only two shows I watch on it are Walking Dead and Saul. Grabbing the BDs would be cheaper, but... sports. I just view my cable cost as my season ticket fees. Sure it'd be nice to use someone else's account to save $60 a month, but I'm just not down with that.
#135
DVD Talk Legend
#136
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
#138
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I've had the cord cut for years. Got a great cable internet connection, but don't need cable TV at all. An HD antenna in the attic brings in nearly 80 local channels and I have a Tivo, so I catch dozens of shows daily. I just don't need it.
We grabbed Netflix for the first time in January because of a great deal, but honestly, we rarely watch it. We just have enough TV with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, WB and PBS. And with Amazon Prime and Vudu, we have our movies covered.
We grabbed Netflix for the first time in January because of a great deal, but honestly, we rarely watch it. We just have enough TV with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, WB and PBS. And with Amazon Prime and Vudu, we have our movies covered.
#139
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Vudu seems like the best way to watch current TV series (except those shot on video, as they're in the wrong frame rate) but it's quite expensive to do that for everything. Don't know who's paying $20+ for seasons of those home-renovation shows.
#140
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
This is the big hole that keeps me from cutting the cord. Until there is a legal way to stream my local sports teams without a TV provider required, it's a no go. I really wonder how much longer the local blackout rules will be in place for the official sports league streaming services. At some point I think the scales will tip but it may be many years away still.
I assume the major sports will eventually cave on local blackout rules when 50% of the potential viewing audience has left cable for streaming.
#141
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Baseball has their anti-trust exemption and most of their revenue now depends on local tv contracts. It's going to be many, many years before they give the local blackout up.
I assume the major sports will eventually cave on local blackout rules when 50% of the potential viewing audience has left cable for streaming.
I assume the major sports will eventually cave on local blackout rules when 50% of the potential viewing audience has left cable for streaming.
#142
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Still can't cut the cord because of sports here too. Commercials don't bother me at all, even in the age of DVRs. I'm just used to them.
#143
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
If there was ever a reason to cut cable tv, it's TBS showing "ELeague" right now (Counter Strike tournament). Seriously, they are showing people playing video games.
#144
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
*shrug* To each his own. I remember being excited to visit my grandparents because they got G4TV.
PewDiePie makes some kajillion dollars a year on Youtube making video games videos.
I personally find it amazing that people will pay for not one, not two, but multiple channels that focus on guys hitting balls or throwing balls and running around a big yard. There are probably more people watching the video game content who actually play those games as well, than there are people watching Move the Thing to the Other Thing who play those games. (Actually, honestly, people who are really into that content - my son and many of his friends, for example - are probably already watching it direct on Youtube or something like that.)
I'm truly not trying to be attacking, just some sarcastic phrasing to try to make a point.
Shoot - how many channels exist dedicated to selling one product every five minutes? (I know those help subsidize cable.)
Needless to say, "but - sports!" is not a justification for me, personally, to keep cable.
Funny thing - somebody (TWC, Dish, someone) was at Walmart trying to get business. He pounced on me, "what provider do you have?" I said "TWC for broadband, and that's it." That got rid of him right quick.
I will readily admit that trying to piecemeal together the same content you can get in one place, from multiple (legal) other options - is a major hassle and sometimes not any time savings. So I'm not against "having cable" philosophically (I am certainly against some of the cable company marketing and business practices), I'm just not their target customer.
PewDiePie makes some kajillion dollars a year on Youtube making video games videos.
I personally find it amazing that people will pay for not one, not two, but multiple channels that focus on guys hitting balls or throwing balls and running around a big yard. There are probably more people watching the video game content who actually play those games as well, than there are people watching Move the Thing to the Other Thing who play those games. (Actually, honestly, people who are really into that content - my son and many of his friends, for example - are probably already watching it direct on Youtube or something like that.)
I'm truly not trying to be attacking, just some sarcastic phrasing to try to make a point.
Shoot - how many channels exist dedicated to selling one product every five minutes? (I know those help subsidize cable.)
Needless to say, "but - sports!" is not a justification for me, personally, to keep cable.
Funny thing - somebody (TWC, Dish, someone) was at Walmart trying to get business. He pounced on me, "what provider do you have?" I said "TWC for broadband, and that's it." That got rid of him right quick.
I will readily admit that trying to piecemeal together the same content you can get in one place, from multiple (legal) other options - is a major hassle and sometimes not any time savings. So I'm not against "having cable" philosophically (I am certainly against some of the cable company marketing and business practices), I'm just not their target customer.
#145
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
This argument comes up from time to time and it's always the same, to each their own.
I'm a gamer, liked G4TV, and not much of a sports fan to begin with but agree eSports are awful.
I wound up getting cable back when GigaFiber came to my neighborhood. I don't use it much, but I am glad they make an app for Fire TV so I don't need a second box for the bedrooms.
I'm a gamer, liked G4TV, and not much of a sports fan to begin with but agree eSports are awful.
I wound up getting cable back when GigaFiber came to my neighborhood. I don't use it much, but I am glad they make an app for Fire TV so I don't need a second box for the bedrooms.
#146
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I don't personally require cable since I can find everything online (takes a bit of hoping around yet one can watch a lot of shows) however I know people that just like DVR and cable, everything in one location without having to sign up to five services along with extras etc...and with the internet being so much it is not that big of a deal to add on cable which it makes it easier for their viewing.
Plus they like sports.
Plus they like sports.
#147
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
I still like the idea of sitting on the sofa and watching cable. I keep it if I had the extra time/money to waste. However, if you need to save the money, cable should be the first to go.
I have Netflix and Amazon Prime. And I don't want to admit how many times I've rewatched all of 30 Rock and Arrested Development.
The main thing I miss is FX and AMC shows. For instance, I want to watch Preacher, but can't find it "legally" online (and don't like to hassle with the illegal sites). Maybe IFC (they stream some, but not all ... I mainly watch Comedy Bang Bang and Maron). There's also something less satisfying about watching it at my desk, instead of relaxing on a couch.
I have Netflix and Amazon Prime. And I don't want to admit how many times I've rewatched all of 30 Rock and Arrested Development.
The main thing I miss is FX and AMC shows. For instance, I want to watch Preacher, but can't find it "legally" online (and don't like to hassle with the illegal sites). Maybe IFC (they stream some, but not all ... I mainly watch Comedy Bang Bang and Maron). There's also something less satisfying about watching it at my desk, instead of relaxing on a couch.
#148
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
The main thing I miss is FX and AMC shows. For instance, I want to watch Preacher, but can't find it "legally" online (and don't like to hassle with the illegal sites). Maybe IFC (they stream some, but not all ... I mainly watch Comedy Bang Bang and Maron). There's also something less satisfying about watching it at my desk, instead of relaxing on a couch.
And speaking of Amazon, AMC and FX normally release all their shows (for purchase) the day after they air on Amazon, Vudu, itunes, etc. For instance, Preacher is $25 for the season. Not cheap, but still cheaper than carrying a cable sub for just a few shows. The added benefit of watching this way is there are no commercials and the screen is not cluttered with all the crap they throw onscreen on the cable channel.
#149
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
If there was ever a reason to cut cable tv, it's TBS showing "ELeague" right now (Counter Strike tournament). Seriously, they are showing people playing video games.
There's also something less satisfying about watching it at my desk, instead of relaxing on a couch.
#150
Re: Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,'
Which you used to be able to see on free TV in the 80s on a show called "Starcade"! And I watched it mainly just so I could see the arcade games at home.
I'm relaxing on my couch reading this thread RIGHT NOW on the big screen! Laptop computer + HDMI = big screen internet.
I'm relaxing on my couch reading this thread RIGHT NOW on the big screen! Laptop computer + HDMI = big screen internet.