5 Signs That Show Live TV Finally Escaping the Cable’s Clutches

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The cost of cable television is constantly going up. Subscribers not only have to pay more for the cost of cable, they are also paying for television networks they do not watch. When cable was first introduced, it seemed like a big improvement over what people were used to. Instead of being limited to over the air television signals from a handful of channels, people could access hundreds of channels through the cable connection. The pictures were clearer and the choices of what to watch were abundant.

As cable bills have gone up, people are realizing that they are not getting the value that they feel they should. In this day of looking for ways to cut expenses in the home, getting rid of cable television may seem like a great option. Some may wonder if it is worth it and if there are many other people that are doing it. Cable companies are claiming that business is better than ever and that they still dominate the way that people are watching television. Here are 5 signs that more people are ditching their cable than ever before and how they are replacing cable television in the home.

  1. The Numbers Don’t Lie – Cable companies will talk about the numbers that show they are in 83% of the homes in the United States. They will show that millions of people are tuning into the shows when they air. The cable companies will also talk about the on demand services they offer and how popular they are. What they will not talk about is the growing number of people that are no longer subscribing to cable television. At one time, more than 90% of the people in the United States had a cable subscription. Over the last few years the number went down and that trend will continue. Within 2 years the number of people ditching their cable will increase 12.5%. It is becoming hard for cable television to ignore the fact that people do not need their services.

  2. Cable televisions are Offering Cheaper Options – Cables companies coming up with ways for their users to control the costs. They are offering smaller television packages that do not include the more expensive networks such as ESPN. They are also trying to get users to bundle services such as phone and internet to get a discount. Despite their efforts, the average cable bill is still going up and is over $100 in many markets.

  1. Kids are growing up without Cable – Adults are the ones that have the problem with cutting the cable cord. Kids are not. When you ask teenagers and younger children how they watch television, you will find that they do it on computer devices. They turn to online streaming services that allow them to watch what they want, when they want to watch it. Paid services such as Netflix and Hulu and free services such as YouTube have seen a big jump in the number of subscribers they have. The younger generation will not worry about cable television because they did not grow up with it.

  1. Growing Number of Options – There are plenty of ways for viewers to watch the television that they want. The growing use of mobile devices has prompted viewers to watch television even on the go. Streaming devices that include game systems such as the Xbox and PlayStation give users the access to a wide variety of television content online. Devices such as the Roku, Chromecast and Apple TV make it easy to enjoy live TV streams. These devices give people access to thousands of channels and broadcasts around the world. It is possible to watch everything from movies to live sports through the use of these devices and the internet. It is also easy

  1. Networks are escaping cable – Not only people are opting for internet TV over cable networks now-a-days, there are several networks which are offered on cable television, also offer standalone streaming options. It is possible to people to subscribe to networks such as CBS, ESPN and services such as Sling TV, YipTV that offer a good selection of channels online for a reasonable price. Other networks allow people to view what they are broadcasting from their website at no cost. They are all making sure that they give people without cable a way to watch what they offer.

What Does It All Mean

So if more people than ever before are getting rid of their cable and turning to other sources for their television entertainment, what does it mean for the future. There are a few things that can be considered for the future.

  • Cable companies will change – Cable companies will have to adapt or they will die. They will have to come up with ways for people to choose the channels they want to get and to control the cost of the cable bill. They will have to find ways to offer their programming online for a price. If cable companies do not do this, they will not survive.

  • Internet and computer speeds will grow – As more people access streaming content online, the need for speed and more internet bandwidth will increase. So will the price of internet services. Many of the companies that offer cable television also offer internet service. They will want to replace their lost revenues by charging more for the internet.

  • Legal problems will occur – One of the problems with streaming content is determining who has the rights to it. There are plenty of ways to get access to streaming content on the internet that may not be legal. At some point the companies that are supposed to be making money from their content will want more control over who has access to it.

While there are some that fear the number of people ditching cable companies, there are others that realize it is just an evolving trend. The key thing to realize is that people are still watching television. That is not going away in the future. All that is going to happen is the way they watch it will continue to change.

Have you gotten rid of your cable? Are you thinking about cutting the cord? Please share your thoughts and ideas about this topic with us.

References:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/23/the-kids-are-growing-up-why-its-time-for-cable-com.aspx

https://www.yiptv.com/live-tv/index.php/en/

http://www.examiner.com/article/why-millennials-are-willingly-cutting-the-cable-cords

Peter Davidson
Peter Davidson is a tech enthusiast who loves being a part of the ever growing web community. He is a network specialist currently residing in US. Follow him on Google Plus