LyleLanley
Banned
I think often times gaffers have a hard time realizing that they and their friends may not resemble the entire market.
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The myth of cord-cutting
- Thread starter LyleLanley
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Cord-nevers are the actual threat. Baby boomers are too set in their ways to get rid of cable TV, but those who move out and never get it for themselves (me and all my friends) are the future.
That said, traditional cable delivery will be over soon anyway-- the real question is whether internet-delivered live TV plans will take hold. We will see this play out in the next few years, and I predict that they will have a place.
This made me laugh. Most researchers label Millenials as 1980 to 1994/95. Somehow, every year, that becomes 18-35 again even though the real age range now is 20-36.
I think there are many reasons for people not subscribing to traditional cable, but definitely the biggest threat are those still college-aged who have never, and possibly will never, subscribe.
On the other end, I do think there are not insignificant number of elderly people who are cancelling due to cost and lack of content. You'll notice all these new streaming services have Turner Classic Movies, or at least the option for it.
I think we're nowhere near cable ending. Cable will be around for decades. What we are near is a contraction in the number of channels offered. With these new 'skinny bundles', a lot of channels are going to get canned due to low viewership. We're trending back to how cable was in the late 80s/early 90s.
ironbearxl
Neo Member
I cut the cord 2 years ago. My Fios bill was close to $180 a month, so I did a test. I unplugged the cable box for a month to see if I would miss it, and I didn't.
Now I'm paying $42.99 a month for internet 50/50, and I bought a ooma last year for the landline; $100 for the hardware and $4 a month for the service (had vonage before but it was more expensive for less features).
For tv/movies I built an htpc from my old pc and put Steam big picture as the frontend, and Kodi which launches from within Steam. I setup Kodi with the mimic skin, I think it's the most rewarding skin vs least time consuming to configure. The twitch.tv addon is top quality and there is an official tablotv app now which works well.
I don't think I could go back to premium cable tv after cutting the cord, the minute I see a commercial now I stop watching tv altogether.
Now I'm paying $42.99 a month for internet 50/50, and I bought a ooma last year for the landline; $100 for the hardware and $4 a month for the service (had vonage before but it was more expensive for less features).
For tv/movies I built an htpc from my old pc and put Steam big picture as the frontend, and Kodi which launches from within Steam. I setup Kodi with the mimic skin, I think it's the most rewarding skin vs least time consuming to configure. The twitch.tv addon is top quality and there is an official tablotv app now which works well.
I don't think I could go back to premium cable tv after cutting the cord, the minute I see a commercial now I stop watching tv altogether.
Sling just updated their package offerings.
Stole from Reddit:
Don't be tricked by the Orange+Blue page. It's garbage. You're paying $15 more for 4 channels (ESPN, ESPN2, Disney, Freeform).
- $20 Orange (ABC/Disney package)
- $25 Blue (Fox/Universal package-was Beta)
- $40 Orange+Blue
Stole from Reddit:
Don't be tricked by the Orange+Blue page. It's garbage. You're paying $15 more for 4 channels (ESPN, ESPN2, Disney, Freeform).
ghostwritingduck
Member
Comcast likely throws this all off. It is cheaper for me to have basic stations and high speed internet than internet by itself. Technically, I count as paying for cable, but this cost is subsidized by a discount on my internet that results in a lower bill.
Vue still seems like a way better deal and they just did a serious update to it not long ago. All they need is those last few major channels like the CW for their base package and they'll be rock solid.
Violence Jack
Member
Wait a minute. If I switched over the to Fox, Fx, Comedy Central package when it was announced, are they just going to add the NBC channels and charge me an extra $5 a month for them? If that's the case, I might just go back to the ESPN package cause I don't watch NBC, USA, or SyFy
Clockwork5
Member
I don't have TV and I have free internet from Google.
/middle finger
/middle finger
Nope, rate doesn't change unless you cancel/change packages.
superdeluxe
Member
Vue is still a much better deal, until Sling can get a DVR system, it is a non-starter for us.
For those interested, I made an OT with a lot of the info here compiled into the OP.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1241074
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1241074
ironbearxl
Neo Member
You sure? What about when you throw in all the different taxes and box rental fee?
JonnyDBrit
Member
You know, I'm actually kinda curious how this trend might break down by country.
My family still pays the TV license for freeview channels as well as various services thanks for Virgin Media, and I know I'm going to do at least the former when I move out - had a joint arrangement with my student flatmates for the last year to share the cost of a TV license, and I definitely used it a bunch. Definitely a fan of catching up on the news during dinner, and not having to rely on streaming consistency for sports events (partly because I may be watching other stuff). Maybe I just have the spirit of an old man though.
My family still pays the TV license for freeview channels as well as various services thanks for Virgin Media, and I know I'm going to do at least the former when I move out - had a joint arrangement with my student flatmates for the last year to share the cost of a TV license, and I definitely used it a bunch. Definitely a fan of catching up on the news during dinner, and not having to rely on streaming consistency for sports events (partly because I may be watching other stuff). Maybe I just have the spirit of an old man though.
I took a step today to cutting the cord –
I can’t quite cut the cord, as I am in a contract with DISH and I don’t want to pay the $200.00 up-front to get out. So I dropped to their lowest package, $19.99, which comes to $40 after $10 credit. Still too much, but better than the $87.00 I was paying. It gives me 40 channels. CBS, NBC, FOX, Food network and some other crappy channels. So with football season coming up, I can still watch NFL games on HD on my TV. If it’s a MNF game I want to watch, I’ll figure something out.
We have Netflix and Hulu, so I am going to get a Roku player for my daughters room and maybe get one for my bedroom. I don’t think I need one for the living room, as I can just use PS4 to watch Hulu and Netflix is built into the DISH box. My son mostly watches shows on NetFlix and Hulu, so I am set there.
I thought about paying the charge to break my contract with DISH, and I still may, but seeing you can only use one subscription to things like Sling TV at a time, kind of made me change my plans.
Future plan is probably have ROKU in our bedroom, my daughters room and the living room. Get Sling for them and call it a day. Although PS VUE is temping.
Any tips you guys can give or suggest to make this cord cutting experience better?
I can’t quite cut the cord, as I am in a contract with DISH and I don’t want to pay the $200.00 up-front to get out. So I dropped to their lowest package, $19.99, which comes to $40 after $10 credit. Still too much, but better than the $87.00 I was paying. It gives me 40 channels. CBS, NBC, FOX, Food network and some other crappy channels. So with football season coming up, I can still watch NFL games on HD on my TV. If it’s a MNF game I want to watch, I’ll figure something out.
We have Netflix and Hulu, so I am going to get a Roku player for my daughters room and maybe get one for my bedroom. I don’t think I need one for the living room, as I can just use PS4 to watch Hulu and Netflix is built into the DISH box. My son mostly watches shows on NetFlix and Hulu, so I am set there.
I thought about paying the charge to break my contract with DISH, and I still may, but seeing you can only use one subscription to things like Sling TV at a time, kind of made me change my plans.
Future plan is probably have ROKU in our bedroom, my daughters room and the living room. Get Sling for them and call it a day. Although PS VUE is temping.
Any tips you guys can give or suggest to make this cord cutting experience better?
Tony Iron Man Stark
Banned
Contracts are so frustrating to deal with. Thankfully there's competition at my area so there's decent speeds, 200mpbs for $35 a month.
I also cancelled my TV subscription earlier his year so I can afford 4 Berry Smoothies.
since the dawn of man.
Admiral Woofington
Member
vue is also much more expensive to the point I might as well package my cable with my internet.
I cut the cord back at the end of April when my Comcast/Xfinity 2 year contract was up. After getting the runaround on the phone, I simply walked down to their new store that just opened in February. I was paying $190 a month by the end of year 2 for 150 'BLAST' internet and the X1 digital cable.
My wife says "What if we just got internet only?". I rolled my eyes because when we first moved into this house I had said this and she demanded TV.
But whatever...I was thrilled. I never watch TV and luckily don't give a shit about sports these days. So I go down with the equipment, said "I want internet only" and shockingly this great young guy didn't beat around the bush and try to sell me on any BS. No problem..."150 blast internet only...$82 a month after tax". Done deal.
We have the Shield TV plugged into the television and it has been wonderful.
Our 9 year old watches YouTube most of the time anyway, and my wife signed up for Hulu. That and along with Plex and an HD antenna and it has been gold..we love it and realized we never really missed much anyway.
Highly recommended
My wife says "What if we just got internet only?". I rolled my eyes because when we first moved into this house I had said this and she demanded TV.
But whatever...I was thrilled. I never watch TV and luckily don't give a shit about sports these days. So I go down with the equipment, said "I want internet only" and shockingly this great young guy didn't beat around the bush and try to sell me on any BS. No problem..."150 blast internet only...$82 a month after tax". Done deal.
We have the Shield TV plugged into the television and it has been wonderful.
Our 9 year old watches YouTube most of the time anyway, and my wife signed up for Hulu. That and along with Plex and an HD antenna and it has been gold..we love it and realized we never really missed much anyway.
Highly recommended
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