Is subscription TV dying?

Yozora

Yozora

Moderator
So it occurred to me when reading a book written in the 90s that no one I know under 35 or so has cable or satellite tv.(including me) This would likely have been unthinkable in the 90s. I searched around and there are all sorts of articles talking about the decline of cable & satellite TV. Here's a quote from one of the latest ones:

Source

Does this sound similar or different to how things are where you live? Are most people you know "cord-cutters" or do they have a cable or satellite tv subscription. Why do you think the rate of subscription TV subscribers is lessening?
 
Genesis

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
We have satellite TV in the UAE called Nilesat. Not all of the programs are free though. So people subscribe to "cable" of sorts, meaning a service where a selection of the programmes that have been plugged in the satellite TV are freed up with subscription. One can't get Nettflix around here. Proxy is not allowed, although a few people risk it of course.

Personally I've never used the "cable" option for paying TV. I work my way through the free channels on Nilesat, mostly MBC and some of the news programs. I've been doing that for years, saving some of the TV to a timer recorder for years, until this year when the timer recorder conked in and I had to have it fixed. Then for the first time I learned that my Satellite receiver can play movies on a USB hard disk through my TV. I hit the mother lode, as I learned to find old movies on YouTube and have been saving to a hard disk and playing them through my receiver and TV. I was very happy when I got my timer recorder video machine back, but very rarely use it now.

So I'd say except for the news programs (the free ones of course), I could probably do without TV, and I very rarely watch TV now. I watch movies. And now and then - like VERY occasionally check the news.

I'm hoping when I move one day and settle into a new place to be able to use my TV as a computer. Like while I'm having my dinner check the Forum posts with remote control and a keyboard. I know some people are already doing it, but I still have to catch up with it as I don't have wireless in my house. I use a fire optic direct line to my computer, as for me that is safer. When I move one day I'll probably get both. Line to a computer for more secure internet when there is a need for it, and wireless for also secure, but maybe less secure.
 
Yozora

Yozora

Moderator
Wow, It's great that you discovered the movies on USB trick! One of the reasons I stopped subscribing to TV was because there's so much awesome content you can find on the internet TV just started to seem kind of redundant.
Using your TV as a computer seems pretty neat too! There are "smart TVs" here which can connect to the internet via wi-fi, but they're expensive and according to reports it looks like some of them spy on people...
 
Genesis

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
We have very few providers in South Africa (I'm here temporarily I hope). There is one huge provider of channels that seems to be doing a really great job with having a number of tailor made packages on offer. Quite expensive for full subscription, but what's nice is that it's caught up with new trends, and is now allowing the subscription to be used on four devices per subscription. I'm sharing a subscription in that way.
 
F

fernandos33

New member
that's for sure with youtube and netflix he old way of subscription is going to die FOR SURE. but its not dead and will not die until a long time cause think about it netflix IS a subscription TV it just isn't the old model we were used to and youtube is slowly going paid (really slowly)
 
D

Danimals

New member
I had cable but its so much cheaper to just have Netflix and Hulu then to have cable. You could spend $100 or more a month on cable or spend are $20 for netlix and Hulu. It just doesnt' really add up to me.
 
A

anix

New member
Animax I'm sure some of you guys may have heard of it which used to broadcast anime in our country it was the only channel of that genre and apparently Sony Pictures Networks which used to operate the channel removed it for no reason and replaced it with a kids channel named Sony Yay! which consists of shows targeted for kids aged 8-14... and even worst most of the shows are created by local Indian animators. I know I shouldn't say this but those animations and dubbing are nothing but pure crap. And the worst they didn't stopped there they also took over Disney Channel India
 
J

Johnluke

New member
Let's be honest, not even the person who wrote this thought this would last. If TV just went up and disappeared then many people, I don't care how long ago this was, would do anything to get it back. It doesn't matter how many years in a row they lose people, because other companies get those customers to add to their subscriber list. In conclusion this isn't possible just because of how well deeply rooted TV has been since it was first invented.
 
Genesis

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
Johnluke said:
Let's be honest, not even the person who wrote this thought this would last. If TV just went up and disappeared then many people, I don't care how long ago this was, would do anything to get it back. It doesn't matter how many years in a row they lose people, because other companies get those customers to add to their subscriber list. In conclusion this isn't possible just because of how well deeply rooted TV has been since it was first invented.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Take for example people going back to record players. They are and probably will always be deeply rooted for quality sound. Never say never again.
 
M

Meeplord

Guest
Yes, in my opinion it is. You can literally now get two thousand channels for the price of one hundred. That is just showing company's need to adapt to the lazy needs of society.
 
GndZ3r0

GndZ3r0

New member
This is why they want to control the internet and charge you extra for using streaming services.

They know people are getting smart and wouldn't put up with their b/s tv bundle plans.

These cable tv guys will end up just like Blockbuster, all because they couldn't keep up with the technology.

SlingTV is an online cable shows provider, and you pay less than regular cable. You choose what tv channels are included in your plan, you're pretty much in control. They have 7 day trial. check it out its awesome service.

Cable internet is outdated anyways, unless its the only monopolize isp in your area, Fiber is the way to go, 1,000 Mbps download 1,000 Mbps upload speeds are the future.
 
J

Julian98

New member
Hi there from Germany,
here actually quite everyone I know is using satellite TV, and only those who are not able/allowed (e.g. from their hose-landlord) to set up a satellite dish are falling back to cable TV. Since the last years you now can also receive TV via terrestrial, but only quite a few channels.
The main default satellite provider ASTRA 19.2 E offers all channels you ACTUALLY NEED for free. Only several HD-channels or SKY has to be purchased additional. But I hardly know any person who currently pays for SKY, as those who want more movies and series buy an online subscription as Netflix & co.
Never the less HD-channel packages are bought quite commonly e.g. when buying a TV in a local electronics store.
So to answer the main question: I my opinion subscription TV IS definitely dying, if the providers don't make a fast change in their available offers/packages
 
J

jfiver

New member
Well it's all online. TV in general, the normal TV channels suck. The content management system sucks too. It needs to be more flexible. At the moment all you do is channel flick and then you find out you missed something that you may have even been remotely interested in but you can't watch that show. Where as online services like netflix do accommodate that feature. If TV channels got smarter, we wouldn't be kicking it to one side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.