Current Events > Nerds hate on cable. But streaming has basically gone the same way

(+) Yeah! (+)

And its eventually probably going to end up costing more.
---

darkprince45 posted...

And its eventually probably going to end up costing more.

In what way?
The biggest issue I see is balkanization, which has managed to correct itself eventually, thus far.

Questionmarktarius posted...

darkprince45 posted...

And its eventually probably going to end up costing more.

In what way?
The biggest issue I see is balkanization, which has managed to correct itself eventually, thus far.

How so?

You got Disney taking all their content and making their own. You got fx doing it, now DC is doing the same

Walmart announced they're teaming up with MS to launch their own now
---

Picking whatever I want to watch with no commercials >>>>>> Praying something good is on + 8 minutes of commercials per half hour of programming

Why people still try and compare the two is beyond me. Even if the pricing is the same (which it isn't, streaming is still far cheaper).

Now, if streaming does continue the way it's going with everyone and their mother having a paid streaming service, then yes, a case could be made. But as it is right now, there is no reason to choose cable over streaming.

But even then, I still only have to pick a few services and save loads of money, rather than paying a shitload for cable when I'd only use about ten of the literal thousands of channels. I mean I'm not fucking paying for CBS streaming to watch Big Bang Theory and Elementary.
---

"nerds". yeah man only nerds hate cable.

*rolls eyes*
---

My sling is going up to $25
---

darkprince45 posted...

How so?

Attempts to spin off "our own damn streaming service" have largely failed so far. BBC apparently couldn't do it, and Walmart has tired it two or three times already, and CBS can't even bait people into it with freakin' Star Trek.

About the only successes have been Hulu, which started as essentially heroinware; and Amazon, who markets it as perk for buying into the free-shipping club.

Imagine paying any media company to pump literal propaganda into your home.
---

Even if streaming has all the problems of cable it still has numerous advantages.

I honestly can't think of a single pro to cable.
---

Having my choice of streaming where I pay even 15 bucks a month for HUNDREDS of options is better than being forced to buy a cable package for 15 bucks with maybe 30 channels at most on it
---

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Having my choice of streaming where I pay even 15 bucks a month for HUNDREDS of options is better than being forced to buy a cable package for 15 bucks with maybe 30 channels at most on it

Where in the hell are you getting any cable package for fifteen bucks?

Blighboy posted...

I honestly can't think of a single pro to cable.

There literally aren't any.
---

Cable is getting fucked hard by the networks, who are charging massive rates for their shows, therefore forcing the providers to raise prices for customers, who respond by cord cutting. Just had a meeting about this today at work actually.

Ultimately streaming is the best option for all involved and once the older generation dies off we will see its benefits more
---

green butter posted...

Just had a meeting about this today at work actually.

ooooooo.
did we already get the summary, or is there more?

Cable is still fine and most channels got apps for streaming nowadays. Unless you have no competition and not switching every 1-2 years between providers for the intro prices, it only costs like $25 more for a bunch of channels.
---

If only Cable had true "A La Carte" where the customer can choose which channels they want instead of some dumb package deal.

Then they would have some chance of survival.
---

Questionmarktarius posted...

green butter posted...

Just had a meeting about this today at work actually.

ooooooo.
did we already get the summary, or is there more?

without revealing anything identifying or proprietary, the situation is basically that the networks know they're on their way out and just keep jacking up the prices for their channels to get whatever money they can while it's still there.

this ultimately hurts the smaller cable providers (aka MSOs, and there actually are a bunch) because they have to struggle to pay fees someone like Comcast can easily do, and this is on top of other fees (i.e. the city takes a cut of cable sales, known as franchising fees).

the biggest culprit of this is pro sports, lots of people want this and the networks charge a ton for it, because without the NFL a lot of ppl will not have any motivation for cable TV.

the future for media is all in streaming, wifi,etc. margins are huge and cable companies are investing a ton into them, even in ways you cant see (i.e. cable companies buying their own netflix servers so the users have faster connections). right now it's just a transitional phase.
---

KamenRiderBlade posted...

If only Cable had true "A La Carte" where the customer can choose which channels they want instead of some dumb package deal.

Then they would have some chance of survival.

If, I could pay $4 to get the exact one channel I actually want (I dunno, BBCA?), then that would be neat.
What would actually happen would be a $20-something "service fee" just for having the line attached, and then $4 for that individual channel.

I don't know if I'd even bother anyway, since BBCA was pretty much always Star Trek reruns around the time I cancelled my satellite.

Questionmarktarius posted...

KamenRiderBlade posted...

If only Cable had true "A La Carte" where the customer can choose which channels they want instead of some dumb package deal.

Then they would have some chance of survival.

If, I could pay $4 to get the exact one channel I actually want (I dunno, BBCA?), then that would be neat.
What would actually happen would be a $20-something "service fee" just for having the line attached, and then $4 for that individual channel.

a la carte will never ever happen in the current climate
---

green butter posted...

a la carte will never ever happen in the current climate

It would have to be "Legislated" into effect to see it happen realistically.
---

KamenRiderBlade posted...

green butter posted...

a la carte will never ever happen in the current climate

It would have to be "Legislated" into effect to see it happen realistically.

At this point, going a la carte will not miraculously save cable.

What we might actually see, is "basic cable" channels migrate to OTA.

KamenRiderBlade posted...

green butter posted...

a la carte will never ever happen in the current climate

It would have to be "Legislated" into effect to see it happen realistically.

well the problem really is that the MSOs are paying far out the ass to companies like Disney, who own a ton of networks and make the MSOs pick up every network as part of the deal.

so say you want a few cable channels but hate sports, it's not lucrative for the MSO to give you a cheap package deal when they're paying a shitload each quarter for stuff like ESPN. they have to spread that cost between all customers
---

lmfao people who pay for streaming services are like people who pay for porn
---