Cable companies may be finally hearing cord cutters’ footsteps

[onehandle]

Cable companies have shown no signs of concern over cord cutting so far and it’s easy to see why: Even customers who ditch their home video services will keep paying cable companies for broadband access. But TechHive notes that the cord cutting trend might finally be showing up on cable companies’ radars now that it’s growing to a more substantial size. A quick rundown of the numbers: Comcast has added 917,000 broadband subscribers this year but has lost 348,000 pay TV customers; Charter added 86,000 broadband subscribers but lost 27,000 pay TV subscribers; and Time Warner Cable saw its broadband subscriber numbers rise by 1.7% while seeing its pay TV subscriber numbers shrink by 6%.

Given these numbers, it’s not too surprising that we’re starting to see cable companies become a little more flexible with their bundling plans — both Comcast and Time Warner Cable have in the last month offered cheaper TV packages that combine basic channels with HBO in a bid to keep more users hooked on pay TV services and away from going exclusively with Netflix and Hulu. Cable companies and other ISPs hate the thought of being relegated to being “dumb pipes” that provide little value added so we might see even more deals like this in the future if more pay TV subscribers keep ditching their service to go with broadband only.

http://news.yahoo.com/cable-companies-may-finally-hearing-cord-cutters-footsteps-040017686.html

I've been getting 'free' TV for years. When you talk to your cable company, tell them you want 'Internet Only.' You will literally hear the operator switch to their 'do whatever it takes to keep this customer's eyeballs on cable TV you can' script.

You can get Internet+TV for the price of Internet only, or less.

Last time I locked in Internet+TV+Phone for two years, cheap with FiOS.

Most of our watching is through our Apple TV, but if they want to give us free TV...

[musiclawyer]

1. I still think Netflix and Apple will change the game

Once they sign the right deals with live sports content providers and a few key broadcasters it's over it's game over

[pstokely]

33. Netflix isn't interested in sports, and the owners like the current status quo

nt

[The Blue Flower]

2. I have antenna + Roku

I watch Rachel, Colbert, and Stewart online. That pretty much covers everything I want to see.

[bahrbearian]

4. I'm OTH + Roku, where can I find Rachel?

[SolutionisSolidarity]

5. Podcast.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28981762/#.UqIca_RDvt8

[Holly_Hobby]

6. We have antenna, Roku & Chromecast

We don't miss cable or the $120 bill every month

[Kaleva]

8. How well does Chromecast work for you?

I saw the ads here for Chromecast and was wondering if that would work for me. I'm house sitting my ex wife's home (we still both own it together though) while she's out of the area working. There is WiFi here and a tv in the spare bedroom, master bedroom and living room. Could I get Chromecast for all 3 tvs working off 1 WiFi box?

[Holly_Hobby]

11. I love Chromecast

I have it plugged into our big (smart) TV, as our other tv's aren't smart. I would suggest you go to Amazon and pose the question there. They were very helpful to me and I was able to decide that it would work for us and purchased it.

Any web page and/or video can be cast to your tv.

Here's where to ask questions:

http://www.amazon.com/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00DR0PDNE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386361724&sr=8-2&keywords=google+chromecast

Scroll about half way down and you'll see Customer Questions and Answers. There is a text box directly below the questions where you can ask, or you can browse the questions that have already been answered.

[Kaleva]

12. Thanks!

[Kaleva]

17. I went to Amazon and remembered I had spare HDMI cables....

after reading many of the comments. So I hooked up my laptop to the flat screen tv in the master bedroom and got that to work properly after watching a couple of how to videos on youtube. I then went to the Netflix website to pick out a movie (I subscribe to Netflix) which I'll watch tonight. Right now as I type this on my laptop, the big flat screen tv is the monitor.

What I have now on hand may be enough for me but I'll keep checking into Chromecast. Noted that there are several videos about Chromecast on youtube and I'll watch them to see if getting that would make things simpler or better.

Edit: After some more research, I now have audio from the internet playing on the tv. Much better sound then what the laptop can produce. Have another tab open and am listening to "Gangsta's Paradise" while I write this.

[Holly_Hobby]

18. Excellent!

The comments on Amazon have helped me make many decisions on electronics. I believe I watched Chomecast youtube vids too.

[L0oniX]

3. Over the air digital 30+ channels here and Netfix. Who needs sat or cable tv.

[MindPilot]

7. So far Cox hasn't heard shit.

I'm about to be one of those who goes ISP only. I'm really tired of my cable bill being higher every month, constantly having to be on some bundled promotion to keep the bill at a reasonable level, and having to pay for half a dozen packages just to get the handful of channels I actually watch.

Just this morning I ordered a Roku box and an HD antenna. About to say bye-bye to cable TV. It is a ripoff and I refuse to pay $200 a month for the privilege of watching commercials.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. You will like the new world which opens up when you cut the cord, I bet.

Cutting the cord has worked out very well for us. ( 2 adults, no kids)
Do not miss tv in the least.
In fact, when I run across one playing at someone's house, it strikes me as strange.

I hate commercials.
I hate the loud blaring sound of the tv.
I did not like having to wait for the tv schedule to tell me when I could watch anything, and then having it interrupted every 8-10 minutes by commercials.
and I really really like the savings every month that used to go to TV.
Spent some of the money on better puter flat screen monitors.

Mr. dixie grew up rather attached to tv, but he was willing to "try" a 6 month break from the tube.
A year later he admitted he does not miss it all, is too busy finding stuff on the web to watch and listen to.
So we donated our 2 rather old sets to charity.

Any important news is going to be broadcast on the web by any number of tv stations, anyhow..

[tammywammy]

9. I'm going to make the cut.

I ordered an antenna. A friend has a Rouk that's a couple years old that she's going to let me borrow. They have Apple TV, which they prefer (all Apple house). I just want to make sure I still get my local stations okay, but then I'm going to cut cable. I will also add a Hulu Plus subscription, but I already have NetFlix and Amazon Prime. I've been reading to reviews on the Roku 3 and they've been very positive.

[WinkyDink]

10. Not with RCN, you won't.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. Yet, Comcast just started encrypting all their ClearQAM channels, you know...

for the 'good of the consumer'.

Meaning digital cable tuners that used to legitimately receive HD locals and basic, no longer do, and are scrap metal. Thanks for that.

[Berlum]

14. Cut the cord and Starve the Propaganda Beast (R)

Stop sending monthly checks to the Corporate Media (R). Save your brainpan. Stave the Republicon Propaganda Beast.

[cbdo2007]

15. It was $15 cheaper per month to get internet + cable rather than just internet.

Signed up with AT&T Uverse a few months ago and it was cheaper to get internet + cable rather than just internet by itself. We literally never watch the cable but it's there if we ever wanted to

[uponit7771]

27. +1

[JCMach1]

16. VOD is the future... the sooner the cable channels realize this,,,

Big Cable has been screwing the pooch for years with their high fees...

[onenote]

24. Do you think that the networks that produce the programming are just going to give it away?

VOD may be the future. But it won't be a cheap future.

[JCMach1]

25. The model is changing... Netflix and Amazon are already producing high-quality shows

Cable at the end of the day is just a bunch of thing you pay for, but don't watch... that's going to change.

[onenote]

28. True. But the creators of programming aren't going to give it away

The four major broadcast networks are on pace to collect over $3.5 billion in payments from the cable and satellite industries. That is on top of the billions they and other programmers get for licensing their content to cable and satellite for distribution. And the billions they get in advertising based on the assumption that virtually every eyeball has access to broadcast programming (and upwards of 75 percent or more have access to the most popular non-broadcast networks).

So long as revenue from cord cutters essentially supplements the big big bucks the content creators get from cable and satellite customers, the content owners are content not to soak customers. But the only way the over-the-top services can get their hands on the most popular content (and their own content, while high quality, isn't likely to ever overtake the sports, entertainment, and news content of the broadcasters and cable/satellite networks) is by licensing it from those entities. There is no free lunch. If enough people cut the cable cord, a couple of things are almost certain to happen. The cost of Internet service (which comes primarily through that same cord, which isn't really being "cut&quot will go up. And the price that services like Netflix have to pay to license content will go up, cutting into their profitability, which will cause the price to the viewer to go up.

One way or another, these guys are going to get their money.

[JCMach1]

29. Won't make any difference... as the market is shifting

Bought an actual DVD lately? CD?

The 'cord' is also changing. Google and other players are beginning to bring true high-speed online at CHEAP rates


Sports is coming and coming soon and it may bypass the networks altogether. Think MLB Channel... or FIFA channel. with On-demand games/content.


Cable television is about to go the way of AOL. The cable companies that survive will leverage what they have to get into the VOD market.

[Mosaic]

19. TV Is Dying, And Here Are The Stats That Prove It

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tv-dying-stats-prove-194200009.html

[JNelson6563]

20. I have no use for TV.

Seems my bill just kept getting higher. And the basic cable isn't worth anything, literally nothing I want to see. I have netflix and there is so much to see on youtube! Not to mention other sites. I am glad I don't waste any of my very few dollars on TV anymore.

Julie

[bhikkhu]

21. No TV here for 13 years now, and we don't miss it a bit

years ago with the kids we just watched movies sometimes, VHS then dvds. Then it was some pirated stuff off the internet here and there, because we were pretty broke for awhile. Now we have the same basic internet, plus streaming netflix. Its way more content that we'd ever have time for, but its nice to be able to watch a show now and then, and catch up on some of the "good" tv that we missed.

[alp227]

23. A recent XKCD

[Luminous Animal]

30. I don't own a tv and I don't feel smug.

I grew up poor in the 60s... Going from extreme to rather and we often didn't have a tv so I didn't get in the habit. The only drawback is the rare tv reference in crossword puzzles.

My grandparents had a black and white and we'd watch sometimes when visiting and always watched the Wizard of Oz on Thanksgiving... I didn't know the world of Oz was in color until my 20s!

[libnnc]

26. Cut our cable two months ago.

Got two Mohu Leaf antennas and a large indoor/outdoor antenna in the attic. Smart TV with Netflix and other stuff in the bedroom. We get both WS/Greensboro/High Point affiliates AND most of the Charlotte stations. Love getting the Charlotte local news in the mornings. The only thing I miss is Monday Night Football. That's it.

I'm just as happy as a little mud turtle.

[alp227]

31. NBC has SUNDAY night football at least.

Fun fact, did you know that Disney (the parent company of ESPN) traded Al Michaels to NBC's Sunday Night Football in exchange for the distribution rights of cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, previously held by NBC parent Universal? http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2324417

[go west young man]

32. I cut the cord in 2009.

I went Netflix only at $15 a month plus my internet which I was paying for anyway when I did have cable. I've been cable free for almost 5 years now and estimate I have saved my brain and $75 bucks a month for 5 years or roughly almost $5000. Plus I saved a fortune on kids DVD's for my two kids as Netflix has all the kids cartoons available.

[Locrian]

34. what do you do to get only broadband

what do you do to get only broadband from a cable (comca*t cough cough)? We're getting ready to cut the cord and I anticipate a fight. I just want good broadband at the lowest price - STABLE price not some bundle that goes up the next month after they sucker me into it.

Is there a special term for internet only?