Is Cable Television Worth The Money We Pay For?

[tothedj]

I'm beginning to notice that Cable Television Networks constantly repeat
things "over and over and over", especially when it comes to movies and
those "infomercials" that seem to be on every channel, and every year
they continue to raise our rates, and the service gets worse!
Many years ago, most of us got cable for the variety it was suppose to
provide and the better picture it provided, but as time passed, this has
been forgotten..

 

[KML0224]

Now can you tell us something we don't already know?

 

[arnoldevns]

I'm beginning to notice that Cable Television Networks constantly repeat
things "over and over and over", especially when it comes to movies and
those "infomercials" that seem to be on every channel, and every year
they continue to raise our rates, and the service gets worse!
Many years ago, most of us got cable for the variety it was suppose to
provide and the better picture it provided, but as time passed, this has
been forgotten..

Have you called to cancel your cable?

 

[TexasTom]

Have you called to cancel your cable?

Let me echo that question.

Many years back, I looked at the large number of repeats on most cable networks, and the fact that many of those networks can only justify their existence with one or two "marquee" programs, with most of the rest of their schedules being filled with junk. I looked at the fact that most of the programs that I was really interested in were available for free on broadcast television. And that what isn't available over the air is eventually available through other channels (ie, DVD).

Based on what I saw, I made the decision to put up an antenna over six years ago. I'm still happy with that decision, and have literally saved thousands in cable/satellite fees in the intervening time.

I can respect the fact that different folks value different programming choices -- and consequently, there are some people out there who really and truly feel that they are getting value for their money from their cable or satellite subscriptions. By all means, those folks should continue paying for service that they consider valuable.

But if you're asking that question, it is pretty clear that you don't feel that you're getting your money's worth. And if that is the case, the logical response is to cancel your cable service. The money you save will pay for quite a few DVDs.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Have you called to cancel your cable?

Let me echo that question.

Many years back, I looked at the large number of repeats on most cable networks, and the fact that many of those networks can only justify their existence with one or two "marquee" programs, with most of the rest of their schedules being filled with junk. I looked at the fact that most of the programs that I was really interested in were available for free on broadcast television. And that what isn't available over the air is eventually available through other channels (ie, DVD).

Based on what I saw, I made the decision to put up an antenna over six years ago. I'm still happy with that decision, and have literally saved thousands in cable/satellite fees in the intervening time.

I can respect the fact that different folks value different programming choices -- and consequently, there are some people out there who really and truly feel that they are getting value for their money from their cable or satellite subscriptions. By all means, those folks should continue paying for service that they consider valuable.

But if you're asking that question, it is pretty clear that you don't feel that you're getting your money's worth. And if that is the case, the logical response is to cancel your cable service. The money you save will pay for quite a few DVDs.

I've always thought that if I was a cable TV operator I would dump out of the time that the networks go into paid commercials and switch to some alternative programming. With all of the paid commercials i think the dirty rotten cable TV industry should start moderating their bills and start paying its subscribers back for the money they are making on those stupid infomercials.

What lowlife unwashed teethless trailer trash inhabitants are watching these infomercials, much less buying from them?

 

[BlueWanderer]

No, but I get what you're saying about constant repeats and multiple infomercials at night. There's another good reason to quit cable and that's a surge in pop-up promos over the years. I've already discuss that issue before on another thread. So, if you're willing to pay for cable expect these problems to continue on. That's how cable, unfortunately, is today and has been in recent years.

 

[DToTheJ]

At least we can take solace in the fact that none of the ESPN networks have run infomercials. (Yet.)

 

[azumanga]

At least we can take solace in the fact that none of the ESPN networks have run infomercials. (Yet.)

Don't say they didn't try -- didn't ESPN Classic or ESPN 2 try running morning infomercials a few years back, with a sports ticker on the bottom?

 

[ShawnHill1]

At least we can take solace in the fact that none of the ESPN networks have run infomercials. (Yet.)

Don't say they didn't try -- didn't ESPN Classic or ESPN 2 try running morning infomercials a few years back, with a sports ticker on the bottom?

Classic runs infomercials every morning between 6-7am Eastern time.

As far as the original question, I guess it depends on your tastes and interests. For me, I love sports, and with very little sports programming on OTA television nowadays, it's almost a necessity to have cable. However, I do find myself at times wondering it's good on TV nowadays (both cable and OTA). Outside of some local news, the occasional network special, reruns of I Love Lucy, King of Queens, That '70s Show, Married...with Children, and South Park, a lot of my own TV viewing is mostly cable-based. The kids in our house like to watch the junk that's on Nick, Cartoon Network, VH1, MTV, BET, whatever...although I'll say that two of my guilty pleasures are Run's House on MTV and VH1's Celebrity Fit Club. My favorite cable TV show right now is The Soup on E!...stupidity and ignorance of many of today's stars makes their job a lot easier.

 

[4dude]

I'm beginning to notice that Cable Television Networks constantly repeat
things "over and over and over", especially when it comes to movies and
those "infomercials" that seem to be on every channel

Yes the spam is unreal!!!!!

DO THEY REALLY THINK ANYONE IS WATCHING THAT GARBAGE??

 

[R.D.P.]

Direct TV is getting bad about airing Informericals.  They have several channels devoted to Informericals 24/7.

This is ridiculous and a waste of channel space. 

However the picture quality, program variety and monthly payment price is far better than Cable TV.

R.D.P. <><

 

[4dude]

Yes it is and NOBODY IS WATCHING IT (more than likely)

 

[CrankyYankee]

Back in the days BC (Before Cable), a big honkin' antenna was the only way to get any TV if you lived outside of a major metro area. In places like New Hampshire or Vermont it was not unusual for people to receive one or two snowy channels at best.

Cable brought watchable television to many more people and in some cases has become a valued companion.

The expansion of channel lineups brought the opportunity for more programmers to been seen and more revenue to be generated by increased advertising.

TV since day one has had an insatiable appetite for programming and the complaints about the same stuff being shown over and over, while 'tis true, is also what you can expect with 24 hour operatation of multiple screens.

Remember too that not everyone watches a lot of TV and the population is no longer a flock of 9 to 5 workers who watch the six o'clock news, a couple of game shows and whatever dreck passes for prime-time programming. (God bless the BetaMax/VCR/TiVo)

Would any of us who pay for cable or satellite prefer to downgrade to only "basic" service with access to just the local networks to save money and rely on friends to record the occasional
"must see" program for us?

I agree the charges for cable/satellite are probably too much, but I still drink milk and put gas in my car even though I wince at the price.

 

[hammondo]

Mr. RDP - I'd like to know HOW YOU KNOW it's a "waste of channel space?"

As a station owner/programmer/sales I've run lots of "infomercials" even on "small" stations that have been VERY successful.

The repition as well, allows more people to watch at more convinient times for them.

Somebody asked; DO THEY REALLY THINK ANYONE IS WATCHING THAT GARBAGE??

Well, NO. They KNOW they are watching.

 

[vibe]

I THINK cable tv (once one has it installed) is expensive, addictive etc. Cable has gotten very far away from its roots, the importation of distant broadcast channels that one cannot presumably receive (with reasonable clarity) OTA. The number of broadcast stations has disappeared, replaced by numerous religious and shopping channels.
I think one looks at cable the same way they look at the lights, phone, heat etc instead of an overpaid "luxury" that one pays for every month as well as impulse purchases made on the shopping channels or when an infomercial is being run. It's not worth the price we pay for.
The "best" cable system we had was out in Las Cruces NM when we got the 4 LA independents, the El Paso ABC, NBC, CBS, local PBS, 1 Albuquerque station, and several Spanish stations out of Juarez. All for about $6 a month.

 

[Markxxx]

Cable TV is smart about tiers and putting the incriments up JUST enough so you get the next highest level to what you need because it's ONLY $5.00 more.

As for infomercials they make lots of money and people do watch. But since I got rid of cable I watch little TV. What infomercials do is by saturating they make sure no matter HOW LITTLE TV you watch, whenever you do watch you, at least, have the option to watch them.

So if I watch 2 hours of TV a day, the infomercials want to make sure no matter what two hours I watch that one of their infomercials is on.

Is cable worth it? NO way in hell. I disconnected mine and never miss it. In fact my gym has CNN and other cable channels so, like when I wanted to watch Tammy Faye interview it gave me incentive NOT to have cable, because I went to the gym to watch it.

 

[4dude]

Somebody asked; DO THEY REALLY THINK ANYONE IS WATCHING THAT GARBAGE??

Hehehe "Somebody" ;D

 

[Mark Giardina]

The answer to your question is no, the money we pay cable companies each month is not worth it due in large part to the selection of channels we are offered. That is why I support the ala carte' concept.

What is so wrong to allow cable customers the choice to select the channels they want and pay for them?

Unfortunately cable TV lobbyists, at the behest of their masters, have been waging a successful war against this idea for years by spreading big money around Washington DC to our so-called representatives in Congress along with the Gordon Gecko philosophy of some commissioners who sit on the FCC that big business is good.

May I suggest that if one is tired of paying such exorbitant rates one can always cancel cable and read a good book for entertainment. Remember the Springsteen song: “57 channels and nothing on.”

 

[TheRob]

I ditched cable in 1999, but primarily because I work in television and I have little desire to watch it outside of work. A lot of Kansas Jayhawk basketball games end up on ESPN. If I can't watch at work, then I'll watch at the bar. I can get movies/TV shows through NetFlix for a lot less than I would pay wach month for cable television. I can concentrate on other projects a lot more easily without the television.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

How many times must Tora Tora Tora air before we can recite the script verbatim? I must agree with a number of posters on here that the quality of networks available on some cable TV operations is inferior. Why, for example, must we (the cable subscriber) pay for a station that is already paying the cable company big money to air just infomercials? Again I cite the numerous repetitive movies and programs shown on other stations. From television’s inception back in the 1950s to today, there are a number of programs that cable could air. For example, why isn’t The Fugitive on? What ever happened to the Adventures of Superman, Lost in Space, all those westerns that aired during the late 50s and 60s? Where are those programs and why are they not on cable? The numerous variety shows like Flip Wilson, Carol Burnett, Red Skelton, The Hollywood Palace, Dean Martin. Replace infomercial stations with quality programming and the cable industry might actually gain some viewers instead of people canceling en masse'.