Study: 9% have cut cable, another 11% are considering it

[whit979]

A new study by Deloitte gauging how Americans get access to television content indicates that some 9 percent of respondents no longer have cable subscriptions, while another 11 percent say they're thinking about canceling their service. It seems that new methods of watching TV programming, either online or streaming to TVs, are catching on -- more than one in five respondents say they've watched a show through a free online video source.

Linkage: http://gigaom.com/video/deloitte-cord-cutters/

Personally, I reduced my cable last year to a "local channels only" package and added a Roku streaming box this Christmas, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I wouldn't mind having ESPN back (my cable provider doesn't grant access to ESPN3.com), but it's still not a serious loss.

If you've cut the cord, what have you done to continue watching your favorite shows?

 

[landtuna]

I watch either the Canadian/International versions of the few sports programs I miss - online.

 

[1069_KIFR]

Don't tell the 'Occupy' people this!!!! Then they will have to re-do their posters from 'I'm a 99%' to 'I'm a 9%'

 

[LKellerIII]

Cutting cable for what? My guess would be satellite, not the internet.

I haven't cut cable yet, but I consider it every year, to save money. But my alternative at this point would probably be satellite. I've figured it would save me about $30 a month - that's not chickenfeed, but it's not enough motivation for me to make the switch...yet.

IMO - internet and streaming is not quite ready for prime time (so to speak), A lot of content I want to see is still not readily available on internet, takes too long to download, doesn't have HD picture quality, or (in the case of shows originating from the major networks or basic cable) has added commercials. Granted, the internet commercial breaks are much shorter than on regular TV, but it's still a drag. With cable and my DVR, I can skip commercials altogether.

I can see a TV future in which I won't need cable or satellite - but I think it's still a few years off.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Cutting cable for what? My guess would be satellite, not the internet.

The term used in the article is not "cable" but "paid TV service," so really 9% have canceled their cable or satellite service.

The missing question is "I never had paid TV service," which should be another big chunk of households.

 

[Robnoxious]

If you've cut the cord, what have you done to continue watching your favorite shows?

15+ years cordless and rolling. I get my network fare, in HD, in real time via OTA unless I time shift and watch an East Coast feed. It helps that I'm in Los Angeles where all the major digital subchannels are also freely available for variety sake. When needed, the internet has been my DVR using the nntp protocol which has been quietly evolving since ARPANET in 1979. I also can and do use proxies to access live show content from the BBC (like Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe/Newswipe--- great show btw).

Live sports are a different animal but not at all impossible. I don't possess a need to see every live sporting event anyways. When it is something that has my sports interest piqued, sometimes I goto the local pub, roll a couple back and watch the event with 50 or so of my very best friends with whom I know none of their names. Or, I'll go over to my friend's house who has the whole sha-banga-bang on FIOS and a big tv ('cept, we always end up in the garage playing pinball or darts and miss the entire event anyways).

Television and especially most of it's content isn't really worth a ripe. I don't and haven't missed any revolution being televised.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Cutting cable for what? My guess would be satellite, not the internet.

I haven't cut cable yet, but I consider it every year, to save money. But my alternative at this point would probably be satellite. I've figured it would save me about $30 a month - that's not chickenfeed, but it's not enough motivation for me to make the switch...yet.

IMO - internet and streaming is not quite ready for prime time (so to speak), A lot of content I want to see is still not readily available on internet, takes too long to download, doesn't have HD picture quality, or (in the case of shows originating from the major networks or basic cable) has added commercials. Granted, the internet commercial breaks are much shorter than on regular TV, but it's still a drag. With cable and my DVR, I can skip commercials altogether.

I can see a TV future in which I won't need cable or satellite - but I think it's still a few years off.

I think your right...Sub channels work wonders.I'm sure someone will come out with a newschannel.My Network and ION take care of the drama spectrum pretty good with Law and Order and Criminal minds etc.The Cool TV takes care of music videos although they could tighten up thier playlist a little. I know they they are trying to cover a LARGE spectrum of videos with different audiences and package it into one,There's a country music video sub channel,Bounce-TV,LATV.I see these channels

I dont know how your HBO's and Showtimes are going to survive with ON DEMAND and NETFLIX in the top 15 of Cable networks.

 

[whit979]

I dont know how your HBO's and Showtimes are going to survive with ON DEMAND and NETFLIX in the top 15 of Cable networks.

I think their big push in recent years has been original programming over movies.

 

[Markxxx]

I cut the cable years ago. I had a great deal with Prime, which became AT&T which became Comcast, and slowly the bill crept up and up, then I realized I was paying $70/month to watch three cable channels. So I cut it and I was very happy with Chicago OTA. Until digital TV came, as most of you know, I can't get any DTV in my flat.

But it really hasn't bugged me as I stopped almost all my TV viewing. I have a library nearby and a laptop. Windows Media Center lets me record if I want to record something. I can watch the TV at the library, or go to the gym. I really don't watch TV much anymore.

And you can always torrent or other P2P, or even YouTube is OK as, I find myself mostly listening to TV shows not watching them. Having just discovered the great 80s Aussie sitcom "Hey Dad!" (If you like the 80s syndicated type TV shows like "Mama's Family," "Charles in Charge," etc, you'd like this show, look for it on YouTube.)

As I have said, elsewhere, I doubt cable will give up without a fight. As cable, AT&T and Verizon (through VIOS and U-Verse) want you to download from THEM, not the Internet. So I do think you'll see more restrictive caps. A two hour movie on BluRay can be reduced to MKV files anywhere from 7gb to 20gb, depending on how much you want to compress it.

So the data caps imposed by your ISPs are really gonna be the factor. And the recession is a factor. I got slammed and I'm only making half of what I made before, but having no TV is fine, I can do without it, but if I was making what I did, I'd probably get at least basic cable or U-Verse, just for ME-TV and Me-TOO in Chicago.

 

[OldNumber7]

Depending on your provider and your area, you may well be in the driver's seat regarding your bill. Here in the Philly area, Comcast didn't want to lose me as a TV viewer. When I told them I wanted to cancel my TV but keep the broadband, they gave me at least six months of free digital TV service (no premium channels and no HD service). Having eyes on their advertisers appears to be more important than collecting subscriber fees.

 

[BMR]

I've wondered this for a while, and it seems to fit on this thread. Do the main US networks broadcast unencrypted on satellite, or do you need a subscription to view them?

 

[kenglish]

I've wondered this for a while, and it seems to fit on this thread. Do the main US networks broadcast unencrypted on satellite, or do you need a subscription to view them?

You may need a very (expensive) specialized receiver to get them. Some are on C-band, some are Ku. Some use 8PSK modulation. They don't sell subscriptions.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

There are some networks available free-to-air in analog. I remember finding QVC and Home Shopping Network available in that way.

 

[w9wi]

NBC is unencrypted. I don't know about the other OTA networks. From what (little) I know about Fox's satellite technology, the necessary receiving equipment would be rather expensive.

Networks that don't have an over-the-air signal use a different technology.

It is technically illegal in the U.S. to view these closed-circuit feeds unless authorized by the uplinker. To my knowledge nobody has ever been prosecuted for doing so...

 

[kenglish]

NBC has the decryption built in to their receivers...not sure if the encryption gear is in place at their end. So, it could be done at any time.

One thing I have to wonder...people talk about "dumping Cable", yet, don't most people still keep the Cable-company provided internet? So, you haven't really "dumped" the Cable company, after all.

 

[Silkie]

No, but they have taken some of their money back. Someone has to make up the slack for energy prices.

 

[landtuna]

One thing I have to wonder...people talk about "dumping Cable", yet, don't most people still keep the Cable-company provided internet? So, you haven't really "dumped" the Cable company, after all.

I don't have the figures for the number of TV disconnects as opposed to Internet disconnects but I found that, for me, dumping the coax and going with DSL was both more reliable and less costly. And, although cable systems advertise their speed advantage over DSL I have found in the real world there is practically no difference unless you are one of the very few ultimate power users.

For this particular thread though I thought we were talking primarily about dumping the TV portion of cable only.

 

[Scoobyfan1]

And you can always torrent or other P2P, or even YouTube is OK as, I find myself mostly listening to TV shows not watching them. Having just discovered the great 80s Aussie sitcom "Hey Dad!" (If you like the 80s syndicated type TV shows like "Mama's Family," "Charles in Charge," etc, you'd like this show, look for it on YouTube.)

I do a lot of TV watching on youtube and the internet myself; the problem is the US government continues to support the companies that make a lot of those shows, which means creating legislation like the Stop Online Piracy Act, which if it passes(hopefully it doesn't) would seriously hurt these companies, and would make a lot of what you and most people do online subject to prosecution.

I myself love the internet and watching and listening to music, but thanks to the stupidity of the people in charge of this country, all of that might go the way of the dinosaur and the 8 track tape

 

[kenglish]

Are they supposed to make the shows for free?

 

[tripinva]

I've wondered this for a while, and it seems to fit on this thread. Do the main US networks broadcast unencrypted on satellite, or do you need a subscription to view them?

Not in a way that is widely publicized or made available. I have a dish aimed at 125W where PBS comes from. From what I understand, Fox is the only major network doing encryption, while the rest are in the clear, but they all require C-band rather than Ku except for PBS and NBC.

Several of the subchannel networks here are in the clear as well, including all of the Luken networks, but not including Antenna TV, which is encrypted.

- Trip