Any of you that have read my posts in the past are aware of my advocacy of cutting the cable, or getting rid of your paid television provider. I’ve had both cable and satellite television service, and both have been a less than rewarding experience. I found that I was paying far more (even on the less expensive plans without premium channels) than the four or five channels I watched were worth. Toss in extra fees for HD content and a DVR and you have a healthy monthly fee for the privilege of subsidizing a lot of channels the majority of viewers never watch.
A recent article posted by Engadget does an even better job illustrating the the flaws in paid television, and the growing acceptance of cord cutting. While still not an option that will suit everyone, I’ve been more than happy with my overall experience sans cable or satellite service. Between an antenna-powered TiVo, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and iTunes I’ve been able to watch about 90% of what I want to watch as easily if not moreso than I would have been able to previously. Some content (like Game of Thrones) can’t be legitimately viewed in a timely fashion, but for those that aren’t afraid of being nabbed for piracy even shows of that ilk can be had. The one thing I miss the most is sports programming, in particular football. While my favorite teams are still broadcast, I do miss ESPN and greater access to games that paid service provided, although Comcast’s provision of ESPN 360 online streaming channel helps temper my loss.
As Engadget points out in their article, content providers should have learned from the recording industry’s piracy battle. They attempted to force consumers into a single means of content, the CD. Bit by bit they have been forced to embrace other means of distribution and consumption, but could have profited far more if they had been of the mindset to mold the budding technology rather than attempt to block it.
While I’ve enjoyed having a media center PC for the past few years, it’s not an option many will choose (or possibly even be able to afford). The demand has spurred innovation: Roku, Boxee, Google TV, and Apple TV are all viable options for streaming digital media to your living room. Roku has expanded their lineup to include a diminutive version of their set top box plugging directly into an HDMI port that looks more like a thumb drive than anything else. Google is partnering with several TV makers to bundle Google TV into the set, eliminating the need for a box entirely. Apple has yet again been the target of wild rumors, with suggestions that the Apple TV may be expanded to offer a cloud-based DVR and App support to go along with its existing streaming capability.
Ditching cable was as much a financial decision for me as anything; even with the cost of Netflix and Hulu Plus taken into account I saw an immediate monthly savings. I already had experience with media center PCs and had the framework for a digital home theater already in place, but for those that aren’t tech savvy or don’t want to commit the same kind of money have multiple options. If you’ve been considering it, the transition has been getting easier and easier. Now might be the time to make the jump.
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