Yeah Cable prices are silly given what the quality is of the shows they broadcast. Streaming services are far cheaper and decent. Again I didn't say great. Lets hope in time the streaming services improve their libraries.
And right there is the ultimate point. You dont like XYZ shows, Bob doesnt like ABC shows, I don't like DEF shows. Wouldn't it be great if we could just pay for the channels that we want?!
Cable TV is in a transition period, similar to the transition period the recording industry is in. Their old business model flat out doesn't work anymore, and they are struggling to keep up with new technology.
In the next few years, more and more content providers are going to offer subscription streaming. We've already got things like HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Crunchyroll, Hulu, ect. Boot up a Roku and there are *hundreds* of streaming channels you can subscribe to. Some are free, some are paid, but the content is more targeted. Cut the cord and just pay for what you want! Sounds great, right?
Until you're subscribed to two different sports channels, HBO, Showtime, Cartoon Network for the kids, your two favorite news outlets, etc. Now you're paying $8-10 per service, for a dozen different services, and... you're still paying that $120 a month you were scoffing at from the cable company but split up into a dozen different bills you have to keep track of and pay.
Then it hits you. You know what would take all the hassle out of managing all those services? If a company made deals with all those services and acted as a centralized service, where you could pay for just the content you wanted, on one bill, with one point of contact for customer support. They might even offer discounts and packages for bundling service and content together!
And five years down the road, we're all right back to paying the cable company $120 a month for a bunch of crappy shows we leave on for background noise, except now it's all on-demand streaming instead of scheduled programming.