Just switched to basic cable...

[StageLeft]

I cut back mine severely about 15 months ago. There isn';t much on TV but I got sick of the high bill, too.

 

[13Gigatons]

I'm always shocked at the amount people pay for cable.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

I'm also surprised that cable packages, TW especially, aren't trying to be especially flexible these days with the market of people using netflix/hulu and realizing cable is becoming obsolete. I refuse to add $40 a month for the cheapest package available but I would probably jump on a $15 basic package or even like a pay per channel deal. Oh well.

 

[spacelord]

sometimes the filters just fall off in the box by the curb and more analog stations magically start working.

 

[fatpat268]

I'm also surprised that cable packages, TW especially, aren't trying to be especially flexible these days with the market of people using netflix/hulu and realizing cable is becoming obsolete. I refuse to add $40 a month for the cheapest package available but I would probably jump on a $15 basic package or even like a pay per channel deal. Oh well.

As good as that sounds, it'll never happen. Chances are, the channels you do like demand the most amount of money in the first place So if they did offer a per channel plan, you'd pay a lot more than you'd expect. You probably have the top 20 most popular channels demanding the big bucks, whereas the 300 other channels are getting pennies per subscriber.

The business model sucks and is antiquated. More and more networks should be offering their programming online, paid or not. I'd get HBO or showtime in a heartbeat through an online subscription just so I wouldn't have to deal with my cable company.

The only problem is, though, as IPTV gets more and more popular, the cable companies will further restrict bandwidth caps and/or raise the prices.

 

[bignateyk]

where during the course of the season, you'll have bought enough beer and chicken wings to equal the amount your "saved" by cutting the services anyway. 🙂

But at least that money will be going to a local bar/restaurant instead of comcast...

(at least most of it. Obviously they are paying comcast as well...)

 

[lupi]

If you paying extra for all those stupid premium packages for hbo and such, then that's your fault for paying so much. Where cable is really fucking us now is with requiring rental boxes at all sets (just like Satellite regardless of what the cable tv ads say) to get more than the basic of the basic cable package.

 

[JimKiler]

As good as that sounds, it'll never happen. Chances are, the channels you do like demand the most amount of money in the first place So if they did offer a per channel plan, you'd pay a lot more than you'd expect. You probably have the top 20 most popular channels demanding the big bucks, whereas the 300 other channels are getting pennies per subscriber.

The business model sucks and is antiquated. More and more networks should be offering their programming online, paid or not. I'd get HBO or showtime in a heartbeat through an online subscription just so I wouldn't have to deal with my cable company.

The only problem is, though, as IPTV gets more and more popular, the cable companies will further restrict bandwidth caps and/or raise the prices.

Cable ala cart would work, it does in other countries. Yes it would change and yes some people would pay more but ESPN does not need as much money as they get from cable companies and subscribers. I think a lot of channels would be free and would have to rely on advertising revenue. This would specially become true for new channels which no one would pay for. Too bad the Ala cart bill in Congress went no where. But the internet is forcing it to become a reality, but on a per show basis instead of a channel basis.

 

[Blackjack200]

I'm always shocked at the amount people pay for cable.

They're paying, in large part, for those huge sports contracts. How many sports teams are owned by cable companies?