Streaming sucks

[Ichinisan]

Commercials are meant to fit into 10 or 30 second spots. Tivo nailed commercial skipping 15 years ago by having a 30 second skip button, we don't need a more complicated model. Problem is advertisers freaked out about how easily Tivo destroyed their entire business model, so it turned into a hidden feature:

http://bigmarv.net/how/tivo/tivo-30-second-skip.html

Fast forwarding through commercials is a compromise, you still watch the ad but faster. It also gives the advertisers a CHANCE to get you to watch, like when you see an explosion or celebrity you like in their ad. Or you forget to fast forward because you are distracted, I don't know about you but I feel like they "win" when I accidently watch a DVRed ad.

At some level DVRs have undone the traditional industry business model even without perfect commercial skipping, but not everyone has the talent/content of a HBO or Netflix to move to a new model where the content is SO worthwhile you are willing to deal with a paywall to get at it. Most network television devolved into something you watch when its on back in the 90's, so the entire binge watching craze driven by these new models is something they aren't equipped to handle. Instead the major networks have focused on the only content that is "DVR-proof," like live tv. The cost of rights fees for major sports have skyrocketed since the invention of the DVR, and talent competitions have boomed in a way Ed McMahon would have never dreamed.

The problem is that this type of content (and reality TV) digs the hole even deeper for networks, because unlike all those DVR-killed 90's sitcoms this content isn't worth ANYTHING on syndication/Netflix. Once the next-day water-cooler value is used up and the winner is declared there is nothing left to monetize, while non-major network providers who create serialized cult content on smaller budgets have a guaranteed future revenue stream. You would think the massive sales of DVDs or Netflix rights fees would wake the networks up to this reality, but the truth is many of them sold off their back catalogs years ago for minimal value and therefore they don't have that former success to fall back on.

The end result is a child born in 2015 will probably know what Netflix is before they know what CBS is.

It's all so familiar though. That's how the first cable TV networks started. Subscription TV service was basically a paywall to high-quality commercial-free content. Now, the only channels that remain that way are "premium" networks (HBO, Starz, etc). Most cable networks try to maximize revenue with per-subscriber fees *and* as many commercials as their viewers will tolerate. Movies are severely edited...not just to censor content, but also to make time for more commercials. Specialized networks gradually start showing content that is less specialized until they're all playing "reality" shows that have absolutely nothing to do with the network's specialty (Discovery and History Channel, I'm looking at you). Why does IFC (Independent Film Channel) show big-budget blockbusters and even original series (even a reality show: "Whisker Wars" -- about competitive beard growing). Generally, IFC seems to care about their movie content. They claim they don't edit movies for time and content. Well, what's this? Even the exceptional "AMC original series" is a contradiction ("American Movie Classics"). Why did AMC decide to de-specialize and start making original series? Can the shows go on another, more appropriate, network under the same owner? The last episode of Better Call Saul was had parts that were crudely censored...even though it airs after 10:00 PM. I notice movies coming on at midnight that were blatantly censored! What's going on, AMC?!

Watching basic / expanded cable is just an *awful* experience. HBO and Netflix give us a taste of what cable TV was like in the early days. I wonder how long it will be before they start experimenting to see how many ads we will tolerate... If history is any indication, it may be only a matter of time.

 

[13Gigatons]

It's all so familiar though. That's how the first cable TV networks started. Subscription TV service was basically a paywall to high-quality commercial-free content. Now, the only channels that remain that way are "premium" networks (HBO, Starz, etc). Most cable networks try to maximize revenue with per-subscriber fees *and* as many commercials as their viewers will tolerate. Movies are severely edited...not just to censor content, but also to make time for more commercials. Specialized networks gradually start showing content that is less specialized until they're all playing "reality" shows that have absolutely nothing to do with the network's specialty (Discovery and History Channel, I'm looking at you). Why does IFC (Independent Film Channel) show big-budget blockbusters and even original series (even a reality show: "Whisker Wars" -- about competitive beard growing). Generally, IFC seems to care about their movie content. They claim they don't edit movies for time and content. Well, what's this? Even the exceptional "AMC original series" is a contradiction ("American Movie Classics"). Why did AMC decide to de-specialize and start making original series? Can the shows go on another, more appropriate, network under the same owner? The last episode of Better Call Saul was blatantly censored...even though it airs after 10:00 PM. I notice movies coming no at midnight that were blatantly censored on AMC! What's going on?!

Watching basic / expanded cable is just an *awful* experience. HBO and Netflix give us a taste of what cable TV was like in the early days. I wonder how long it will be before they start experimenting to see how many ads we will tolerate... If history is any indication, it may be only a matter of time.

Funny that all those channels started with such good intentions and have veered so far off the path. The worst is reality TV....I just hate those shows.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yes it does; I very rarely do it.

KT

 

[GrumpyMan]

I steam all the shows/movies with no commercials, don't care which one it is. I may have to wait and hour or two after it airs, but then I can see it with out commercials at 480p. Now if I want to wait till next day I can watch it at 720p or 1080p HD, depends. You just need to go the right site. Cut the cord long time ago, only have internet and rabbit ears for live sports now.

 

[notposting]

I want to make a open-source crowd-sourced DVR system that automatically creates chapter breaks you can skip to based on the parts that other users have skipped through.

Just patent the process (on a computer system ) and then sue anybody who actually brings a useful product to market in the next 15 years. Probably wait until they've grown and been raking in some profit for a few years though.

(Oh man the cash money if it was Apple)

(damn patent trolls - but I bet you could look yourself in the mirror while holding up a big ol' settlement check)

 

[frowertr]

Yeah the entire streaming phenomenon needs a lot of work. If you want to watch live sports you are basically screwed from the get go. Other than that you need multiple devices and/or subscriptions to even come close to matching what's on cable.

Yeah I pay more per month for cable than the guys that don't have it but I also don't have to "fiddle" with equipment every time I want to watch a show. And I'm guaranteed it will also be on.

 

[Accord99]

The problem is that this type of content (and reality TV) digs the hole even deeper for networks, because unlike all those DVR-killed 90's sitcoms this content isn't worth ANYTHING on syndication/Netflix. Once the next-day water-cooler value is used up and the winner is declared there is nothing left to monetize, while non-major network providers who create serialized cult content on smaller budgets have a guaranteed future revenue stream. You would think the massive sales of DVDs or Netflix rights fees would wake the networks up to this reality, but the truth is many of them sold off their back catalogs years ago for minimal value and therefore they don't have that former success to fall back on.

I don't think this is the case at all. Reality/talk shows have merely replaced the soap opera in terms of cheap, profitable shows that provide revenue for high-cost scripted original content that will only really turn a profit if it lasts long enough for syndication.

In fact, in this current era many scripted shows that normally would be cancelled by bad ratings are extended if they are close enough to the magical 88 episode minimum for syndication and there is a rule of thumb, where if a broadcast network show (with 22+ episode/seasons) is renewed for a 3rd season, it is almost guaranteed to be renewed for a 4th season regardless of how terrible its 3rd season ratings are.

CBS is in particular a syndication machine thanks to its numerous procedurals that it does with its own studio and is popular in reruns all over the world. Syndication often drives its decisions on which shows to renew and where to place them on the schedule. And increasingly as a whole, the broadcast networks are preferring shows from their own studios in order to take advantage of syndication rights.

 

[mrrman]

There are other better ways to catch movies/shows...that's all I am going to say about that...

 

[drez]

Yeah the entire streaming phenomenon needs a lot of work. If you want to watch live sports you are basically screwed from the get go. Other than that you need multiple devices and/or subscriptions to even come close to matching what's on cable.

Yeah I pay more per month for cable than the guys that don't have it but I also don't have to "fiddle" with equipment every time I want to watch a show. And I'm guaranteed it will also be on.

Live local sports is an issue where regional sports networks have local markets locked out. However, those games are simply on a delay. All other games can be watched live. NFL can be seen with an antenna. I'm a sports fan without cable and see plenty of live sports. This guide on how to watch TV without cable covers the bases on doing it legally. We never have to "fiddle". Pull it up on the phone and push it to the TV, what's so hard about that?

 

[Rakehellion]

I cut the cord long ago but have a DVR to record OTA shows that I watch.

Anyways I forgot to program it and figured no big deal I'll just stream the show to catch up. Well it turns out I need a TV package (with cable or satellite) even though the show is on a FREE channel OTA.

My favorite part is that it's asks who is your TV provider....um you are, you pay millions of dollars to broadcast a signal.

I guess I will just have to pirate the show....if it's even possible to pirate a show that is on FREE TV.

Or maybe you should just get cable if you like to watch TV so much.