Typical

[13Gigatons]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cord-cutters-beware-streaming-tv-prices-are-marching-higher-1536943821

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

 

[Ken g6]

Over the air TV hasn't gone up in price.

Yet. I think ATSC 3 may allow charging for some channels.

 

[Riverhound777]

Well if they jack up the prices, i'll go back to cable TV. I got a call from Cox the other day with an interesting deal. I currently pay $65/m for 150/10 internet. Plus the cost of Netflix, Hulu, etc. Well they have a deal going for Contour package with internet and an HD box with like 30 channels, HBO, and their On-Demand library for $88/m for a year. I was actually temped, but it would require getting a cable box, and my TV is currently on the other side of the livingroom from the Modem, so I would have to run coax around the room.

In any case the TV providers are competing.

 

[shortylickens]

Its actually easier to understand this than it is to fight it.

 

[rh71]

I looked into cutting the cord recently. I pay $150 after taxes/fees for FIOS (triple play with 75/75 internet) - they raised me after my promo years were up and I couldn't get much lower even from a competitor. If I get internet only, it's already $60 minimum. Then I get a SlingTV or YT Live pkg and it's now up at $100 anyway. And I need a landline for work after that. Not exactly earth-shattering savings IMO. I also like browsing through the channels and settling on some random show to enjoy. The internet live-tv broadcast interfaces are still not quite there yet from what I've seen. One thing is for sure - I absolutely hate having to dig through Netflix or even my own Plex to find something worth watching if I'm sitting down for a snack or lounging in the living room for 30 minutes. Too many choices is not always a good thing. I can't be the only one who feels that way about Netflix.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cord-cutters-beware-streaming-tv-prices-are-marching-higher-1536943821

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

You guys honestly didn't think this would last forever, right?

The entire point of any investment these days is to come in low - establish a big dedicated market - then JACK UP costs because everyone is dependent upon you and competition is either killed off or thoroughly already established.

Perfect example is Amazon - they are finally turning a profit... and wouldn't you know it, they have consistently jacked up the cost of prime every 2 years after not touching it for multiple years. Used to order plenty, now I order rarely because in general, they just aren't that low anymore.

The best thing you can do as a consumer is to not dedicate yourself to anything. I made a thread previously on meal delivery services... it's an un-established market and I love it... Everytime I cancel a previous subscription - 2 others are emailing me with discounts to try and get me to resubscribe. I'll milk them until they no longer exist.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I looked into cutting the cord recently. I pay $150 after taxes/fees for FIOS (triple play with 75/75 internet) - they raised me after my promo years were up and I couldn't get much lower even from a competitor. If I get internet only, it's already $60 minimum. Then I get a SlingTV or YT Live pkg and it's now up at $100 anyway. And I need a landline for work after that. Not exactly earth-shattering savings IMO. I also like browsing through the channels and settling on some random show to enjoy. The internet live-tv broadcast interfaces are still not quite there yet from what I've seen. One thing is for sure - I absolutely hate having to dig through Netflix or even my own Plex to find something worth watching if I'm sitting down for a snack or lounging in the living room for 30 minutes. Too many choices is not always a good thing. I can't be the only one who feels that way about Netflix.

1) Internet only - download any shows
2) No stupid stream packages, get an over the air antenna if you want to surf when bored.
3) Why the hell do you NEED a landline for work? Tell work to pay for a cellphone or fuck off. My company will at minimal provide a cell phone - But either way if that isn't good enough buy a Skype# or something for < $10/month.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cord-cutters-beware-streaming-tv-prices-are-marching-higher-1536943821

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

Can't read, stupid paywall.

Of all things to worry about though - for me it would be Netflix. They are PUMPING SHITLOADS into their investment - others are just streaming already established channels.

 

[rh71]

1) Internet only - download any shows
2) No stupid stream packages, get an over the air antenna if you want to surf when bored.
3) Why the hell do you NEED a landline for work? Tell work to pay for a cellphone or fuck off. My company will at minimal provide a cell phone - But either way if that isn't good enough buy a Skype# or something for < $10/month.

1) I already download shows and put them on my Plex. But I don't always sit down for 42 minutes straight and interrupting these more-important shows makes for a terrible viewing experience. Just give me a random good-enough show while I snack or take my quick lunch.
2) I tried one of these antennas and all I got were 6 fricken all-Spanish channels. No idea why as I'm < 30 miles from NYC. Returned.
3) I work from home F/T and they won't even pay for a service like Vonage anymore. When I said landline, I meant a line other than my cellphone where I'd be using my personal number. And no, they won't pay for a cellphone - I'm not a support guy who constantly needs to be on the phone but I do have to call in for conf calls occasionally (where I like to use an actual speakerphone). I'm not quitting because they won't pay for a cellphone. I'm going to get Ooma or something cheap, but it's on my own dime. My old company paid for Vonage, new company won't but the pay is way better.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

1) I already download shows and put them on my Plex. But I don't always sit down for 42 minutes straight and interrupting these more-important shows makes for a terrible viewing experience. Just give me a random good-enough show while I snack or take my quick lunch.
2) I tried one of these antennas and all I got were fricken Spanish channels. No idea why. Returned.
3) I work from home F/T and they won't even pay for a service like Vonage anymore. When I said landline, I meant a line other than my cellphone where I'd be using my personal number. And no, they won't pay for a cellphone - I'm not a support guy who constantly needs to be on the phone but I do have to call in for conf calls occasionally. I'm not quitting because they won't pay for a cellphone.

Plex is cool in that if you stop the episode it will always retain where you left off.... even 2 weeks later.

Also I'm probably bias as far as the whole land-line thing. I work in consulting and having a cell-phone is bare minimum - so thats why they supply ALL employees with one.. especially for when we are on-site with clients and they don't have guest internet to tether.

Still I would make some demands as far as the employer goes, I wouldn't pay for a landline for just my employer.

 

[13Gigatons]

Can't read, stupid paywall.

Of all things to worry about though - for me it would be Netflix. They are PUMPING SHITLOADS into their investment - others are just streaming already established channels.

Netflix has been a breath of fresh air, I really don't want to pay $40 a month for it or even $20 but back when it was $7 it was a great deal. Their shows and movies have been watchable. Netflix is making everyone else compete.

Also their is no shortage of FREE with ads apps to watch if you can't afford the premium apps.

 

[OverVolt]

Its actually easier to understand this than it is to fight it.

Ah yes that limited supply of being able to serve out copies of a TV show over intertubes.

It has nothing to do with this. Ultimately companies like Netflix were always at best cash flow neutral and were burning cash from investors.

The end game basically being.
1. Charge what the market will bear
2. Don't actually make any money doing that but who cares the company is growing and so are your returns.
3. ??? magical debt magic
4. Uhoh turns out we needed to charge like, way more this whole time sorry guys.

 

[shortylickens]

Ah yes that limited supply of being able to serve out copies of a TV show over intertubes.

It has nothing to do with this. Ultimately companies like Netflix were always at best cash flow neutral and were burning cash from investors.

The end game basically being.
1. Charge what the market will bear
2. Don't actually make any money doing that but who cares the company is growing and so are your returns.
3. ??? magical debt magic
4. Uhoh turns out we needed to charge like, way more this whole time sorry guys.

thanks for proving my point.

 

[zzuupp]

Over the air TV hasn't gone up in price.

Yet. I think ATSC 3 may allow charging for some channels.

Nothing, excludes current ATSC from charging, either.
Waay back when, some company ( US[something-something] TV) did start renting subchannels on ION/PAX and other secondary networks to offer a pay service for about a dozen 'cable/premium' channels.
It lasted a bit more than one year.

 

[jpiniero]

Also I'm probably bias as far as the whole land-line thing. I work in consulting and having a cell-phone is bare minimum - so thats why they supply ALL employees with one.. especially for when we are on-site with clients and they don't have guest internet to tether.

You'd be surprised these days. Company I used to work at stopped offering cell phones, even for people who were on call.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Not surprising. Also there is so much politics and IP law bullshit when it comes to media content, so there's lot of situations where a certain streaming service can't get the "rights" to stream a certain show because another service does etc. This creates fragmentation, and then brings us full circle, where you can't just pay for one service and get everything but have to pay more to get specific things. Ex: "premium channels". The US is also trying to do that with the internet where you have to pay extra to access certain websites. Not sure how that will work I assume they will group them, so like all forums, Facebook, Twitter etc would be in the "social media" package, things like Youtube would be under "streaming" and so on. If you have Netflix not only will you be paying Netflix for their service but you'll also be paying your ISP to unblock it.

Capitalism.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm not quitting because they won't pay for a cellphone. I'm going to get Ooma or something cheap, but it's on my own dime. My old company paid for Vonage, new company won't but the pay is way better.

Is that even legal? It seems kind of like work, requiring you to use your own car, but then not reimbursing you for mileage.

Edit: Unless, you're a "gig" worker, in which case, you're treated no better than slave labor. Welcome to the new economy!

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Anyone calling themselves a cord-cutter and then paying for commercial-TV is just a liar. The idea of cutting the cord is to get the content, not the commercials/bundles. Maybe i am just thinking of my own beliefs, but why would anyone pay for commercial television over a streaming service?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Anyone calling themselves a cord-cutter and then paying for commercial-TV is just a liar. The idea of cutting the cord is to get the content, not the commercials/bundles. Maybe i am just thinking of my own beliefs, but why would anyone pay for commercial television over a streaming service?

What is commercial TV exactly? Cord cutting is meant figuratively for something literally - Not using a cable hookup. Thats it.

Streaming is cutting the cord.

 

[zerocool84]

People have to remember that even if you are streaming TV or TV shows, it's still all controlled by the cable companies and the Media conglomerates. That's why we have the issue in the first place of expensive TV packages where you have to pay for channels you don't want.

 

[13Gigatons]

I'm mostly interested in watching shows and movies uncut and without commercials on demand. I don't care about "channels", but they still try to push that.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

People have to remember that even if you are streaming TV or TV shows, it's still all controlled by the cable companies and the Media conglomerates. That's why we have the issue in the first place of expensive TV packages where you have to pay for channels you don't want.

How is netflix controlled by cable companies ? Obviously the internet connection will likely be cable -but as far as the content Netflix is on its own.

Now Hulu - on the other hand - IS owned by cable companies. Dont let that fool you.

 

[Darwin333]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cord-cutters-beware-streaming-tv-prices-are-marching-higher-1536943821

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

Well, at least in the article you posted, it is literally the same boss.

 

[ponyo]

My definition of cutting the cord is the old school version. Using only free OTA channels and free streaming services. If you're paying for Netflix, Youtube Red, Hulu, etc, you're not really cutting the cord because you're still paying monthly fee to watch TV.

We haven't had any paid cable/satellite TV for over a decade and haven't had any paid streaming service like Netflix for over 7 years. So my daughter has grown up without watching any paid TV. Now she doesn't watch any TV, even the free local.

 

[Darwin333]

My definition of cutting the cord is the old school version. Using only free OTA channels and free streaming services. If you're paying for Netflix, Youtube Red, Hulu, etc, you're not really cutting the cord because you're still paying monthly fee to watch TV.

We haven't had any paid cable/satellite TV for over a decade and haven't had any paid streaming service like Netflix for over 7 years. So my daughter has grown up without watching any paid TV. Now she doesn't watch any TV, even the free local.

I dunno, I think you can still be a cord cutter while having a subscription to Netflix. Even if you have a few different subscriptions you are still probably saving a ton of money considering how damn expensive cable TV has gotten along with the absurd rental fees.