There is a transformation happening in U.S. television as more companies distribute content over the internet and more viewers move away from live, network-scheduled viewing. Internets streaming services offer many popular channels currently available from cable and satellite services. Bundled channel packages streamed over the internet “are meant to compete with cable or satellite, and some have called them ‘skinny bundles’ under the assumption that they’ll have fewer channels and be cheaper. But that’s not necessarily the case,” said Amanda Lotz, professor of communication studies and screen arts and cultures.
I don’t think streaming services will suddenly kill off traditional cable. I do think that companies like Comcast are fearful of slowly bleeding to death.
There’s a good reason for them to worry.
Cable companies that have relied on the same business model for decades have come to realize that the top of their sales funnel – the “cord nevers” – just aren’t interested in what they’re offering. That’s why you’re seeing companies like Comcast, DirecTV and Verizon beginning to offer their own streaming bundles.
For a few years, cable and satellite companies were in denial that cord cutting was significant. Now, they’re getting in on the action before it’s too late for them.
The truth is there are people across the age demographic are dumping pricey cable. Senior citizens on fixed incomes, Generation X’ers and even baby boomers addicted to Fox News. The Internet alone offers plenty of ways for people to burn their time, even without a subscription to Sling TV.
There’s a bigger question at play that seems to elude anyone who speculates about the imminent death of big cable.
Will traditional cable and satellite TV companies still be around in a decade?
Absolutely.
Will they look the same? Absolutely, not.
Big companies like Comcast and Verizon are simply trying to retain their profit margins as high as possible while chasing where their customer base is going next.
There’s another big misconception out there that I wish academics and journalists would start diving into more.
Cable and satellite companies do not operate with a fixed rate for the services they offer.
A recent Congressional investigation by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations delved into customer service and pricing methods by large cable providers and ISPs. The committee discovered these companies often use a secret rate charts that are never advertised as a way to retain customers. If you learn how these customer service workers are trained, then you can easily tap into these lower rates and save money using streaming services. Feel free to drop me a line for more info, but all of my reference material is here: https://cordcuttingreport.com/cord-cutting-guide/