Cable television has long been the coveted propaganda arm used to program American sentiments. But because of the internet, viewer choice for news, sports, and entertainment has proliferated. Content is becoming decentralized, and that makes it harder to control the attitudes of the masses.
Since 2013, pay tv subscriptions have been declining, losing more customers than they gain. Over one million people per year are fleeing from paying for cable TV from companies like Verizon, Time Warner, and Comcast.
For three straight years, the viewership of the Emmy’s has declined. Yet while cable networks broadcast the award show, original Hulu and HBO shows were winning the awards.
You don’t need a cable subscription to watch shows on Netflix, HBO Now, or Hulu. While Netflix and Hulu run some cable shows, they also produce their own content. This doesn’t automatically mean the content won’t be akin to the typical propaganda on cable. But it does mean that control over programming is more decentralized. This includes the FCC’s slipping grip, as they have thus far failed to seriously regulate online programming.
Now consumers have a choice. Youtube offers even more choices which allow independent and much smaller content producers to disseminate their shows. Owned by Google, there is plenty to criticize when it comes to Youtube. They arbitrarily remove certain content that they don’t like. But this will just bolster alternatives like Vimeo and DailyMotion.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
15 comments:
cable may be dying but with rural america having no internet, satellite is still going
It's not cable TV in itself that's contributing to its own demise, it's the price Comcast and other monopoly providers are charging for it. Cable TV stopped being value for money when they migrated to digital in order to force consumers to put a converter box on every TV. Until then you could take basic cable and split it to to every TV in the house for the price of one connection.
I worked for Matrixvision in TN years (and years) ago. They were one of the first companies that tried charging per outlet for basic cable. At the time the regulatory mechanism in place told them they couldn't do it. It was like the power company trying to charge you for every receptacle in your home. So what do they do? Force you into a decoder for every TV in the house so you very quickly have a $200 per month cable bill.
Cable TV will eventually die off as consumers cut the cord and switch exclusively to streaming content. But...don't think for a second this will be a cheaper solution. Won't be long before your internet service gradually creeps up to $200 per month to replace that revenue.
Three things you can't avoid.
Death, taxes and a Comcast bill.
I'm amazed at how many millions choose cable and satellite TV over dental care.
10:05 AM I have managed to avoid comcast for over 12 years.
Started out, cable TV offered viewers commercial free television. Now it is just like network tv, only worse. Cable TV makes you pay to watch endless commercials. Its demise is welcomed.
Cable has priced itself out of affordability with its high charges, unjustified taxes and bad customer service. You have to audit your bill every month because they slip in charges for movie channels without consent. They've done it to themselves.
I hope so.
DITTO 11:02 - CUT THE CATV CORD!
It is TOOOOOOOOO damn expensive / Gouging us ALL !!!
Need Govt Caps put on it !!!
Who is your Internet provider and what is your speed
Comcast has gone from a channel provider to a data company they realize their future is internet which is why all their equipment is more of a computer network than standard cable boxes. You can still use an alternative channel provider but you will still need Comcast internet and data.
Cannot afford Comcast!!!
Comcast had terrible NO service and I was pissed off with
them along with many others.........
Plus they did not give me a damn MOCA filter , which, ALL
should have , so you don't Loose your signal
(Cost appx $3 to $4 on internet if you bought your own)
We took back 5 boxes for nothing and still had Freezes
It was MOCA filter whole time ....They never offered a
Refund for Bad service either ......
For a long time you could not even get anyone to talk to
and forget calling Salisbury office , plus all they have
is USED dirty equipment to give you (the Only way to get a New Box is Order it on internet )
We went though Hell with Comcast and they OVER charge way
too much and need to be Regulated and Capped by Govt !!!!
Lol so true
Canned the pirates from Philly a couple years back. Live without them and what I used to spend there gives me other options.
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