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Monday, March 16, 2015

TV Viewership Down 10%; Industry Blames Streaming Video

Even though many of us have hundreds of channels to choose from on cable or satellite, we’re choosing to watch less live TV. But it’s not just because we’ve all decided to go outside and take up steeplechase; it has a little something to do with the availability of subscription streaming services.

The Wall Street Journal reports on a recent talk held by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau in which the trade group tried to assign blame for the drop-off in TV viewership over the last two years.

The reportedly CAB explained at this gathering that around 40% of recent ratings drops are a result of competition from services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll bite. I used to watch TV and use the computer. Over time, I found less to watch on TV so I used the computer more. Eventually, I figured out that the TV content was rapidly diminishing unless you were a robot. Who wants to watch a show made of of several year old film footage (ET sound familiar)? Who want's to wait for "Details at 11!"? If it's news, we want it NOW.

This is part of the reason this blog is successful. I don't want to WAIT!

In the meantime, technology presents itself as alternatives with the streaming technology. If your cable provider doesn't give you the information on a coming storm to the degree of weather.com, chance source providers.

Nothing new here....

Steve said...

Why do you think they want to make the internet a public utility like TV through "Net Neutrality?" Because then they can package 105 garbage channels and make you pay for them first before they allow you to see the 10 sites you really use the internet for!

Just like they shove 150 garbage channels on TV before allowing you the 10 channels you now watch.

DUH! Do you get it yet?

Please call your Congressmen and Senators, fax, email to stop "Net Neutrality", or Net Loss, as I call it.

Anonymous said...

150 channels and there's nothing on.

That's why.

Anonymous said...


From 1961, courtesy of Wikipedia:

"Television and the Public Interest" was a speech given by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Newton N. Minow to the convention of the National Association of Broadcasters on May 9, 1961. The speech was Minow's first major speech after he was appointed chairman of the FCC by President John F Kennedy. In the speech, Minow referred to American commercial television programming as a "vast wasteland" and advocated for programming in the public interest.

"When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better.

But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland.

You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all, boredom. True, you'll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it."[1]

Just more channels and more ways to expose our eyes. Many have had it and employ the 'off' button.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the TV producers should look at the content. It's either CSI crap or it's mindless smut.

Anonymous said...

Joe, the commercials are the majority of the problem - but the drug advertisements make up 90 % of the commercials (at least it seems that way)...and they're trying to get you to buy something that isn't actually 'sold' - you have to see a Doctor and get a prescription! If they would stop the drug commercials, the costs would go down - and we would enjoy TV more!

Anonymous said...

It is definitely the commercials. Some are so numerous, loud, and long they may even take up more time than the actual program. Popular programs like Walking Dead the commercials get longer as viewers are "hooked" on the program. Jeopardy says, one half hour of answers and questions. I doubt there is much more than 15 minutes of them,same for Wheel of Fortune. I am watching much less television because of the many commercials.

Anonymous said...

I remember when cable TV was touted to be commercial-free...since you pay the connection fees.

Boy did we get taken!

Anonymous said...

How anyone could get hooked on The Walking Dead is a mystery to me.

Anonymous said...

TV isn't going anywhere.

Anonymous said...

There are a few TV programs I like to watch. But for the most of TV now days, it's nothing but crime, violence, sex, and just plain stupid.

For me I'm stuck on the internet. However, after the liberal dictating government screws that up, it won't be worth looking at anymore either.