Video, Film, and Television

How Cable Companies Can Adapt . . . Maybe

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So I killed my cable.  Dead.  Gone.  No more.  Hulu, Netflix, and gizmos for me, thanks very much, that’s how I’ll get my video.

So now, based on my experience that cable is unnecessary (and financially unsound) for most households, what can cable companies do to become something more modern and useful?  What does it mean for us?

(This, by the way, assumes said companies will embrace change.  Cable companies have ,at times, followed in the steps of others, but I can’t say they’ve actually been enthused or active dealing with change.  But one can hope.)

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Steve’s Kill Your Cable Adventure

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In late 2011/early 2012 Steve decided to see if he and his household could go without cable, and documented his experiences.  The roundup is below!

Kill Your Cable and Habit – The post that started it all, as Steve speculates if he really needs cable.

  1. The Device Experience And Discussion – Steve’s initial plans to try Killing Your Cable lead him to think over the technology and issues of the post-cable world.
  2. In-Depth Psychology and Stuff – Steve looks at the psychology of planning to – and trying to – Kill Your Cable.
  3. Oh, Wait – Steve finds Killing Your Cable requires you to rethink and evaluate a few things.
  4. Into The Abyss – With his roommate out, Steve tries going without cable and shares his findings.
  5. Finding The Off Switch – Steve and his roommate make the decision to kill their cable, and he reviews his findings.
  6. Not With A Bang, But A Spare $90 – Steve finally cuts the cord and finds there’s no revolution to be had.

– Steven Savage

Netflix In Talk With Cable Companies

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So says Reuters, who aren’t exactly prone to fly off the handle.

The idea seems to be Netflix becomes an option for the cable viewer, bundled into their bill.  Simple, effective, and efficient.  In fact, I’ll be exploring some of that on Monday . . .

Anyway, on to this possibility – frankly, it makes perfect sense.  Netflix gets a cash cow, viewers probably get some kind of discount or at least easier billing, and cable companies get a new reason to be around.  This also opens the opportunity to all sorts of crazy additional technologies and collaborations, as well as questions (is it going to be your-cable-box-only?)

None of this is surprising, of course, except that it’s happening a little faster than I’d have expected and doesn’t seem to be part of any larger initiatives – that we know of.

If this goes through?  Well, I’d start sending resumes to Netflix now, just in case . . .

– Steven Savage