Since dumping Direct TV 6 months ago and using Hulu Live, Netflix, etc our family has completely changed how we watch TV. Instead of scrolling through a guide we now just use apps and jump around. Honestly...we don't miss conventional TV at all and hardly ever watch live TV on Hulu. I notice my kids never watch live TV anymore instead they are watching YouTube videos and Netflix Shows.

It all makes me wonder which direction we are headed...Surely the days of cable, satellite, and the like are numbered. But what about the networks? How long can they last? It's just crazy how rapidly things are changing...but our kids are now growing up not even knowing TV the way we did.

How do you see television consumption changing going forward?

Gave up traditional cable About 5 years ago and haven't looked back. Mostly use Netflix and Hulu with sling during the football season.

I don't think cable or satellite will go anywhere any time soon.

It's convenient and reliable.

My neighbor tried the sling thing for a while. Couldn't get an A&M game one time and went right back to Direct.

Agreed with Ironman, Cable and Satellite are staying around as long as older folks are watching TV. My parents, both in their late 60's still cant figure out how to use their Roku box, and they just resort to watching their DirectTV DVR'd shows. My Dad is usually on top of technology, but just doesn't have an interest in streaming shows. No matter how many times I tried to convince them of shows we watch on Netflix that they would like, they won't take the time to use the Roku to watch, and go back to watching Blue Bloods on DVR.

Yea I go to my parents house and it seems weird to stroll through a traditional guide again.

This was my first football season with Hulu Live TV. Zero complaints. Also, the phone app is super useful.

What about the people that don't have the internet speeds to stream?

My oldest daughter (11 y/o) doesn't know how to use the guide on our PSVue. She just uses the search function to browse by genre, specific titles, etc. Watches a majority of her stuff on Netflix.

Sports will keep "traditional" TV around for a while. Though apps like ESPN+ makes more sports more readily available.

I cut the cord about six years ago and do not miss it at all. I almost exclusively watch netflix, Amazon Prime (including HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz subscriptions), and some hulu. I've used Sling in the past for A&M football games, but got tired of paying for it and never watching it otherwise.

I despise the model of network TV even on apps like Sling. The thing that gets me most is the lack of availability of episodes of shows. For instance I want to watch a new show that already been playing for several seasons. Only a few episodes of the new season will be available on sling. I don't want to start a show halfway through or have to go pay an exorbitant amount to buy each season or episode off of Amazon to catch up. That and Sling really pissed me off trying to watch shows and not having the ability to stop it and come back to the same spot. You couldn't fast forward to get back to where you left off, which I understand they do so you won't skip commercials, but that should only be blocked during the commercials and on the first viewing.

That being said, I'm a home builder and I install media systems for my clients. We mostly work on a rural lake for very well off older customers. Internet is still not very reliable out here. So almost every project we end up installing direct tv or dish, because it's reliable, easy to use for older customers, that's just what used to, and don't mind paying for it.

dodger02 said:

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Sports will keep "traditional" TV around for a while. Though apps like ESPN+ makes more sports more readily available.

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Sports is the only thing keeping a lot of us with cable. I wont cut the cord until I can get local sports (Rockets and Astros) with the ease of cable.

WES2006AG said:

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dodger02 said:

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Sports will keep "traditional" TV around for a while. Though apps like ESPN+ makes more sports more readily available.

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Sports is the only thing keeping a lot of us with cable. I wont cut the cord until I can get local sports (Rockets and Astros) with the ease of cable.

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If you are primarily watching those on local networks, then try an OTA antenna with an HD homerun. It's incredibly simple to use and only requires coax run to the HD homerun and then all your devices work off their app. There is virtually no set up and you don't even have to set up an account. You simply download the app and go. If you want DVR functionality, Plex with plex pass works great for me (already had plex server and pass), but I think there are cheaper options available as well.

I'd also add that I got the HD Home run from beach camera which was cheaper than Amazon or B&H and also had free shipping/No sales tax.

Data caps with comcast are currently preventing me from trying directtv now again or another service anytime soon.

Cable companies I think will do their best to trap you in.

I'm a guy who uses the main streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu) paired with PSVue.

One of the aspects I love the most about these services is no confusing contracts and pricing. I can cancel/change the service online in just a few clicks. No having to call someone up or return equipment or wait on installation.

I know these services all rely on a healthy internet connection that is probably contract based...but baby steps.

Something like 60% of the country still doesn't have access to internet good enough to stream reliably. There will always be a market for the broadcast channels.

I do see a situation where the smaller cable channels slowly die off or become streaming-only models where they charge $4.99/mo as an add-on to Hulu/Prime/Netflix.

Cable and satellite will survive as a business model solely on sports and because they've mostly aligned with internet companies. I see a future where you have the broadcast stuff, cable or satellite for sports, then streaming for any other content.

Honestly for me it's getting to the point where there is just too much media to consume.

We've going with streaming for about 5-6 years now. During college football, I've signed up for either cable or a streaming service to try and get the live sports. The streaming option hasn't worked out consistently well, I seem to end up back with cable again each time

I've started to question the wisdom of cutting the cord. I mainly did it for cost savings, however streaming services aren't much cheaper than the basic cable packages that get me the channels I want. Cable service is more reliable than streaming services, I'll be looking closely at costs this fall to see which way I'll go

There's a lot to be said for the changing nature of consuming video entertainment. My kids only use netflix, amazon, and youtube. They never watch traditional TV.

The price delta between traditional cable and cutting the chord is getting smaller and smaller. Some of these services are getting more expensive, Internet is getting higher (plus data limits), etc

I have good cable and internet (U300 plus HBO, 4 cable boxes, and 100 internet) with U-verse and my bill is $115 a month including taxes and fees. You really can't get much lower than that by cutting cable anymore. Add in the fact that I watch the Astros every night, still no "legal" way to do that if you cut cable, and some of the other conveniences, it's a no brainer to keep U-verse.

Cut the cable in 2012 before Football season, would never go back.
Rokus with Netflix, PSVue, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Starz & HBO when shows are on.
Going to a hotel room with 300 channels is a nightmare, we bring a Roku stick with us now.

LoudestWHOOP! said:

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Cut the cable in 2012 before Football season, would never go back.
Rokus with Netflix, PSVue, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Starz & HBO when shows are on.
Going to a hotel room with 300 channels is a nightmare, we bring a Roku stick with us now.

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Agreed, I wouldn't care of it costs more. The user experience is so much better. I'm not a big sports guy though. I can understand why that type doesn't want to deal with streaming. The TV watching experience is 100x better than it was a decade ago.

That is definitely true today. There has been a lot of chatter that Apple, Amazon, You Tube, yahoo, Google, etc. will be major bidders when current sports contracts are up for bid again. Imagine a scenario where Apple has the SEC, Amazon has the ACC, You Tube has the Big X, etc. That will certainly change the dynamics and the model.