Comments on: Gear Chat: Is Cable TV on the way out?

By: ChrisSpera

ChrisSpera — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:54:09 +0000

One of the best things about being a part of this team is things like this Chat. We need to do more of these…

By: gorkon

gorkon — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:42:44 +0000

I just don't think it's there yet. First, there's the broadband restrictions. Providers don't like downloaders of even legal material. Finally, there's the 7-8 million people who Barack Obama wants to push the digital transition back for. The world just isn't ready for this. What I do know is I too listen to and watch more content from the net than TV in general.

By: reidme

reidme — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:24:58 +0000

I agree that cable TV as we know it will change dramatically eventually, but I believe it is entrenched enough to last for quite a while longer. The fraction of the population getting most of their content via data connections is still small (us early adopter types.) I know a lot of folks still resisting even a digital cable box.

Some day we’ll have pipeline providers and content providers and they won’t be so entertwined. As high speed wireless becomes ubiquitous satellite TV and satellite radio will become irrelevent also.

By: Drew

Drew — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:34:54 +0000

Hmmm… Since I just went to work for Australia's version of Comcast, I'm hoping that you're estimates are incorrect..

By: jamm

jamm — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:26:52 +0000

They're going to go away (for me definitely) and its just a matter of time. I refuse to justify paying the ridiculous prices they want for digital cable and when they finally determine they're shutting off basic cable I'm done. The real big problem I have with cable is that even if there's 100 channels, there's nothing on. The only channels that do a decent job of content are the major networks during prime time and I can get all of their shows online a day later anyway.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:52:20 +0000

I live on the edge of civilization, so my paltry 1.5Mb broadband connection runs about $40/month. That in mind, I refuse to drop another $40 or so per month on video content via satellite provider. If I'm watching it, I got it either online, from the antenna, or from a quaint, shiny, little round disc that's promptly ripped to the home network and then begins it's life anew as a dust collector.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:00:51 +0000

I already download content more than rent it on DVD due to the instant nature of the results.

Hollywood is doing themselves a disservice keeping the DVD "Window" open. Its the same issue as there was fighting the likes of iTunes (or even VHS rentals back in the day)

Once you can get hi-def movies right after they are out of theaters (legitimately ) there will be mass move away from DVD's and even blu-ray.

Its already rediculous that many Blu-Ray disks release a month or more after DVD? What do they expect, you'll buy both? There aren't that many Dark Knight movies out there for that