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CBS Turned Down Apple TV Subscription Service Deal
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My wife and I are now only on OTA digital channels, ATV2, and internet. Several have mentioned how great it will be when the tv chord is cut and everything will be streamed. Since a lot, if not a majority, of the internet providers are also TV providers they don't like that idea. Not surprisingly many are now adding data caps or slowing download speeds after a point. Streaming HD content won't look good if you get throttled down to 100k a sec. As some have mentioned just watching less tv is better. We have really enjoyed that part.
As far as an Apple TV...I can't imagine buying a TV with hardware that will be outdated in a few years or next year. We bought our 40" 1080p Sony 5 years ago. Still looks great. HD still looks amazing. Sure, I would like a larger tv, but it displays anything I plug into it. Probably, won't replace it until something goes wrong. I would rather spend <$100 for a new ATV each year with upgraded hardware than replace my tv every couple years.
As far as an Apple TV...I can't imagine buying a TV with hardware that will be outdated in a few years or next year. We bought our 40" 1080p Sony 5 years ago. Still looks great. HD still looks amazing. Sure, I would like a larger tv, but it displays anything I plug into it. Probably, won't replace it until something goes wrong. I would rather spend <$100 for a new ATV each year with upgraded hardware than replace my tv every couple years.
How do all cable operators get the content from the TV channels?
If Apple wanted to be a "cable operator" of the 21 sentry, how can the TV channels deny them content?
Its strange today when I have a cable box connected to a sling box.
I can get my TV anywhere in the world on my iPad. Somehow this is ok for the content providers. But the content providers can't think about cutting out the middle "cable operator" and replace it with 21 century internet tech.
If Apple wanted to be a "cable operator" of the 21 sentry, how can the TV channels deny them content?
Its strange today when I have a cable box connected to a sling box.
I can get my TV anywhere in the world on my iPad. Somehow this is ok for the content providers. But the content providers can't think about cutting out the middle "cable operator" and replace it with 21 century internet tech.
Moonves is a genius
Les has a great history of not paying for things he subscribes (e.g. Radio shows.) Ask him how CBS Radio is doing over the last 7 years due to his business acumen.
I'd also encourage someone to tally all the lawsuits he's spent CBS's money to file.
Les has a great history of not paying for things he subscribes (e.g. Radio shows.) Ask him how CBS Radio is doing over the last 7 years due to his business acumen.
I'd also encourage someone to tally all the lawsuits he's spent CBS's money to file.
I cut the cord over 3 years ago and we don't miss it *at all*. We use Netflix and Redbox/Handbrake (yay for USB BluRay drive and $1.50/night DB at Redbox!) for everything.
We're moving to a spot which should get better OTA reception in a couple months (we currently receive maybe 2 or 3 channels with our little indoor antenna) and I am going to set up a slightly better, omni-directional, possible outdoor antenna and spring for an EyeTV setup on the iMac. It'll be nice to get some live sports again, and having DVR'd shows added to my iTunes library automatically is going to save me a lot on DVD rentals (TV show series from the local video store usually). Might drop $150 on getting it setup, but that's barely more than 2 months of what we were paying for cable a few years ago.
Once you get a taste of commercial free television you can never go back. Some of us have been living this life for awhile now. Others are getting a taste with Netflix and the like. If Moonves thinks the old advertising model will be in place for much longer he is delusional.
Either CBS and others make their content available on demand and commercial free for a fair price or viewers will leave them in the dust. This is the future.
In the meantime, this reminds me, I need to add a couple of more shows to my SickBeard line-up.
Either CBS and others make their content available on demand and commercial free for a fair price or viewers will leave them in the dust. This is the future.
In the meantime, this reminds me, I need to add a couple of more shows to my SickBeard line-up.
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I live in VA and get Comcast 'basic' cable for $18 a month. I'm not sure if they are too lazy to block HD or not, but I get TNT, Discovery, Ntl Geographic, all major (and some minor) networks and probably ten other HD channels I can't name right now. Some are OTA, but most run straight out of the wall into my 43" Samsung Plasma. It looks great and with streaming Netflix I really haven't missed anything yet.
I'm also a big football nut and only miss MNF. But the games have been terrible so far! Yep, no ESPN for me. I know that's a deal-breaker for some, but it just means a trip to the sports bar for me...
I live in VA and get Comcast 'basic' cable for $18 a month. I'm not sure if they are too lazy to block HD or not, but I get TNT, Discovery, Ntl Geographic, all major (and some minor) networks and probably ten other HD channels I can't name right now. Some are OTA, but most run straight out of the wall into my 43" Samsung Plasma. It looks great and with streaming Netflix I really haven't missed anything yet.
I'm also a big football nut and only miss MNF. But the games have been terrible so far! Yep, no ESPN for me. I know that's a deal-breaker for some, but it just means a trip to the sports bar for me...
I will vote for any candidate who promises to put a $1M per year tax on your 30-seat home theatre and use the proceeds to fund schools and infrastructure.
I disagree. The free-if-you-can-deal-with-commercials model will always be alive and well. The only reason that cable TV subscriptions are still prevalent/relevant are because the companies that control the oligopoly make it so that it is cheaper to bundle Television with internet.
Lets be frank... one can live without cable TV (as broadcast TV is available at no charge), but living without internet access is far more inconvenient in this day and age.
Plain and simple, CBS doesn't need Apple. CBS is already in every household with a television or a cable box. CBS can stream content from their own servers if they like. The only thing that would interest CBS is more advertising money because AppleTV isnt' going to bring them any additional viewers.
Unlike the music industry, television content providers have a business model that torrents and streaming will not break. The only real threat to television in the past few years has been the 30-second skip button on DVRs.
I don't know anyone who looks at the clock, sees that its 8:30 and turns on their computer instead of their TV to catch "How I met your mother".
The TV is larger than the computer, easier to operate, has a better picture and won't slow down due to internet lag.
There's irony in this thread with people running off to go grab content illegally/off torrents because that's only possible because other people ARE paying for cable and uploading the content. So you might have cut the cord and stuck it to the cable operator - but you're still relying on them...
Welcome. We cut it over two years ago...
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Not really. To be honest, if it isn't on Netflix, iTunes or OTA we don't watch it.
I see your point. But I think in addition to not having a tolerance for commercials people are increasingly not willing to turn on their TV at a set time to view a particular program. Yes DVRs alleviate some of that but Netflix and the like are transforming the marketplace and in five years the old model will not be where the money is for these networks. If people can drop cable and only pay for internet (saving between $30 and $70 a month) to utilize viable streaming options on their TV they will.
The alternative for most people isn't torrents, it's legal streaming options like Netflix. But I'll play hardball with CBS. I'll continue to get the handful of shows of theirs I want through usenet and if they can't afford to keep producing stuff and the shows go away, no skin off my back. 98% of the content today sucks horribly anyways. I'll find other entertainment. They will change their decades old model or lose the game within a few years.