Tioluwa, Cable can compete against the web in content transmission, it's modus operandi just has to change. No longer can a company insist on the kind of pricing that cable companies want to continue charging especially when their market is being carved up by hungry competitors.
Choosen alternative service providers boils down to quality of services getting across to consumers. One deciding factor i think someone should consider before switching to alternative provider efficiency and reliabilty.
I saw in the discussion that many people have the same carrier for their Internet and cable TV. I have the same situation. I did a little research last night and found programming to be pretty much the same on the Internet as it is on On-Demand. This doesn't bother me as long as I use the Internet for other things (such as work). Hooking my laptop up to the TV is inconvenient, but does proivde more programming options.
Very interesting discussion I must say, and i find the point that
we can't forget that "pull" is more important than "push" in winning these technology battles
very true.
If cable cannot fight the web/mobile content wave, then i think they will have to take advantage of it strategically, taking advantage of it rather than fighting it. If it saves the masses more, they would definately prefer it.
I agree with Jay_Bond's point about sports. People even switch cable service subscriptions just to get more sports action but i think even this can be taken full advantage of by mobile/web contents if the cable TV provides maximize the platform.
But will they make more money from this or less money?
Sports are the biggest reason I can't ditch cable at the moment. Sure, you can catch some games on the internet but not a majority of them. You also miss out on regional sports networks. For regular shows, we just set our DVR for the handful of shows we like and watch them at our leisure, but sports are a different story. If my wife would let me, sports would be on whenever the TV is on. And going to a sports bar everyday for hours at a time would just be ridiculous.
@ Ms. Daisy, I am going to look into alternatives also. One thing I didn't see mentioned so far is attaching an antenna to catch local over-the-air braodcasts, which are now broadcast in HD. I live near the top of a hill, so I am hopeful that I can pull in a handful of stations.
I share your dislike of cable and satellite pay services which is why I ditched subscription satellite and got freesat instead a few months back. It has the same HD picture capability and Dolby Sound as the pay service but no monthly fees. Content is limited but with the record function I simply scan for decent stuff and record onto HDD and watch at my leisure. I imagine the internet (via wireless) will eventually catch up on the picture quality of satellite/cable for TV and when that happens I will prob go fully internet.
I understand your point, but what Dolby Digital surround sound does is to optimize sound output. You can easily connect your laptop with your tv if your tv support HDMI or VGA port and your laptop does too, still your home theater will give you better sound, the sound is not from the cable.
With the way technology is moving, cable will soon be out of date. Some electronics like smart TVs, Youtube now has several categories of Channels available, and some electronics now for instance Smart TV, Blue-ray Disc DVD Players comes with internet connectivity both wireless access and ethernet port features, you can have direct access to the TV Channels.
It depends on the resouces you have, Internet technology is taking over from cable. I watched the last Women World Cup live on internet, I watch English Premiership League live on internet. The issue of if you don't pay your subscription cable provider will cut you off is not there, I watch most sports online.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
To save this item to your list of favorite EBN content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
