TV service distributed through cable TV has been one of the epitomes of the human experience. We have successfully created a service that can provide entertainment to millions across the world at a moment’s notice. What may have been thought of as impossible in the early 1900s has actually turned into reality before half of the century had even passed. Conventional television followed closely by color television, revamped the way entertainment was delivered to households. And that kick-started a cycle of TV services evolution that continues even today.
The Advent of Cable TV
While it is not the most conventional form of TV service, cable TV has been around for the longest period of time. It employs the use of a coaxial or coax cable to distribute signals using the UHF and VHF radio bands. The signals reach the TV through the consumer’s portal and can directly plug into the TV set or cable box if available. Sometimes cable providers go on and install amplifiers in areas that receive poor signal strengths to help solve this problem.
Cable TV subscribers usually pay small service or subscription charges monthly on top of an initial installation cost. Through cable TV, the customers can access hundreds of channels, depending upon the package type. The channels are for all types of audiences, from sports freaks to news enthusiasts and children and opera-loving mothers. There is something for everyone to enjoy.
It is no secret that cable TV forms the basis for all modern-day entertainment technology. Whether it is streaming services, digital TV, or Netflix, nothing beats old-school and comfortable cable TV. Sometimes all you want to do is curl up on the couch and catch a movie at 10 PM on a Saturday, and cable can give you that nostalgia.
Streaming Services: Cable TV’s Greatest Woe?
Netflix, Hulu, and all the others in the streaming family have taken entertainment up a notch. You can literally watch anything you want, from TV shows to movies and documentaries, anywhere and anytime. There is nothing stopping you. You can watch it on your phone on the train or your tablet at home. Entertainment on the go has never been easier.
Streaming on-demand culture is one that only keeps getting entrenched. Where there were two services before, there are ten now and everyone is offering something unique. So why this paradigm shift from TV has services to streaming services taken place? We may have a few ideas.
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Binge-watching is the new norm
Nobody likes waiting a whole week for a new episode of their favorite TV show. Streaming services like Netflix have made it all too easy with all episodes releasing and uploading at once. The attention spans are at an all-time low so then why risk letting people wander off and lose interest in the series?
With streaming services, you never have to wait for the next week or even the next day. Millennial and Gen Z culture means you watch the entire show in one sitting, even if it takes the entire night. Did you even watch it if you didn’t binge it?
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Genre division is much more precise
Streaming services let you decide exactly what you want to watch. Is Halloween putting you in the mood for a horror movie? Or is the New Year making you crave sappy romances? Whatever the case may be, you can always find what genres you are in the mood for and proceed to search until you find the movie that matches your aura.
This browsing would definitely be impossible to even imagine with TV services. You can only watch what is airing and nothing more. With streaming services the possibilities are endless. You can stream a rom-com right in the heart of Halloween and enjoy it with hot chocolate!
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New Streamers are on the rise
The industry that initially only had Netflix and Hulu has branched off into many new streaming services. From HBO Max to Disney+ and Apple TV+ there is so much more variety in the mix. It just keeps getting better and better.
The new streamers of bringing in new flavors of entertainment, with exclusive productions and so much more. With all the hype going around, it is quite apparent why the yearly subscription for streaming services continues to rise.
Cable TV and On-Demand Content – A Marriage of Convenience
The United States has many cable TV providers scattered throughout the nation. Small-time providers are piggybacking off of larger providers and the biggest names in the market. As of now, Xfinity, Spectrum, and AT&T take the cake for the best services provided. Xfinity especially is popular for the large range of packages it provides with the largest coverage around the nation. Spectrum on the other hand is the golden goose for many Spanish people, due to the large variety of Latino channels with plans it offers. The market is competitive but these providers work hard to get you the best experience possible.
Fairly recently, cable TV providers have started pairing up with exclusive on-demand content to elevate the TV service experience. For example, by signing up for Xfinity by Comcast you get a free 4K Flexbox that has thousands of on-demand titles that you can stream as you like. This way you are never bored. You can catch up on live news and sports championships and still have a brand new horror movie to watch on a Friday night sleepover with all your friends.
On-demand content and streaming services may have put a slight damper on cable TV services but this recent development has helped clear up the air. This marriage of convenience between the two lets you have the best of both worlds – a little taste of everything. After all, why hold back when the opportunity is there?
Final Words on The Evolution of the Entertainment Industry
Although it may appear so on the surface, the cable TV service is nowhere near the end of its prime. Streaming services may have captured more than just the attention of millions of US citizens but TV service still remain high up on the favorites list for many people. We cannot deny that cable TV providers like Xfinity and Spectrum are on a decline, but the truth is, it is negligible a difference at best. The TV service industry still generates around $265 billion per year and that is no figure to shy away from.
The TV service and entertainment industry is evolving but what lies in the future? We do not know. But the fact that cable TV providers are now coupling their services with on-demand streaming services is a great breakthrough for entertainment. People are more likely to get this bundle than standalone streaming services. Cable TV still forms a very big part of an average American household and is expected to continue as such.
What does the future of evolving entertainment and TV service mean for the world?
We do not know for sure but we can imagine it certainly has exciting things in store for us.
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