Nearly 800,000 U.S. TV households 'cut the cord,' report says

[alienlovechild 75]

Make no mistake: The big cable, satellite, and telco carriers are still sitting pretty with more than 100 million TV subscribers. Nevertheless, a new report claims that more and more viewers are "cutting the cord" in favor of watching their favorite shows via over-the-air antennas (remember those?), Netflix, or the Web.

To wit: Nearly 800,000 households in the U.S. have "cut the cord," dumping their cable, satellite, or telco TV providers (such as AT&T U-verse or Verizon FiOS) and turning instead to Web-based videos (like Hulu), downloadable shows (iTunes), by-mail subscription services (Netflix), or even good ol' over-the-air antennas for their favorite shows, according to the report.

Now, as TechCrunch points out, the estimated 800,000 cord cutters represent less than 1 percent of the 100 million U.S. households (give or take) currently subscribing to a cable/satellite/telco TV carrier, so it's not like we're talking a mass exodus here. But by the end of 2011, the report guesstimates, the number of cord-cutting households in the U.S. will double to about 1.6 million, and if the trend continues, well...

Even more trouble for the big carriers is the report's assertion that U.S. TV watchers are getting a taste for online video, with an estimated 17 percent of the U.S. TV audience watching at least one or two shows online in a given week last year, up from just 12 percent in 2008, and set to rise to 21 percent this year.

Personally, I find the temptation to cut the cord pretty enticing, especially whenever I get a load of my monthly $130 cable bill (which includes unlimited broadband and HD but no premium channels). Why am I paying so much for all the hundreds of channels that I rarely ever watch, anyway? Wouldn't it be easier — not to mention a lot cheaper — just to ditch my DVR and watch my favorite shows on iTunes and Hulu, catch up on the news via CNN.com, and be done with it?

There's one important factor that's keeping me from pulling my scissors out: live sports, and particularly ESPN, my 24-hour sports companion. Sure, as a football fan, I could keep up with the Jets and the Giants via over-the-air TV (although I'm not sure my landlord would be all that ecstatic about my installing a TV antenna on the roof of our Brooklyn brownstone), but without cable, I'd be left high and dry when it comes to Monday Night Football.

Correction: This post originally said that 800,000 U.S. TV households "cut the cord" in 2009. They didn't all cut the cord in 2009; the number reflects how many had cut the cord by the end of 2009 — a somewhat important distinction. Apologies for the goof.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100413/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1598

[scandal 951]

There's one important factor that's keeping me from pulling my scissors out: live sports, and particularly ESPN, my 24-hour sports companion. Sure, as a football fan, I could keep up with the Jets and the Giants via over-the-air TV (although I'm not sure my landlord would be all that ecstatic about my installing a TV antenna on the roof of our Brooklyn brownstone), but without cable, I'd be left high and dry when it comes to Monday Night Football.

This is the only reason I haven't cut the cord yet either. Sunday football is broadcast on CBS/FOX/NBC local affiliates. I watch the news on local NBC and PBS affiliates, and don't watch cable news. I don't watch cable movies. That leaves only occasional channel surfing for things like The Daily Show on Comedy Central, but even there the best bits are available on Youtube. That leaves only ESPN Monday Night Football as my "must have" reason for live cable.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I never in my life had cable. Never understood why folk pay to watch the idiot box. I stopped watching TV years ago because I never felt the need to be entertained by it.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Nagishkaw

[Texanadian 10]

If the antenna is in an area where others can't get to (like a private deck), there is nothing your landlord can do. It is a federal law that you are allowed to have an antenna in private outdoor areas.

The all channels must be digital rule has done wonders for the over the air antenna world. What used to be snowy and meshed colours is now pure and perfect. I ditched cable and went with an antenna. Get about 50 channels. I bought a Tivo for the antenna and it's worth it's weight in gold. Records all my fav TV shows and movies. Records movies based on actor wishlists. Today I hooked it up to Blockbuster and Amazon online, so now I can rent (download) movies right to the Tivo. It has a Netflix option too, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee. Hence why I like Amazon and Blockbuster. There is no fee unless you actually rent something.

[alienlovechild 75]

The all channels must be digital rule has done wonders for the over the air antenna world. What used to be snowy and meshed colours is now pure and perfect. I ditched cable and went with an antenna. Get about 50 channels. I bought a Tivo for the antenna and it's worth it's weight in gold. Records all my fav TV shows and movies. Records movies based on actor wishlists. Today I hooked it up to Blockbuster and Amazon online, so now I can rent (download) movies right to the Tivo. It has a Netflix option too, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee. Hence why I like Amazon and Blockbuster. There is no fee unless you actually rent something.

I've got an indoor antenna but it doesn't pick up much except one channel and sometimes there's a couple other channels. We don't get the snow but with digital, we get frozen images or just a black screen. It's gotta be an outside antenna and fairly close to a city. We don't watch much TV so I haven't bothered to stick an antenna outside and we watch Netflix movies which isn't bad at a dollar a movie and can see movies I've never seen before.

Had people try to sell us cable and they find it hard to believe we don't want 500 channels and on any of their "deals".

Edited April 17, 2010 by alienlovechild

[Dr. Obvious 49]

TV watchers are getting a taste for online video, with an estimated 17 percent of the U.S. TV audience watching at least one or two shows online in a given week last year, up from just 12 percent in 2008, and set to rise to 21 percent this year.

No way. x 3880913801

[Texanadian 10]

I've got an indoor antenna but it doesn't pick up much except one channel and sometimes there's a couple other channels. We don't get the snow but with digital, we get frozen images or just a black screen. It's gotta be an outside antenna and fairly close to a city. We don't watch much TV so I haven't bothered to stick an antenna outside and we watch Netflix movies which isn't bad at a dollar a movie and can see movies I've never seen before.

Had people try to sell us cable and they find it hard to believe we don't want 500 channels and on any of their "deals".

Try tvfool.com and see what's available for channels in your area.

[Marilyn. 340]

we got rid of our cable a long time ago... don't really miss it as we can get most of our shows online on sites like Hulu....

in the next year or so we are going to get a flat screen TV that has a HDMI output thing so we can hook our laptop to the TV and watch stuff online on the TV...

[trillium13 84]

We have over the air TV. Even if we could afford cable (which we can't right now) I'm not sure we would get it. The prices they charge are outrageous-for nothing. And you have no choices either as far as companies, you get one. If their service sucks, too bad for you. If you want their service, you have to pay, even if it sucks, because there is no competition.

When I lived in NY there was a company that would give you very basic cable (just 15 channels or so) for 9 bucks a month. That was a good deal I thought. I don't know why more companies can't provide this.

I don't miss too much, except the food or travel or TLC or Discovery occasionally. We watch the news now while we eat and that's about it.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I'm struggling through another furlough so we cut off Uverse about 3 weeks ago. Switched to basic broadband internet with comcast.

Edited April 18, 2010 by Sousuke

[alienlovechild 75]

Try tvfool.com and see what's available for channels in your area.

That's an interesting website. It looks like we should get three channels but we get a CBS station and Univision. Supposed to be a PBS channel but I've never seen that one.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I never in my life had cable. Never understood why folk pay to watch the idiot box. I stopped watching TV years ago because I never felt the need to be entertained by it.

I always find it interesting how people who don't watch TV seem to carry it like a badge of honor and even come off as elitist about it.

I mean if someone at work asks if ya watched a certain show last nite, you can just say "nope."

Instead, the person never fails to point out that they dont watch tv, and make others feel inferior for doing so.

Not saying that Nag here is doing that but, It is almost a 100% same attitude from all the NON TV watchers out there.

I mean if someone asks me if I read that latest best seller book, I dont beat my chest and proudly point out, "I don't read books."

I would simply say, "No, I didnt read that book."

[Nessa 23]

I always find it interesting how people who don't watch TV seem to carry it like a badge of honor and even come off as elitist about it.

I mean if someone at work asks if ya watched a certain show last nite, you can just say "nope."

Instead, the person never fails to point out that they dont watch tv, and make others feel inferior for doing so.

Not saying that Nag here is doing that but, It is almost a 100% same attitude from all the NON TV watchers out there.

I mean if someone asks me if I read that latest best seller book, I dont beat my chest and proudly point out, "I don't read books."

I would simply say, "No, I didnt read that book."

[Nagishkaw 510]

I always find it interesting how people who don't watch TV seem to carry it like a badge of honor and even come off as elitist about it.

I mean if someone at work asks if ya watched a certain show last nite, you can just say "nope."

Instead, the person never fails to point out that they dont watch tv, and make others feel inferior for doing so.

Not saying that Nag here is doing that but, It is almost a 100% same attitude from all the NON TV watchers out there.

I mean if someone asks me if I read that latest best seller book, I dont beat my chest and proudly point out, "I don't read books."

I would simply say, "No, I didnt read that book."

0h, but sublimely you are saying.You love to throw your little digs in toward other members. Do not dictate to me how you think I should post and how to answer in a thread. Do I do that to you? I am not above anyone here, nor is anyone below me. Tell me, how does one " make " someone feel inferior ? Hold a gun to their head and demand inferiority... or else?

[Ali G. 37]

I always find it interesting how people who don't watch TV seem to carry it like a badge of honor and even come off as elitist about it.

I mean if someone at work asks if ya watched a certain show last nite, you can just say "nope."

Instead, the person never fails to point out that they dont watch tv, and make others feel inferior for doing so.

Not saying that Nag here is doing that but, It is almost a 100% same attitude from all the NON TV watchers out there.

I mean if someone asks me if I read that latest best seller book, I dont beat my chest and proudly point out, "I don't read books."

I would simply say, "No, I didnt read that book."

Good points.

There are some great channels and shows on cable or satellite. Just avoid E!, MTV, Bravo and VH1