It’s no secret that the cable TV industry is seeing less demand these days than ever before. After all, new technologies have changed the way we look at the entertainment industry. Entertainment is accessible at your fingertips, which is why viewers are more picky.
Most viewers want to be able to choose their source of entertainment. This isn’t possible with cable TV channels that rely on the whims of network executives. So, it’s hardly surprising that not everyone wants to subscribe to cable TV these days.
This is thanks to the new technologies that have been making waves in entertainment. We’ll look at the top technologies that are currently disrupting the cable TV industry.
- Online and Mobile Viewing Technologies
The biggest disrupter of the demand for cable TV is online viewing technologies. These days, anyone can view movies and TV shows of their choice with an internet connection. As the internet got extensive, people had more entertainment options than cable TV.
The spread of the internet contributed to the rise of online streaming services. These services are often cheaper than buying movies on demand. In some cases, they’re even cheaper than subscribing to a cable TV package. But, all isn’t lost for the cable TV industry yet.
There are cable TV packages available these days more affordable than streaming services. All you need to do to access them is to compare their prices online. You could also club these packages with internet subscriptions. This would be more convenient and would help you save money in the long run.
You can click here to start comparing prices of different cable TV packages. You can then opt for the package that offers you value for money. This could turn out to be cheaper than opting for a streaming service package.
But, the advantage of streaming services is you can share your subscription. You can then split the monthly subscription fees with others to save money. But, this option doesn’t come without its set of disadvantages.
It’s not common for one streaming service to cover movies, sports, and news. You may need to subscribe to more than one streaming service to access these. But, with a cable subscription, you can access all the channels you need.
You can browse through cable TV channels to watch your favorite movies and sports. You can even stay abreast of the latest developments with the help of the news channels.
- The Metaverse
The metaverse is one of the newest introductions to the entertainment industry. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the rise of sophisticated technologies in entertainment. Since people couldn’t leave their homes at the time, they had to make do with virtual interaction.
They would also need more engaging forms of entertainment to keep them occupied. This led to the rise of the metaverse in entertainment. The metaverse consists of interconnected digital environments that allow virtual interactions.
These interactions allowed people to connect with each other without leaving their homes. They also allowed people to access new forms of online entertainment. People can access everything from virtual concerts to gaming experiences in the metaverse.
So, it’s not surprising that the metaverse is slowly drawing away viewers from cable TV services. Cable TV services are seen as old and traditional compared to the modern metaverse. But, this doesn’t mean that cable and satellite TV services are redundant.
Many people still prefer watching cable TV than entertaining themselves on the metaverse. After all, people may have privacy concerns about sharing their information online. The same concerns don’t apply to cable TV services.
You don’t have to provide cable service providers with too much personal information. Also, it’s not easy for third-parties to access this information. So, you could say your information is somewhat safer when you choose cable or satellite TV.
- Social Media Channels
If you spend time online, the inclusion of social media channels on this list shouldn’t surprise you. The rise of influencer culture has created a new form of entertainment across the world. People are now choosing to watch shorter videos instead of shows and movies.
These videos are typically under a minute long and created for entertainment only. But, some of the biggest brands are now using them to promote their products online as well. Social media channels like Instagram allow users to make these videos as ‘Reels’.
The Reels feature music, filters and special effects. So, they’re a great form of entertainment for those that don’t have more than a few minutes to spare. Even YouTube recently came up with ‘Shorts’ that are quite like Reels.
These short videos have diverted viewer attention from cable TV. A big advantage of these videos is that you can watch them anytime, anywhere. Besides, they take up a very small amount of time and energy for most people.
But, the quality of the content featured in these videos isn’t always great. There’s hardly much thought that goes into the writing and production of these videos. So, if you want good quality entertainment, they aren’t a substitute for cable TV channels.
These channels feature content from some of the best artists in the world. So, if you want to engage in content that’s enriching, cable TV is the way to go. Besides, some cable TV networks are also available for online streaming now. This allows you to view your favorite shows and movies while you’re on the move.
- Low-Cost Content Production Technologies
Another technology that’s indirectly killing cable TV service is low-cost production technology. Those in the entertainment industry now have access to sophisticated production equipment. This allows them to save time and money on production.
Digital studios are challenging the notion that high-quality content has to be costly and time-consuming. The biggest streaming services today attract millions of viewers around the world. Their content is fresh, engaging, and relevant. The best feature of this content is that it’s produced in a short time frame.
Content producers now have access to technologies that do their work for them. One example of this would be the introduction of AI in the entertainment industry. AI allows streaming services like Netflix to find out user tastes and preferences. This allows the streaming service to suggest content based on the data they collect.
Allowing viewers to access what they’re interested in is a great tactic. After all, viewers are likely to stick around and watch what captures their attention. This is opposed to the limited options they have on cable TV networks.
But, the catch here is that the suggestions made by streaming services aren’t always spot on. There’s always a chance of encountering low-quality content on these platforms. By comparison, you’re likely to find better quality content on your local cable TV.
Conclusion
The technologies disrupting cable TV are also pushing the envelope in entertainment. But, this doesn’t mean that cable TV has had its day in the sun already. There are now more entertainment consumers in the world than there were before.
So, it follows that these consumers will have varied tastes and preferences. Some people still prefer the comfort of watching cable TV in their homes. There are minimal privacy concerns with having a cable or satellite TV connection.
The same cannot be said for some newer technologies like the metaverse. So, if you want to go the safer, more traditional route, cable TV is the way to go. Also, remember that some of the best quality content still makes its way onto cable TV. It helps that this content isn’t very costly to access either.
