A recent football game presented an interesting technology challenge. I could either attend a birthday party and watch the game there or stay home to watch the game. Prior to leaving for the party, I called ahead to double check they were going to have the game on during the party. Now, I’m not a complete football nut, but I really wanted to watch this game. It was on national television, NBC to be precise. The host surprised me by telling me they did not have cable. My heart stopped. Who doesn’t have cable in 2014 (doesn’t it seem so long ago already)? I stayed home and Mrs. App took Toddler and Baby App to the party. Yes, I did eventually arrive at the party, albeit after the end of the game. It turns out, they canceled their cable a number of months back. They have Apple TV and download shows, which has cut their cost (excluding the Apple TV investment) by 75 percent.
For the longest time, I’ve threatened to cancel DirecTV. The amount of money we spend for cable is insane. For pete’s sake, we rarely watch live television. I would estimate that 90 percent of our viewing is from the DVR. So, I’m making baby steps. Sorry if this is the first you’ve heard of this happening, Mrs. App! Santa delivered an Amazon Fire TV. The cost is $100, which is in the same ballpark as Roku and Apple TV. There are a few alternatives, such as the Amazon Fire Stick and Google Chromecast, both are in the $35 range. I am slowly using Amazon Prime ($99 per year) via the Amazon Fire TV to stream and download movies, shows and music. My goal is to reduce my DirecTV account and eventually turn it off. Another solution may be SlingBox, which streams to multiple devices.
Comcast had a decline in cable subscribers in Q3 of 2014, yet their Internet subscribers grew by 315,000. So what are the cable providers doing? Nothing in the short term, because the subscriber cancelations have not been significant enough. They’ll continue to fleece us until the subscriber base declines at a greater volume. Here’s the interesting news: Cable cutters are not saving as much money as they projected. Take my friend without cable. They are realizing a savings monthly, but their download fees from Apple are increasing and reducing the savings. The cable providers recognize that consumers are willing to pay for downloadable content. They are watching consumers turn toward online television sources, such as Hulu Plus and YouTube. We’re in the beginning stages of how the cable companies are adjusting their offerings. HBO is planning to release their streaming only option in a couple of months.
What does this mean for you? I believe we’ll have more options as consumers. Our providers will not corner us into a package, as they often do today. They’ll begin offering a la carte channels and streaming options. They’ll offer Internet packages. Your bill may not decrease, however I believe we’ll receive more value for our monthly expense. In fact, in a conversation with a cable provider, they are beginning to position: You pick the channels package. The issue they’ve expressed is the fees the cable companies charge isn’t aligned with offering online streaming. I like this option. I’m not shy to spend a few dollars on entertainment, just allow me to pay for what I use.
There are some challenges with the streaming options today. Most of the streaming tools offer the same applications, which means you may need more than one device if you are looking for certain applications. Check out http://goo.gl/mpFbaH for a comparison of streaming devices. Some devices are not Wi-Fi, so you’ll need an Internet cable. The controllers are fairly basic unlike the space command controller the cable providers offer. Some of the online channels require an actual cable subscription to view.
How can you reduce your bill today? Ask your provider to consider adjusting your monthly fee. Select the cancellation option when calling in. Seriously, are you that married to one provider? Leave! You’re not changing football allegiances from the Broncos to the Patriots! Consider an HD antenna and an over the air DVR. Don’t go cheap on the antenna! Keep the receipt and check the return policy. Make sure NBC comes in clear. An antenna is roughly $100, DVR $50 (TiVo) plus a $15 per month fee. This will provide you with the local stations. Any of the streaming options I mentioned earlier will work. Most have access to a number of streaming, often overlapping applications. I went with Amazon Fire because we are Amazon Prime members. With some patience and homework, I am confident your monthly cable expenses can be reduced. Buyer beware though! Be careful what we wish for. Don’t be surprised that you soon find yourself at a friend’s house wondering why the big game isn’t on.
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere; It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.