The rise in use of online streaming services is slowly bringing an end to traditional cable television services.
According to TechTarget, an online business pipeline service, online streaming is the process of media data, such as a video or movie, being sent to the viewer in a continuous stream and is played as it arrives instead of having to be downloaded. It can be equated to the online version of live television: both play as they reach the viewing platform.
Despite this similarity, cable television sales have plummeted as more often than not, people are turning to online streaming alternatives. So, why are streaming services so popular?
One of the main reasons people prefer streaming services is that streaming services are cheaper than cable television packages. They can buy a subscription to multiple streaming services before the price reaches that of a traditional cable television package.
Sophomore Anslie Vickery prefers streaming services.
“Buying a streaming package is much simpler and much cheaper than paying for cable. I can get multiple different services such as Hulu, Netflix, and even YouTube TV for the same price as a basic cable package, and the prices on cable tend to increase as you go anyway. It just makes more sense,” Vickery said.
The cable television package that my own family has is the “Choice All Included” package through DirecTV which costs $83 per month. This package includes 185 channels and all the physical equipment needed. In an article on the website Bankrate, there is a list of prices for monthly subscriptions to various online streaming services. One person can have subscriptions to Netflix ($7.99 per month), Hulu ($7.99 per month), HBO Now ($14.99 per month), Amazon Prime Video ($12.99 per month), Showtime ($10.99 per month), and Starz Play ($8.99 per month), and still only have to pay around $64 every month, versus the $83 per month with a cable company. It actually saves money to use streaming services versus cable television, and explains how they have increased in popularity while cable companies have suffered tremendously.
Additionally, cable services will provide “packages” that include shows that are not popular with all viewers. This means that customers are paying more for channels they do not even use.
Overall, the benefits of streaming services such as the cheap prices, wide selection and ability to play shows at any time, rather than be stuck on a streaming schedule, have allowed them to take the edge above cable services. This lead is likely to continue, driving cable services out of business for good.
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