In 2013, I wrote an article evaluating an article from USA Today concerning changes faced by traditional television of the time. I would like to evaluate these points in the context of technology in 2023.
First, the original article was found here: http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2061127 (***note the article is no longer found on the site but is included for those who know how to serve and retrieve archives on the web)
Firstly, my article highlighted the decline in new cable TV subscribers o the time, suggesting that people were turning to alternative sources for video entertainment, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon TV. This trend has continued to grow in 2023, with streaming services dominating the entertainment landscape. Traditional cable TV is increasingly seen as outdated and overpriced compared to on-demand streaming options. And in the idea of “traditional” cable TV is included in that definition.
The article also touched upon the frustration of consumers with cable TV’s high fees, with many channels having little to no interest to viewers. In 2023, this issue has only intensified, as consumers are now even more accustomed to personalized, on-demand content. The “cord-cutting” phenomenon, where people abandon cable TV in favor of streaming services, has become a mainstream trend.
The point about cable companies strategically dividing popular networks across different pricing tiers to entice consumers to buy more is still relevant today. While this business practice has faced some criticism and regulatory challenges, it remains a common strategy used by cable and streaming providers.
The critique of the quality of programming on traditional TV, especially sitcoms, was another pertinent issue raised in the article. In 2023, this situation has not significantly improved, with many viewers preferring the diverse, high-quality content available on streaming platforms over traditional broadcast TV.
The article suggested that change might be on the horizon, as more viewers were turning to on-demand Internet-based programming. Indeed, this prediction has largely come true, and we’ve witnessed considerable changes in the industry over the years, with many cable networks launching their streaming services and adapting to the new reality of digital consumption.
The observations made in the article from a few years ago are still relevant in 2023. The technology landscape has continued to evolve, with streaming services and on-demand content becoming the norm, while traditional television is grappling with declining subscribers and issues related to high costs and content quality.
