Why do we still have to sit through commercials?
 

The DirecTV/Viacom thread got me thinking.

Commercials were developed as a way for free channels to get the revenue necessary to operate, the same as radio and newspapers. Regular radio stations and many newspapers are still free to this day, so advertising is just the cost of doing business. However, most cable packages cost between $50-$80, just for “standard cable” (not including HBO, etc). My current DTV bill is $85, and I don’t have any movie channels.

We are all paying a premium for these channels, and yet 1/3 of the content is advertising. What is the difference between paying for HBO (commercial-free and unregulated language/nudity) versus (unwillingly) paying for the Viacom package of channels (commercials and FCC-regulated)?

Just get a ****ing dvr.

Problem solved.

Greed.

This ^

Because subscriber fees only account for a tiny percentage of all the revenues channels bring in. That's about all there is to it.

You can still get free channels.

To expand, this article is a bit out of date (2010), but suggests that the average subscriber cost for a cable channel is about $.20.

http://allthingsd.com/20100308/hate-...he-reason-why/

Compare that to HBO, which is currently sitting at $15.99 (though that admittedly includes multiple channels).

This

Well, that and economics I suppose.

Mostly greed though.

Come on, this is America.

Why does everyone always want something for nothing?

Paying for your cable bill isn't nothing.

GREEEEEEEEEEEED LMAO

Fyp

Maybe the commercials offset the cost of the cable bill so it does not cost people 250 bucks a month...

They are doing you a favor, Kinda like when Verizon does you a favor by letting you have a 600 dollar phone they pay 100 bucks for and locking you in for 2 years.

Why are morons like Charlie Sheen paid tens of millions for crap?

Because no wants likes to admit it, but theres a DEMAND for his crap.

Because people like watching morons like Charlie Sheen.

Because we like being told what to buy.

Because he delivers a product the public wants.

Maybe if they offered a la carte programming, I wouldn't have to pay for stupid channels.

An EXCELLENT idea, Only pay for what you watch... I agree 100%

Has anyone posted "because **** you, that is why?"

There is no reason, Idealy I just want the movie channelsand free ones. No one has that package.

Its been discussed ad nausem around here but the general consensus is the reason they bundle is so they can offer it to you cheaper.

If they offered ala carte, then the subscriber rates would get jacked up to like $4 or $5 a channel.

And I could have the 4 or 5 channels that I watch for 1/4 of my current bill. I'm for it.

At least people have alot of options now days.

YOur free to cancel cable and go Roku, Apple TV, Netflix etc....

I have this Fiber Optic tv, everything comes in over the internet here... I would like to see competition in this style of tv.

Not me. I DVR pretty much everything.

We are sheep!
We tolerate paying big $$ at the movie theatre, just to see commercial after commercial.

Read a book

Live sports?

(I see roku has the SEC channel... that's cool)

I went without cable for a few years... didn't like searching for games online, and the NFL was especially difficult when it came to finding decent/reliable online streams. If it wasn't for the NFL, CFB, CBB, and the NHL playoffs, I'd get rid of it again.

It would be great if I could pick about 10-15 channels, too...

Just switch from Directv to Dishnetwork every two years.

You will always get 3 months free movie channels, new equipment every two years and will also save money.

Only suckers pay full price so they can feel "loyal"...smart consumers are loyal to the best deal.

I flip people from one product to the other every day that end up getting new equipment and save 30-40 dollars a month...more than that if you figure in
the cost savings the first three months of free movie channels.

Shit, that also gets you Sunday ticket for free every other year because they include it for new customers.

If you want Sunday ticket the off year, have them run a fresh line to the spot where your dish receiver will go so you can keep the dtv line active (tell them to leave the dtv dish up) and use a friends receiver during st time and split the cost...or just sign up for it on a ps3.

If you have a friend that always has the other company, you can always use this trick by NEVER paying for Sunday ticket because one or the other would always have it for free and both of you would always be on a "new customer offer"

Both of you will need to switch providers every two years right before the football season starts.

Free Sunday ticket
Lower monthly bills
Free movie channels
New equipment every two years

You can thank me later.

You would be really surprised how many people would use that option.

Get an antennae for local networks and then pay only for the 6-10 channels you actually watch.

Even at 6 bucks per channel, the company that offers that first would clean up.

How do you get Directv without signing a contract?

Because tens of millions of people watch him. And those people buy stuff. And people who want to sell stuff pay HUNDREDS of millions to advertise to those people.

That money has to go somewhere.

Just like sports, the salaries don't inflate the price of admission. It's the other way around.

I’m surprised to hear the “just DVR it” from sports fans. When’s the last time you waited to start a Chiefs game to skip the commercials?

Also, they are getting more intrusive with their advertising, like the animated promos in the corners, and a lot of those are starting to have sound on top of whatever you are watching.

The problem is getting those CHANNELS to agree to it. And they won't. Places like VH1 know that they won't actually be purchased a la carte, so they only will bundle.

think about it - if you had NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC for free, what other channels would you pay for?

I think I'd probably do ESPN and HBO. That's it.

Except there are 8 HBOs and four ESPNS. Do those come together, or do I have to pay for ESPN2 separately? Or, if they're bundled, do I HAVE to pay for ESPN classic and HBOL? I don't speak spanish and I can watch old sports footage on youtube.

If that’s the case, why are DTV/Dish/TWC/etc fighting with content-providers so often now?

If my 100% of my bill was going to the pay the cost of DTV/Dish/TWC/etc, and Viacom made 100% of their money through advertising, then I could get that argument. But Viacom is passing along the cost to DTV/Dish/TWC/etc, who is passing that cost on to me. Seems like they are double-dipping by charging us to watch their advertising.

You can't.

Everyone signs a 2 year deal.

What's your point, raider bitch?
When the Chiefs are on, I have it record and flip to red zone for commercials. If I miss a play when I flip back, I just rewind.

I literally never watch commercials unless I chose to.

No clue. 2.5 men was NEVER funny.

Raider Bitch LMAOROFL You Cheaps Cocksmoker

Subscribition fees aren't much. They still have to pay to put shows on the air which costs major bucks. Without advertising, cable and sat. tv would be even more expensive than it is today.

ESPN
NFLN
History
SyFy
Discovery
Travel

I wouldn't even notice the other missed channels.

Eliminate the entire broadcast advertising industry? LMFAO

Holy shit.

Actually you can get DTV without a contract (or use to be able to, I did it years ago) you just have to buy the equipment outright. They work a lot like Verizon, you buy a phone for $1000 and not sign a contract, or you can pay $100 and sign a 2 year deal

1. Dish Network SUCKS
2. Switching is a pain in the ass, who wants to do that?
3. Are you recommending that people commit fraud to obtain Sunday Ticket?
4. DirectTV gives me what I want when I want it at a fair price and their service has been excellent over the 10+ years I've had them.

:evil:

Funny story...

When my nephew and son were younger, they couldn't say "Chiefs" and could only say "Cheaps"

Funny videos to watch.

I do it quite a bit, unless there are other games on or I want to hangout here... I'll wait until halftime and most of the time catch up with a couple of minutes left. It's one reason I look forward to Saturdays more... I get CFB on several channels plus ESPN3, so I can basically watch up to 6 games at once (picture in picture plus up to 4 on espn3). Watching 2 NFL games on TV and one online isn't even enough sometimes.

The in-game advertising is definitely annoying... less time talking sports... CBB has gotten annoying recently with more and more ads during free throws.

I can't say Chiefs either :evil:

BTW how much is this NFLST gonna cost on the PS3 and is it in HD? I have asked this question before about the HD but don't remember the answer

Try finding one that doesn't require high end subscription service to be able to use it. it is beyond ridiculous that you cannot purchase a stand alone DVR for a flat rate like you could a VCR.

Not to the owners of the product you want.

1) why do you say that? Our service call ratio is pretty much equal for both providers.
2) Switching isn't a pain in the ass if you go through a retailer. Not at all.
3) It's not fraud if you have one of your receivers "in the motorhome"
4) ive had them for about 10 years, too. Always been happy, but if both companies offered Sunday ticket, why not switch. For Directv you save 31 bucks your first year and 16 the second...for dish you save 31 the first year.

That's $564 you save over the 2 years with dtv and just under 400 for dish.

Plus the Sunday ticket/movie channel savings.

To most, that's significant.

Not sure on the cost thing, but if you subscribe to st through your dtv account, you can stream it on your ps3 in hd.

Can't imagine that would be different on a stand alone service.

I'm doing this.

I think its $340.

I havent seen it on the ps3 but I've watched games MLB.tv and its very high quality.

I'm sure some will find your suggestion helpful. Responding only for myself here:
1.Channel selection on Dish is for shit. Sports selection is for shit.
2. Who wants to have different boxes, channel numbers, etc. every 2 years? We have several DVRs that are chock full of movies and shows the kids watch. Wouldn't want to turn those in and lose them.
3. Fraud to save a few bucks. No thanks.
4.That isn't near enough $ for all that hassle and/or to be stuck with an inferior service for 2 years at a time.

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/LG-LRM519-DV...yers_Recorders

I owned a couple of them... they both ended up crapping out after only a couple of years each, but they were great while they lasted.

Last year, you could chose your quality to match your Internet speed.

At least on the dtv version you could.

Not sure about the a la carte item through sony.

missing a ATSC tuner.

I have one from Magnavox that has been great but they discontinued the damn thing. The only thing I can find out there is the damn Tivos that don't work without their damn subscription that I don't even need nor want.

I think its automatic thru the ps3.

Not sure.

One of my biggest issues with Cox was the fact they wouldn't let me get a DVR unless I upgraded my cable to digital. I already get the channels I want in HD without needing all the crap channels I don't want.

I agree with #1
2) everyone should want new boxes every two years, especially with the way technology changes.
3) you wouldn't even have to switch boxes. Dtv gives you a code to watch st remotely. Ps3, iPad etc. It's even in hd. That's not "fraud"...it's allowed.
4) I can respect that.

Fair enough. You know your shit and those that are interested would do well to conduct their business through you where possible.

Cable companies have to pay for the technicians, the DVR boxes, the customer service support, etc.... etc... etc...

TV stations have to make money in order to pay actors, directors, and producers for TV shows and to earn the rights to televise live sports games.

Unless you're suggesting that the better alternative is to pay for every single sports game you watch. Or pay for every minute you browse through 100 channels.

And having ability to watch TV or read the newspaper isn't a necessity. If you don't' want it, nobody's going to have their lives ruined. If you think it's too expensive, don't pay for it. If you're paying that much money, it means you think it's worth spending money on. Businesses have every right to make money.

I do it 2-3x a year. I'll go tailgate at Arrowhead then drive home at noon. Kickoff is at 12:30 and I get to skip commercials in the first half.

There is a charge for installation. And for the DVR boxes. That’s how a $35 package becomes $85.


They do that with advertising. Why are conglomerates like Viacom fleecing DTV for a hike in rates (that will ultimately be paid by the customers) when they can sell a SB commercial for $5 million per minute?


The only reason we have 100 channels is because of the bundling that is forced on us by the Viacoms of the world. It’s the only way they can get any money for the crap channels no one wants. As has been stated multiple times in this thread, people will gladly cut it down to 5-10 channels if they got any price break for it.

They won't do it because they can't. They make money off of the crap channels that almost no one would ever pay for, like the Home Shopping channels. They also make money off of the niche channels that have almost no audience at all. If they used a la carte billing they would lose too much money.

I had it last year and it is HD, but not as good as a blu-ray or something.

Also sometimes it's choppy.

Cable companies pay fees to networks so they can show their programming. That certainly doesn't cover the cost of that programming. If you as the customer want to cover that then you will pay much more for cable. I recall a few years ago that cable companies would sell advertising time on the networks they showed. The networks pitched a fit about that and rightly so. Would you rather go the UK way where they collect a tax on your TV?

It can't be as good as bluray because network TV is not broadcast in 1080p.

I dont mind commercials during sports. That gives me piss breaks, burger break and what not.

I know here on the west coast i gotta be up at damn 10am. My sleeping schedule isnt normal, so, when the football game comes on, im ususally just getting up. I need them commercials so i can get my porn piss in and some breakfast. lol

That would be perfect... set the DVR for 10am, wake up around 11, start watching at 11:30, and be done with it by 1.

I should move.

Admittedly that part is good. But imagine Monday night football starting at freaking 5:00 pm. That took me a couple years to get used to.
Now I'm hammered and home by 9 on Mondays.

And the fact that you have friends from other places, and they want to watch the Vikings game or the Giants or Colts.

And your fantasy team updates kill the DVR dream. That's the REAL problem.

Corporations don't kill people. People kill people.

fantasy football is killing the Sunday experience.

And you think that covers all of their operating expenses? Salaries of technicians, salaries and technology for customer support, investments in innovation and new technology, programming fees, buildings to house employees, buying trucks and gas for technicians, advertising for new business, maintaining the cable lines, the internet and phone systems all employees need to have, etc... etc... etc...? It's not like this is just a few technicians driving around drumming up business. We're talking about a national company with a ton of costs.

I don't think you realize the implications of what you're proposing here. You're giving unbelievable amount of power to the "big 5 or 10." And an "a la carte" channel lineup is only going to raise advertising prices and lower overall viewership. The worst thing to happen to the radio was for a few big conglomerates controlling the entire airwaves.

If you want truly quality programming, you have to pay a price for it.

We've dumped cable now for almost 2 years - haven't looked back
For sports:

Had a buddy hook me up with his NFL Sunday Ticket Login Info to watch on my PS3 / Phone / PC

My parents still pay for TV and I put a slingbox in their basement so any other local KC stuff I want I just flip on the slingbox - Have the slingbox app on my phone with HDMI out - its like a cable box in my pocket I only paid for once.

Netflix - Amazon / Vudu etc for anything else we want to watch

I know that shoe wont fit everyone but we've been pretty happy

Yeah, and some CBB and hockey games start at 4 or 4:30 pacific.. but, the DVR could come in handy for those, too.

I watched Virginia Tech and Boise State a couple of years ago while in Seattle... I think it started at 5 pacific, and I was stumbling back to my hotel ready to call it a night at freaking 8pm. LMAO

I'm starting to think so.

Sure, but you are still relying on the system. This entire idea is predicated on someone else paying for cable.

Another solution is to just go read a book. The REAL solution is to be able too bypass cable entirely. Hulu, netflix, and amazon are the future of television. In ten years there won't BE cable.