Cable and free TV have been part of many homes for a lot of years now since it was first introduced. For the general viewers, watching TV is quality time to pamper and to relax. It is a great time for the kids to watch their favorite shows while considered a luxury time for adults at night after a long busy day of work. It has become part of many people’s lives and has become a norm through the years. But this norm was put to a new level when video on demand was born.
It was during the 1990s when online streaming services were introduced to people. It was called video-on-demand back then where it allows distribution and access for users to re-watch their favorite shows without waiting for a regular replay schedule on cable TV.
At that time, there was a limited audience for this kind of service which made the cable and free TV industry unbothered—not classifying VOD as a direct competitor—about its existence. But the tables have turned during 2013, when one of the most popular online streaming platforms today, Netflix, has debuted its first original series in a video-on-demand format. This altered the dynamics of the audience to not just rely on cable TV programs anymore as they now have the option to binge-watch quality shows whenever and wherever they want even when not at home.
And for this reason, it leads other online streaming platforms to become the mainstream media.
In this blog, we will share with you some of the top reasons why people today are choosing online streaming platforms to watch their favorite shows and re-watch the old ones instead of relying on the program schedule offered by many cable TV services.
Availability Of Shows In High-Quality Definition
For the past decade, video on demand didn’t find its footing in the industry as it plainly offered shows to watch that were already shown on cable and free TV before. For many people, it is just an unnecessary expense especially when they have a DVR that can record shows that they have missed before or at least just watch for the replay on TV.
But due to technological advancement over the years, video streaming on the internet has reached new heights of offering its services in higher quality and clarity. Instead of just offering already broadcasted shows on TV, they started offering their own original series and movies exclusively to their streaming platform. And more than that they are offered in different video quality that entices audiences who want to watch better quality.
Cheaper Subscription Offers
Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are just some of the most popular streaming platforms today which each monthly subscription price is cheaper—even if they’re all combined—than a cable monthly subscription. Thus, you are not bound to a long-term contract as you have the option to choose and let go of one streaming platform anytime if it doesn’t appeal to you.
Cable packages often include content or channels that might not be to your liking, but you don’t have the option to let it go. But even if you can, chances are the subscription fee would remain the same. Other cable packages can lessen it to your subscription fee, but only for a few bucks maybe. But still, it can still be more expensive than having 3 online streaming services subscriptions.
With an online streaming service plan, the service is flexible and doesn’t bind you to a long-term contract. You can choose options like how many devices it can be used at the same time, video quality options, and more.
Compact & Cordless
We all know that when we say cable, it is exclusive to be used on TV. But popular online streaming services offer a more compact approach that lets you access their platforms not only on televisions but also on other devices like computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This makes your way of watching your favorite shows, including the new ones, on the go whenever and wherever you want to.
You are not bound to watch at a specific time but can do it on your own accord instead. Show airing is not mandated for you to be only able to watch only on a specific day and time, but instead, streaming services just give their audience the announcement when the shows will be available and from there can be watched at any time.
Lastly, subscribing to these streaming services doesn’t require any physical installation such as antenna, satellite dish, or cable because the services are offered on the internet and can be accessed through WiFi.
Account Sensitivity
Compared to cable programs, shows offered on online streaming services are categorized and filterable. Although cable shows that have mature content have fair warnings before the airing, with streaming platforms, shows to be shown can be customized according to preferences. For example, for accounts that will be used by young audiences, it auto-filter shows to be recommended along with the flexibility to set limits manually. This could put each user at ease for a better and safer viewing experience, especially for their children.
A Lot Of Options
Streaming services offer a lot of options to choose from for shows like series, documentaries, movies that you can access with just a few clicks. Compared to cable that has limited shows, what you can watch online today are countless and everyday there are new shows including shows that we’re used to. You can watch online vlogs, watch and listen to podcasts, and watch live programs. Thus, there are shows that are available in one go (whole series or one whole season) making you satisfied and not left hanging.
In short, online streaming services have generally altered our dynamics on how we watch and what we watch.
In Conclusion
In our way of living today, everything is fast-paced which can be a good thing but sometimes makes us miss out on other good things such as watching our favorite shows. With online streaming services today, we’re not just being given the chance to watch whenever we want but also the opportunity not to be a couch potato while watching.
With the various entertainment that streaming services offer today, you can never run out of something to watch.
