Is cable television going extinct?

In a trend that is becoming known as "cord-cutting," more and more we're seeing younger generations move from tied-down, bulky technologies to something more efficient and portable.  The first biggest example of the modern generation was when cell phones started becoming the norm.  Some people saw the need for home phone service dwindling and simply canceled their providers, opting to rely solely on cell phone use for home and business use.  Home phone services are still relevant in some cases, but much less so than they were ten to fifteen years ago.

Now we're starting to see a similar trend of "cord-cutting" in a different seemingly inalienable technology in the average home---cable television.  With the induction of certain services like Neflix that allow DVD delivery of movies and television through the mail, or by streaming instantly online or through a game console, the younger generations becoming keen to these technologies are starting to see the ways that cable services fall short.  By choosing your selection, you're always watching something you're interested in, not to mention, you are able to bypass many of the commercials you may experience while watching cable television.

Providers have taken notice.  Neflix's streaming service is the largest source of evening U.S. Internet traffic during peak evening hours.  Many people, most of young adult age, have begun primarily using Netflix as their source of movie and television entertainment.  Providers are in a jam, however, as their services have been getting more expensive to the point where it is not financially viable for a low income household to have.  Simply the influence of the price has caused some users to "cord-cut," while those with the luxury of paying for a service like Netflix (which can be much cheaper per month than a home cable service) are also finding the benefits of removing the service from their lives and bills.

Will television service, a supposed staple of the American living room, eventually become obsolete for a newer, more efficient technology?  Only time will tell, but it seems to be moving in that direction.

(For more information, read the original news report here.)

~K. Rodgers