We've all been bit by the Cable Companies at one point or another. Lately, it seems to revolve around DRM, TV over Internet, etc. I'm no fool, I understand everything they're doing, yet I do not agree.
They used to have the only major pipeline for TV into people's home. This is changing:
- Now people are receiving HD broadcasts over the air (cables' customers who tune into only primetime shows, this is a threat)
- People are using the internet connection through the Cable Company to obtain LEGAL internet TV. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube all provide fantastic and easy resources to bypass live TV
Somewhat recently,
Comcast put a 250GB monthly cap on internet connections. Why would they do this? Naturally for reason #2 listed above. This is still opinion and speculation on my part. Many others agree, others have alternative ideas (mostly revolving around the companies beening ran by zombie devils or something). It comes down them not wanting to change, and force customers down a certain path. this lack of innovation will be their doom.
TV Studios created sites like Hulu and their corp sites to host shows. WHOA! That is a huge sidestep to cable companies! So now the customers and tv companies are both upset with cable companies? Instead of innovating and finding alternative solutions, companies like Comcast are sticking to their positions and solidifying by imposing limits on how much you can download. I've never hit the 250 GB limit, but someday I might with the way things are going!
Comcast said they imposed the limit to stop the few from abusing the service. This is BS. If you were getting so overloaded, why was it that months later you double all of our internet speeds and now offer up to 50mbps? Guess you have the capacity to handle it all, don't you?
Most customers will pass this off as "the limit will not affect me" and "well, whatever, now my speeds are faster!!!". Screw that, they jacked the speeds up ONLY after they were getting speed competition from Verizon FIOS and AT&T U-Verse. This was done to keep their current customers and to keep the eyes of their customers covered.
I'm sounding like a ranting liberal who hates "the man", but I hate being treated like a moron. I am not. I do not know everything, but I damn well know when I'm being played.
Here is what Comcast and others should do to innovate:
- They support different channel packages via CableCard. If you pay for HBO, "zap" and now you have HBO. Stop paying your bill "zap!!", all premium channels are gone. I should be able to go through a checklist and be able to add/remove any channel that I want to. I'd love to get rid of Oxygen and replace it with ESPN7. This offers a fantastic option to customers with a system you already have in place
- You need to go all in on this CableCard fiasco. You're really starting to piss off your average joe of a customer. Why should your Motorola Comcast box with a CableCard get all the channels and On-Demand while my Tivo/Vista Media Center with a Cable Card can only get most channels and no On-Demand? Don't tell me that it's hard to innovate. You need to kick your CableLabs in the butt and have it be much more helpful to 3rd party OEMs. I'm still waiting for my freaking SDV adapter for my ATI Digital Tuners. It is certainly an issue that needs to be worked on by Microsoft/ATI in addition to CableLabs, but don't you think it would go much more smoothly if CableLabs was actively assisting and cared? It has been deemed illegal to force people to use your cable boxes. You're working on borrowed time while Tru2Way is deployed. You'd better be more freaking friendly before everyone has an easy option to ditch your box.
- Some cable companies are offering video on demand watch shows. But once again, I need your box to get that! But all in all, it's still not ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX,etc's raw show programming offerings. You're offering yet again another proprietary system to add another ball an chain to your customers. Make a system similar to Netflix that allows your TV customers to access it. Maybe even sell the internet only version to people! I'm already paying for netflix to watch TV and movies, why would I be opposed to paying for it?