Are we really ready to cut the cord?

By Chelsea Irwin

I had no problem abandoning my landline phone service a few years ago – I mean, I couldn’t even remember my own number half the time. As soon as mobile phones became reliable and convenient (and not just REALLY LARGE phones that made you look cool in middle school), there was no need for a landline.

Carol Wilson recently wrote in Telephony about a similar phenomenon that is happening with cable and online video. Her article got me thinking - am I ready to end my TV service to watch “my shows” on the Internet? I do watch some shows online: The Office, 30 Rock, Hannah Montana. (Am I joking about Hannah Montana? You’ll never know.)

This fad is much like the mobile phone situation. At first, everyone had a mobile phone, but needed the peace of mind that a landline was still available. (What if you flush your mobile phone down the toilet? Did that happen to me? Perhaps….)

Bottom line: while we all like to watch TV online, we aren’t ready to completely cut the cable cord.

My prediction: most people will be “so over cable” in five years. Thus, cable will be the next landline.

Comments

[Molly M. Miller]

Awesome graphics that really bring the point home!

[Chelsea Irwin]

Thanks – and I agree with you on sports. When March Madness hits you can bet your broadband is working harder than anyone in the office.
But here’s the question… do we currently have enough broadband to accommodate HD over the internet? YouTube and Hulu is one thing… but full length HD movies?