If somebody was smart...

[Jolly]

I still watch some OTA tv.

[taiwan_girl]

I just have Netflix. They are quite bit with Asian programming as well as other programming, so for the amount of TV I watch, it is enough for me.

[Jolly]

@Axtremus said in If somebody was smart...:

@Jolly said in If somebody was smart...:

OTA tv is now digital and the signal is quite good. Can we go back to the future? An OTA network with decent programming and a limited amount of commercials. Typically, 30 minute blocks have 8 minutes of commercials. Can we do decent content and make money with four minutes, like they did in the old days?

With OTA TV, your choice of programming is limited. You cannot binge a whole season in one sitting, you can spontaneously pull up specific old episode. Unless you preprogram your DVR to record something, you cannot watch something other than when it’s being broadcasted OTA. That is a lot of inconvenience compared to on-demand streaming services.

Try watching only OTA TV for a week and see if you still think that’s a good idea..

And another thing... How are poor people and retired people on fixed incomes going to afford all of your streaming services?

[George K]

@Jolly said in If somebody was smart...:

How are poor people and retired people on fixed incomes going to afford all of your streaming services?

Well, first of all, you're going to need internet access.

Let's say $40 a month.

...and you want ad-free watching.

Netflix: $15
Apple TV: $10
HULU: $18
Paramount: $6
Amazon: $9
Disney: $14
Max: $15
Peacock: $12

Choose wisely.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/business/streaming-advertising-2024-netflix-amazon-prime.html

[Jolly]

A list of OTA stations in Chicago:

https://www.tvchannellists.com/w/List_of_over-the-air_television_stations_in_Chicago

Good bit of flotsam and jetsam in there. Yes, you've got the old majors, but all of the retro stuff has a ton of commercials. Could a lack of commercials lead to higher viewership?

Higher viewership means you could charge more for the commercials you do run.

[taiwan_girl]

@George-K said in If somebody was smart...:

@Jolly said in If somebody was smart...:

How are poor people and retired people on fixed incomes going to afford all of your streaming services?

Well, first of all, you're going to need internet access.

Let's say $40 a month.

...and you want ad-free watching.

Netflix: $15
Apple TV: $10
HULU: $18
Paramount: $6
Amazon: $9
Disney: $14
Max: $15
Peacock: $12

Choose wisely.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/business/streaming-advertising-2024-netflix-amazon-prime.html

What do you think George? In 10 years from now, how many streaming services will there be?

[Mik]

I'm not paying more for Prime either.

I just moved my Netflix account to with ads for $7 a month. For $100 year I can watch a couple ads.

[Jolly]

I'm afraid by next year, it won't be just a couple of ads...

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in If somebody was smart...:

@Jolly said in If somebody was smart...:

How are poor people and retired people on fixed incomes going to afford all of your streaming services?

Well, first of all, you're going to need internet access.

Let's say $40 a month.

...and you want ad-free watching.

Netflix: $15
Apple TV: $10
HULU: $18
Paramount: $6
Amazon: $9
Disney: $14
Max: $15
Peacock: $12

Choose wisely.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/business/streaming-advertising-2024-netflix-amazon-prime.html

Peacock is up to $12? Screw that.

[Horace]

I watched a movie on Prime last night, with the ads. There was one commercial at the beginning and one about 30% through. Not bad. But as noted above, it'll get worse. I won't watch "freevee" movies, with similar ad content to pre-internet TV movies. (Unwatchable.) Well, the ads are why I stopped watching TV even before streaming was a thing. I'll have to consider whether an extra $3 is worth it for the free prime videos. I mostly watch rentals on Prime anyway.