Home Cable

2 Solutions for Cable-Top Boxes

As more and more devices are integrating and folding into others,there’s one stubborn resister- the cable-top box. Here's two ways to solve that issue.

| Posted by:

Category: Business Internet, Cable, Streaming, Technology, TV | No Comments


2 Solutions for Cable-Top Boxes

As more and more devices are integrating and folding into others, there’s one stubborn resister- the cable-top box. No matter what the new advances in technology these days, cable-top boxes are still around. They sit there, blinking dumbly at you whether the show is loading or not. Some customers complain they’re an eye-sore, others hide them behind furniture. Though this does fix an aesthetic issue, it ends up killing your Wi-Fi. Despite smart-home devices becoming more plentiful, and easier to use, the cable top box hasn’t changed much.

Remember the First Cell Phone?

I remember the days of Saved By The Bell. Remember Zack Morris? Remember that phone? 


The cell phone began as a luxury item, much like cable. And much like the cell phone, cable has evolved. It seemed to be stuck though. Cell phones, on the other hand, have changed. They began to get smaller and smaller, lighter and lighter. But they still had horrible sound quality and would drop calls. That’s when providers learned to improve cell signal quality. Then came texting, games, mapping apps, music, and other bells and whistles. More and more stuff kept getting shoved into this little device until they ceased to be cell phones and instead became smartphones. Touchscreens were at first a hip new thing, now they’re a requirement for inclusion in the smartphone category. If we’re to follow this analogy, cable top boxes are sitting at where cell phones were at the turn of the century. They have a lot of functionality in them, but there’s obvious room for improvement. Not to mention they’re still clunky and come only in one color. Instead of moving forward, cable-top boxes have halted in their evolution.

Darwin’s Not Happy

Cable companies still make a lot of money off the cable-top box, the main reason why there hasn't been much improvement with this technology. They’re a requirement for access and customers rent them monthly. It’s an income stream they’re not willing to get rid of. And who can blame them? As more and more streaming services enter the market, and less and fewer people continue to pay for cable, the cable-top box needs to adapt or die.

Adapt

Jason Brush, the global EVP of experiences & innovation for Possible, argues the cable-top box is not living up to its potential. With the push for TVs to be less of a TV and more of a smart hub for smart homes, cable top boxes could provide this already. Since cable-top boxes are usually the entry point for internet into a home, it makes sense to make these the hub for the smart home. Instead of only allowing cable access, with a DVR, cable top boxes could act as the headquarters for all the smart home devices. Brush suggests making them voice-activated, or to expand the user interface to make it more intuitive. The cable top box would become so much more than just “that thing for the cable.” By changing the gizmo into another smart home device, the cable top box would have more functionality. It’d be part of the home’s network instead of a network on its own.

Or Die

Another suggestion and the one consumers are more likely to approve of, is to have the cable-top box go the way of the dodo. That is, to become extinct. Take the cable option and incorporate it into an app available on your smart TV. This choice takes away a huge income stream for the cable company, so it’s the one they’re going to be the least happy with. The consumer, on the other hand, will be glad to get rid of the ugly thing and make their lives a little simpler. With smart TVs becoming more and more integrated into the smart home, getting rid of the cable top box is a natural part of the process. TVs will absorb the duties of receiving the cable signal and managing the smart home devices. And it’ll only require one remote too! Or heck, even an app from your phone.

The Future of Cable

Once the cable top box goes, and it will go, cable companies will need to rethink how they provide services.

 

Although streaming services are pulling in more customers every day, cable television isn’t done yet. There will always be holdouts who decide they’re going to stick with cable, no matter what. Then there are the cable companies themselves who have spent years and years building their empires. No one walks away from something like that just because they think a new competitor is too strong. Cable companies will find a way to adapt to the changing environment. The real question is; will they come up with a solution sooner rather than later? The good news is cable companies are still around and with streaming services coming after them, they’re eager to cut deals to ensure they increase their subscriber base and keep current customers. Search for the best Spectrum bundles. These bundles put cable, internet, and sometimes phone, into one package. You’ll save money by putting your services into one spot, as well as streamline the connections into your house. The cable top box will remain for the foreseeable future. This isn’t a bad thing at all, except if you don’t like the design and color of it.

2 Million Reasons Netflix May Be Losing Their Edge

Netflix has spent over $8,000,000,000 (that’s billion with a B),racked up 112 Emmy Nominations…but they may be losing their edge.

| Posted by:

Category: Business Internet, Cable, Entertainment, News, Service Providers, Streaming, This & That, TV | No Comments


2 Million Reasons Netflix May Be Losing Their Edge
Netflix has spent over $8,000,000,000 (that’s billion with a B), racked up 112 Emmy Nominations…but they may be losing their edge. Despite their big push in creating original content and knocking HBO off their throne, they’ve missed their forecast of new subscribers for the second quarter of 2018, by 2 million. This has happened three times in the past ten years, so it’s not as shocking as one would think. Of course, Netflix’s stock dropped more than 14% in response to this. And now executives for Netflix, as well as outside business analysts, are asking why this happened.

Whose Fault Is It?

The blame, according to executives, lies on poor internal forecasting…and not the recent hike in prices for new and veteran subscribers. Forecasting is, at best, a guess. Meteorologists for the local news are guessing every day that the weather will turn out a certain way. There’s sophisticated technology, models, and years of training that go into it. Underneath it all, however, they are still guessing. Analysts in the world of business and finance are making a prediction when they forecast the future. And if we know anything about the future, we know it’s going to be wildly different than what we assume it will be. To blame a miss of 2 million subscribers on poor internal forecasting is a little short-sighted. Because when the weather turns, do you go after your local meteorologist?

What Can They Do About It?

While Netflix didn’t gain those 2 million new subscribers, there hasn’t been any news that they’ve lost any either. Netflix retains its current subscriber base of 130 million globally. They’re still a powerhouse to deal with and after besting HBO in Emmy Nominations, they’ve done well in positioning themselves to finish strong for 2018. Now, HBO is working on reclaiming that dominance and has already laid out their first weapon; Joss Whedon. On July 16th, it was announced that Whedon’s new show, The Nevers, will be on HBO. The network beat out Netflix in a bidding war to get the show and ordered the series directly…without ever seeing a pilot. HBO is taking the smart path by focusing on new content. Netflix can do the same by doubling-down on their content. By keeping their subscribers satisfied with their shows, the streaming giant can still grow their subscribers organically. Because a satisfied viewer is likely to recommend the show to their friends. For Netflix to artificially raise their number of subscribers, they should set their sites a little more realistically.

Think Strategically

Without those 2 million subscribers, the streaming giant will lose a little bit of momentum. Not a lot, just a little. There’s no harm in being cautious though, as the executives at Netflix have a right to be. What they can do is get ready for awards season. Netflix can continue to campaign for their shows that helped them get those 112 Emmy nominations. They’re in a good spot to walk home with the most wins this year and deal an even bigger blow to their biggest competitor, HBO. There’s also the Golden Globes coming up. These awards shows seem to mirror each other when it comes to nominations, so don’t be surprised if Netflix beats out HBO for Golden Globes as well. Netflix should keep on campaigning like they normally do.

The Forecast for Netflix

So long as Netflix doesn’t panic or commit a knee-jerk reaction, they’ll be fine. History is rife with companies, and people, who reacted to something small and created a big problem. Just think of The Pig War. In 1859, a single hog was caught rooting in a farmer’s potatoes. To save his potatoes, the farmer, an American, shot the hog, owned by a British man. Tensions rose when one accused the other of foul play. Soon the hog’s death became an act of aggression by Americans’ towards the British. US soldiers were sent to the island, British Navy ships were sent to bolster the British merchants there. All because a hog got out and ate a few potatoes. The executives of Netflix just need to keep their cool. Things like this can happen and it’s important to remember that this was based on forecasted data. One shouldn’t invest too much in the predictions of the future from a single source. What Netflix should be interested in is HBO’s plan to reclaim their throne. As the networks continue to battle it out, their main weapons will be content- shows. The harder they work to beat the other, the better the shows will be. If this turns out to not be the case, then someone else will swoop in and claim dominance. Be it Netflix, HBO, Amazon, or someone else, make sure you don’t miss your favorite shows by checking out the best Spectrum internet deals. You can also save yourself some money in the process!

HBO's One New Weapon: Joss Whedon

In recent posts,HBO has been dealing with bad news. It may have found their one weapon in the coming retaliation against Netflix. His name is Joss Whedon.

| Posted by:

Category: Business Internet, Cable, Entertainment, News, This & That, TV | No Comments


HBO's One New Weapon: Joss Whedon
Previous posts, like this one and this one, have been detailing HBO’s current woes and challenges as they navigate their new world that’s post-merger, and post Netflix. And yet, HBO keeps on surprising. As of Friday, Joss Whedon’s newest show, The Nevers, will be on HBO. This may be their edge in the upcoming retaliation for Netflix edging them out in the count for Emmy Nominations.

Where’s Whedon Been?

Joss Whedon, for those who haven’t been paying attention, has been behind some of the biggest entertainment hits in recent history. He had humble beginnings writing for a few sitcoms in the late eighties and early nineties. His first big-screen writing credit is Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. This cult hist spawned a TV show of the same name and a spinoff series, Angel. From there, Whedon had a string of shows that lasted one, maybe two, seasons before the brilliant minds in Hollywood decided to pull the plug. The most famous of these was Firefly. Executive meddling got int he way of its greatness and the sci-fi western floundered. When it ended a fan writing campaign was enough to get a movie made—Serenity. If you want to see a younger Nathan Fillion in an iconic role, as well as lead an amazing cast of characters and actors at their best then watch Firefly. Other, lesser-known but equally entertaining shows that Whedon created were Dollhouse and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog. Well worth your time. Luckily, Whedon’s writing and directing skills didn’t end there as he was tapped to helm the first two Avengers movies. These cornerstones of the Marvel Cinematic Universe grossed big in the box office and put Whedon up there, where he belongs, next to other great names in screenwriting and directing. He also created and produced the ABC Studios Agents of Shields, a weekly drama that tied together the various parts, introduced minor characters, kept the hype of the MCU going. Unfortunately, the stress of working within a complicated universe, and probably some executive meddling again, cause Whedon to go on hiatus. He didn’t disappear entirely, he just took some time off and wasn’t seen for a little bit. DC, finally making a smart move, hired him to help write the screenplay for the first Justice League movie. Now if DC could just get a coherent continuity going, they may just be able to contend with Marvel!

Back to Whedon

He is most well-known for his campy sci-fi and fantasy shows, as well as his involvement in The Avengers powerhouse. That’s not all he’s done though. There’s plenty of movies to his name, but his best writing work is by far is The Cabin in The Woods. Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, and a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth show us their acting chops thanks to the superb script penned by Whedon and Drew Goddard. If you’re looking for both clever humor and truly thrilling horror, this movie delivers. It’s also one of those rare gems that you wish they could make a sequel out of but know that it would be impossible to do. Just watch the movie, trust me, you’ll understand.

What’s Whedon Doing Now?

Thanks to his name carrying clout, when Whedon expressed interest in shopping around a new show, a bidding war erupted. HBO won that war, bringing Whedon to their network and quite possibly putting the odds in their favor again as they combat Netflix and Amazon. The Nevers, described as “an epic science-fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world,” was greenlit before a pilot was very written. That’s just the kind of clout that Whedon carries these days. While we only have this short description to go on, we know a lot about Whedon’s style based on his previous shows and movies. First, we know he’s a master story-teller and will take his time to build the story. For those who keep with him, the ending is a sweet reward. Everyone else has to play catchup. Second, Whedon was able to create a vast and rich universe on very little money. Imagine what he could do with HBO backing him? Third, there are great actors, and then there are great writers who push great actors to another level. Nathan Fillion is a great actor. It's a true treat to watch him play the role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds. It's what has set him apart from the rest. One last thing- Whedon’s storytelling isn’t the same as the rest. While HBO is known for their gritty violence and blatant sexuality, Whedon will likely chart his own course. There’s no stopping him now that he’s on HBO. Whedon's a different creator though. He could decide that his story doesn’t need that to win our hearts and capture our imaginations. Aa Captain Reynolds says, “I aim to misbehave.”

How Long Do We Have to Wait?

As of this writing, the premiere date of The Nevers is unknown. Until then we’ll have to make do with reruns of Firefly, Agents of Shield, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Depending on your service provider, you can get access to all these titles and more. If not, make sure to check out the best Spectrum cable internet. You’ll be able to bundle both cable and internet. You'll also lower your bills while getting your mind blown by the cinematic mastery of Joss Whedon.   “I Think I can get it to go down.” “Do we want to go down?”

3 Things to Know about the Peak TV Era

The Era of Peak TV is still going strong. Take full advantage of the deluge of prime entertainment with this knowledge and a hidden tip!

| Posted by:

Category: Business Internet, Cable, Entertainment, Deals & Packages, Streaming, Technology, Tips, TV | No Comments


3 Things to Know about the Peak TV Era
The Era of Peak TV is still going strong. First, it was broadcast channels, and it was not enough. Then came cable television, and it was better, but not still not enough. Now we have streaming networks, internet TV, and more ways to get new and scripted shows. In 2015, the head of FX, John Landgraf, dubbed this the Era of “Peak TV.” Not just TV, but the abundance of scripted shows. And Landgraf warned that if there were more than 500 that would be “the peak.” After that, there would be too many scripted TV shows to go around. Too many options of what to watch. As a result, the bubble would burst and we’d see a sharp decline in scripted television. By some counts, there are more than 500 scripted shows on television right now. We’ve passed Landgraf’s limit. So…what happens now? While some networks, like Freeform and MTV, have switched from scripted programs to reality, the trend hasn’t quite caught on. Networks and streaming services, the most obvious being Netflix, are still churning out new shows. And while viewers can take advantage of this with Spectrum internet bundle deals to make the most of cable and internet, the bubble still appears intact. With no end in sight, the Era of Peak TV marches on. But what does that really mean?

The Good

As stated previously, there is an abundance, a plethora, a deluge of scripted television to watch. Either broadcast, cable, or streaming, there is something that is bound to catch your attention and draw you in. Gone are the days when you had to wait for the show to air on it’s selected channel and night. And worse than that, if you couldn’t watch it, you had to set the timer on your VCR to record it and hope that a power outage wouldn’t screw that up. Now we are blessed with DVR, on-demand, and best of all, streaming. Thanks to these services, creators have produced more shows to fill the demand. Or was it the other way around? Whichever came first, the point is that the ability to watch a show when you want necessitates an excess of television. To meet that need, big names like Judd Apatow and Shonda Rhimes have been wooed to subscriber-based television to produce shows that a dedicated audience will pay for. If they watch everyone single one of them or not at all, it doesn’t matter. These services have provided a better outlet for producers and writers to create the shows they want to create.

The Bad

The downside of this abundance is the quality of the shows being produced. With any group, no matter how big or small, there will be top performers and bottom performers. When there were few shows, the bad ones were easily weeded out and replaced with ones that might do better. Now, with the 500+ shows available, that means there will be a lot of bad ones out there. Since those shows are already paid for, you might end up wasting your money on them. Another facet of this is that the scriptwriters are the ones who are apparently suffering. Since more shows are being created, they tend to come in smaller packages. The old 22-episode seasons of a sitcom or drama is not the typical format you’d find these days. Instead, we’re seeing eight, ten, thirteen-episode seasons. A writer will usually be paid by the show or for a set number of episodes. If there are fewer episodes, that means a smaller paycheck. The simple answer would be to just write for more shows, but that will lead to burn out and a decrease in quality. This ties back to the previous item of bad shows being produced. One last thing- option overload. With so many shows available it’s hard to decide on which show to watch. Some nights you might find yourself debating which show to watch and end up not watching anything.

When Will It End?

We may have passed Landgraf’s omen of 500 shows, but there’s no telling how long it will last. 500 shows this year could mean little. Next year there might be 550, and the year after that 600. Maybe then we’ll find out if the bubble will pop. Another possibility is that we may hover around 500 for a few years and then see the bubble pop. There’s no way of telling. Having access to nearly 500 shows isn’t a bad thing. We get to see a wealth of stories and expand our creativity more. Another downside is the price that all this entails: To get access to this wealth of engaging stories means having to pay for more than one subscription. This is on top of already paying for cable and internet. So then why not pay less for both? Save yourself some money while you download the latest episode by checking out internet bundle deals. Switch your provider or plan, and you’ll be in the best spot to enjoy all the Era of Peak TV has to offer.

Top Cable TV Apps and Reviews

As a busy person,you don’t always have time to sit on the couch and watch shows. You need a portable option that you can take anywhere—luckily,most of the

| Posted by:

Category: Apps, Cable, Reviews, Service Providers, Streaming, TV | No Comments


Top Cable TV Apps and Reviews

Updated 02/17/2020

As a busy person, you don't always have time to sit on the couch and watch shows. You need a portable option that you can take anywhere—luckily, most of the major providers now offer TV apps. If you primarily plan to watch cable through an app, you should closely review the apps before you make your choice. In some cases, you may want to skip a traditional cable subscription and just get an app.

AT&T U-Verse Live TV

After being a phone company for generations, AT&T has now emerged as the country's biggest internet provider, and it's dabbling in the world of TV with an app. You don't have to be an AT&T customer to buy the app. Instead, anyone can sign up-- there's just a monthly subscription fee. The app works on Windows computers via iTunes, but it also works on iphones and androids. You get the typical line up of ESPN, Fox Sports, Comedy Central, and other popular options.

DirecTV App

If you are a DirecTV subscriber, you have free access to the DirecTV app. It works on androids, iphones, and even Kindles as well as on most computers. The app allows you to watch live TV, but generally, you can't pick up the local channels through that feature. You can also access a huge range of on-demand shows including HBO, Showtime, and any other premium channels you subscribe to. The app works perfectly in most cases, but for some reason, DirectV struggles with updates. It seems to take a while to get out the bugs anytime the company updates its app.

Charter TV

To use the Charter TV app, you have to subscribe to the company's cable service. The app works on iphones, androids, and kindles, and it gives you access to live TV from 150 channels. Heading out camping? Going on a long road trip in an area without service? That's one of the best benefits of the Spectrum TV app--you can download shows and movies to watch offline.

DirecTV's Sunday Ticket App

Sports is one of the best things on TV, and it's the reason many people still subscribe to cable. It's almost impossible to get sports anywhere else. DirecTV subscribers can watch their favorite NFL games from anywhere with the Sunday Ticket app. The app works on most of the major platforms, but you have to subscribe to the Sunday Ticket to get access. This is an add-on subscription, but DirecTV often offers deals for new customers. With the app, you can catch games, check out highlights and even track your fantasy football league players.

HBO

In addition to apps that give you access to your cable package remotely, there are all kinds of apps that are just devoted to one channel. There's a Comedy Central app, a Disney channel app, an ESPN app, and all kinds of similar ones. However, with most of these apps, you have to be a cable subscriber. With HBO, it's a bit different. If you have cable and an HBO subscription, you can use the HBO Go app for free. If you want to watch HBO but you don't have a cable subscription, no problem. You can get a standalone subscription and watch it through the HBO Now app. Apps are changing how we watch TV, and they are a cost effective way to keep up with your favorite shows on the go. In many cases, you can get apps free with your cable service. In other cases (such as with HBO Now), you can test out the app with a free trial before you pay.

Facebook Status Update

It's time to hold great TV in your hand. It's time for the convenience of cable on your computer. Want to take entertainment on the go? Check out our review of the best cable TV apps.