Will anyone care (or even notice) if Fox network pulls its channels off of broadcast TV and goes to cable only?
This is kind of funny.
There’s a new device, called an Aereo, which acts as an array of TV antennas and picks up broadcast TV, saves programming to a set of DVRs, and lets Aereo subscribers watch the network shows at their own desired time. Sort of what a DVR does but broadcast channels for people who don’t have DVRs and do have the internet.
Well, the Fox Network is pissed off. They sued Aereo (and lost the preliminary round) with the allegation that using antennas and pseudo-DVRs is in some way breaking their rights as a copyright owner. But like I said, they lost in court last week.
So yesterday, the CEO of Fox warned that if Aereo was considered legal, that Fox would pull all of its channels off of broadcast TV and go to cable only.
Would anyone notice?
Would anyone care?
Would this be commercial suicide?
Would any sane CEO throw away a lucrative outlet for business?
My opinion: this is part of the death struggle in the war between content providers and new technologies. Technology seems to be winning, slowly but surely.
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I pay for TV (even network) through iTunes anyway. I like having no commercials and its still cheaper than cable. I AM a bit worried however because I was watching an iTunes show last night and there was a commercial at the beginning for other shows from the same network. That just pisses me off.
You’re right, this is kind of funny. They’re arguing that they should be protected from the gently guiding hand of the free market? Huh.
Yeah, certainly people would notice, especially those with lower incomes or in rural areas. Not everyone pays for cable; I haven’t for years, and I notice that a lot of my peers don’t either.
Must be a Tea Party Thang.
If my only option were broadcast television I would miss The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, NFC Football, Hell’s Kitchen, Fringe, Master Chef, Kitchen Nightmares, and X-Files reruns.
I would love it if the Fox “News” Network operated bu subscription only. Their regular network has a few shows worth my time such as “Bones” and the now completed “House”. I get all my channels through the local cable service. There is no other source for programming packages here other than a satellite service that is expensive and provides spotty service around here.
Broadcast TV is free, aside from watching bad advertising. I’m not sure why this is such a bad thing. Aereo is something I would subscribe to, since I don’t have a VCR or DVR and I’m far too lazy to set up an antenna to get broadcast. It would increase the ad viewership by one, that’s for sure.
That said, I probably wouldn’t miss it since I don’t have cable and I’m too lazy to set up an antenna.
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