From Cable Clipping to Bundle Binge: The Full-Circle Journey of TV Viewing

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently hinted at the upcoming launch of 'StreamSaver,' a more affordable package that includes Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV+, set to be released soon. This follows a similar announcement by Joe Earley, the President of Direct to Consumer at Disney Entertainment, about the summer release of a bundle combining Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

?The idea of bundling services like TV, mobile, and internet is not new and has evolved over time. Initially, it was about combining TV, mobile, and internet services. This has now shifted towards offering bundles that include cellular service, internet, and streaming services.

?Streaming services once encouraged consumers to ditch their pricey cable subscriptions in favor of more affordable, flexible streaming options like Netflix and Amazon Prime. This promise of choice and cost-saving led many to join the streaming trend, significantly reducing the number of cable subscribers.

?However, as more content owners launched their own streaming platforms, the landscape became cluttered with numerous services offering exclusive content. This fragmentation made it difficult for viewers to keep up and led to the cost of subscribing to multiple services surpassing traditional cable bills. Additionally, the flexibility of streaming services allowed consumers to subscribe on a short-term basis, leading to unstable subscriber numbers for these platforms.

?The response from streaming services has been an ongoing effort to attract and retain customers through various offers, but with limited success in stabilizing the subscriber base. The recent trend of merging streaming bundles into more comprehensive packages seems like the next step in addressing these issues. However, any significant discount likely requires a long-term commitment, bringing us back to the contractual obligations that many initially sought to escape.

?From a consumer standpoint, this represents a return to the traditional model of TV viewing, now with added costs that surpass what was once paid for high-definition TV, highlighting a full-circle evolution driven by technological advancements.

Consumers can only hope that the low prices used to attract them to sign up for these bundles will remain for a while, along with the content promised. Another important aspect is including local TV channels in these bundles, which would give TV viewers a more comprehensive selection of programs to watch.

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