Erin Wooddell
As we approach the new year, a lot of people will be attacking resolutions. They range from fitness goals to better eating habits, doing more charity and working on finances. With the latter, most people start by evaluating their current budgets, or establishing new ones for the coming year. At the top of most cost-cutting articles lies one major expense that experts feel we don't need—our cable subscriptions.
Over the past few years, I've started to agree with them. Other than the beloved DVR function (that I miss greatly) and the ability to watch live events and specials, it's easy to forego cable and simply watch your favorite shows delayed online. That's what I've been doing for the past few months for this blog.
Many of you may be thinking of making this change in the New Year.
Well, last night as I was catching up on episodes of Modern Family on ABC.com, I was greeted by the following announcement:
As we approach the new year, a lot of people will be attacking resolutions. They range from fitness goals to better eating habits, doing more charity and working on finances. With the latter, most people start by evaluating their current budgets, or establishing new ones for the coming year. At the top of most cost-cutting articles lies one major expense that experts feel we don't need—our cable subscriptions.
Over the past few years, I've started to agree with them. Other than the beloved DVR function (that I miss greatly) and the ability to watch live events and specials, it's easy to forego cable and simply watch your favorite shows delayed online. That's what I've been doing for the past few months for this blog.
Many of you may be thinking of making this change in the New Year.
Well, last night as I was catching up on episodes of Modern Family on ABC.com, I was greeted by the following announcement:
FOX has been implementing this policy for at least the past year—that I've noticed—if not longer. Now, ABC will be joining their ranks, and I find myself outraged. (Thankfully, I saw no evidence of this change on CBS or NBC.)
Most networks now only offer the past two or three episodes online, and those viewing privileges expire after a certain amount of time.
Sometimes, it feels like the world penalizes you for not being a consumer of all things. Dropping cable wasn't such an adjustment when shows were still available online, and now that option seems to be slipping from our grasp. It feels unfair, especially when consumers still pay for Internet access. Half the reason I would buy the higher Internet packages was so that videos would stream faster.
People have busy lives, but people also love television. Is the ability to watch favorite shows online going to become a practice of the past?
Most networks now only offer the past two or three episodes online, and those viewing privileges expire after a certain amount of time.
Sometimes, it feels like the world penalizes you for not being a consumer of all things. Dropping cable wasn't such an adjustment when shows were still available online, and now that option seems to be slipping from our grasp. It feels unfair, especially when consumers still pay for Internet access. Half the reason I would buy the higher Internet packages was so that videos would stream faster.
People have busy lives, but people also love television. Is the ability to watch favorite shows online going to become a practice of the past?
Additional Information: As I did more research online, I found ABC's new policy to be contradictory. Here are their answers to the FAQs, so you can see for yourself:
So they're saying that starting January 6th, viewers can only watch online episodes with a participating TV provider, but also if viewers don't have a subscription, they can still view episodes on WATCH ABC for a week? I'm sorry, but that makes no sense. What, then, is the point of implementing the new provider policy?
Is anyone else confused and a little angry by ABC's choice to limit online access? Comment below or tweet me @adventuringMISS.