Are we really better off with Cable/Satellite??

Video Asylum

TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more.

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Think about this for a moment. Today we have over 500 channels, DVD players, VCRs, Tivo, and the Internet. 25 years ago, all we had was OTA television and *maybe* a beta VCR if you're lucky.
The problem is, since 1977, we've had a slow erosion of programming time. In fact, it has gone from 52 minutes per hour, to 43!
Yes, we do have too many commercials nowadays, and it's clear, to me, that Cable TV/Satellite is the main reason. Back in the 70's for instance, NBC, CBS, and ABC were our only real prime time options. Today, there are more than 50 basic channels, which most of us on this website receive. Networks are happy to get a 25% share of the audience, when only 20 years ago, having a 25% share is close to last place for the night.
As a result of the diminished network audience, more and more commercials have been added. The boiling point was sometime around 1994, when the limit was reduced from 48 min to 43 min per TV hour. Now it's ridiculous! Television viewing is often quite uncomfortable, though I still get by.
What could we do to bring back more programming time to our television? I really would like to do away with a lot of the more useless channels up and down the board. HGTV? give me a break! Food Network? Who needs a damn network about food? ESPN2? One ESPN is enough! TV Land? Don't the local affiliates show enough reruns?
I figure with fewer channels, we get lower cable/satellite bills, and hopefully, we could get fewer commercials.
Finally, I ask again the question that I started with: Is it better now, or were things better when we had just 3 channels, no VCRs, and no DVDs w/ Widescreen, scene selections, etc?

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Parts Connexion

Topic - Are we really better off with Cable/Satellite?? - LogikReader 00:01:16 01/03/03 (9)

I haven't watched live TV in years! - bondmanp 12:16:11 01/07/03 (0)

Yes, we are. Here's why - Seth 14:39:58 01/03/03 (1)

Re: sure you can, Amen brother! -NT - Aroc 08:00:15 01/04/03 (0)

Re: Are we really better off with Cable/Satellite?? - Aroc 05:44:40 01/03/03 (5)

Pretty sad, isn't it? - R. Hertz 13:16:19 01/03/03 (4)

Ouch Dick, that hurts .. - Aroc 17:56:47 01/03/03 (3)

If you're a network executive. - R. Hertz 18:18:44 01/03/03 (2)

Turn it off... - Estes 04:41:38 01/04/03 (1)

"300 channels and there's nothing on!" - NYNick 11:04:56 01/06/03 (0)

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