Sampan Mehta Week 15: From Cable and Live Television to Streaming

When was the last time you turned on the TV and thought “I’ll just watch whatever is on right now” or even said to yourself “my favorite show is finally on?” Well, for me, those thoughts remain memories as the era of live and cable TV is coming to an end. I am someone who really enjoys dramatic TV shows with several episodes and seasons, but I started to realize how many of us moved away from live television and focused on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and more. I thought it was crazy how I used to watch TV shows on cable and have to wait a week or two for the next new episode, until recently. 

One of my favorite shows that is originally from The CW, All American, first aired live in October 2018 and has been renewed for a sixth season. I had watched seasons one through five on Netflix and did not even realize that it was actually a show from a local TV channel. I had gotten so used to streaming services that the concept of cable TV simply slipped my mind. I was reminded of cable TV when I found out that the new season of All American would release on Netflix later this year or even early next year, but its premiere would be live on The CW from the beginning of April. I knew that it would be horrible to wait for so long and that the show would be spoiled as it has happened to me before with this series, so I decided to watch it on live TV. 

The moment I turned on the TV and went to the local channels, I had this feeling of nostalgia as I remembered how commonly I used to watch live shows on channels such as the Disney Channel or even local news channels. The one major thing that I was reminded of was the 15 minute advertisement or commercial breaks after about ten minutes of the episode. One other change was that a new episode of All American would air every Monday, so I would have to wait an entire week just for the next episode, which can be annoying if the episode ends at a cliffhanger (which it has been so far). Again, I was no longer used to live television as streaming services provide episodes on demand in any order; nevertheless, I quickly started to enjoy live TV again as the excitement of always wondering what would happen next really enhanced the experience of watching dramatic TV shows. Ultimately, I have really enjoyed this step back in the past into the world of cable TV channels and will look forward to the new episode of All American which will air next Monday, and possibly finding new shows to watch along the way. 


Links:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/10/is-this-the-end-of-tv-broadcasters-prepare-for-online-only-switch

https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/is-it-the-end-of-live-tv/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2022/08/01/streaming-video-viewing-will-surpass-cable-tv-before-the-end-of-this-year/?sh=3baa3e2c2ebf

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Comments

  1. Allison April 29, 2024 at 12:14 PM

    Hi Sampan! I found your blog so interesting as I always watched more TV when I was younger as well. Although I don’t use any streaming services at home, I do end up watching many more YouTube videos than actual shows or movies. It’s interesting how the series you want to watch is only coming out on Netflix long after the release on cable considering so many people use those streaming services nowadays. 15-minute advertisement breaks for ten minutes of an episode sounds insane to me but maybe it can allow viewers an opportunity to rest their eyes in ways that Netflix services do not allow. I also understand the pain of cliffhangers. A few years ago, I enjoyed watching this show on YouTube with my family and we had an amazing time watching the show. However, at the end of the last episode, the main character died and the show just ended. I was shocked at this and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. Even worse, the second season of the show was canceled. I hope your show will stop having cliffhangers and will end with a satisfying finish. I’m glad you enjoy experiencing the show on cable and I hope you enjoy the episode coming out today!

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  2. Rohan BhagraApril 30, 2024 at 10:43 AM

    Hi Sampan!

    Thank you for sharing this interesting and reflective blog. Reading your blog certainly reminded me of how cable TV has seemed to fade away in the recent years due to the growth of streaming services. While I still watch sports on cable tv from time to time (those are largely not on streaming platforms, at least of yet) I agree that it has been a long time since I have sat down to watch cable tv just to "see what is on." I cannot say the same about streaming platforms (my two favorite to use right now are Hulu and Youtube). Reading your blog helped me consider why we have moved so suddenly and abruptly from cable tv. I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on why this is the case.

    One reason why I think this is the case is because in most cases, cable tv is less convenient than streaming; we can watch whatever we want whenever we want with streaming, but not with cable tv. Also, as you explained in great detail, the advertisements that viewers are forced to watch when viewing something on cable tv is also a large turn off. I appreciate how you explored multiple sides of this topic, including why it started and what are its long term impacts. In terms of enduring impact, I think the movement towards streaming may end up in putting cable providers out of business or at least forcing them to re-think their business model.

    Once again, thank for sharing this topic and giving me an opportunity to reflect on the reason why cable tv has declined. I enjoyed looking back on the times when I was a little child, flipping through the channel directory for my favorite cartoon. Finally, I really enjoyed how you spoke candidly on your personal experience, as it allowed me to make connections and see how this change not only impacts cable companies, but also the people that consume tv.

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  3. Rashmi NavalpakkamMay 1, 2024 at 4:18 PM

    Hi Sampan,
    I found the way you started your blog - with a question that actually allowed us, the readers, to ponder about something that resonates with us - was really engaging. As reflected on what your question posed, I realized that the last time I actually watched cable television was when I was 6 years old, when my favorite two shows were Wild Kratts and PBS Kids. However, as I reflect on my memories with cable TV, strangely, rather than remembering the shows I watched as a child in the US, I am always transported back to all those visits to India, where I’d spend my time binging series like Winx Club, Shinchan, and Doraemon in Tamil, and, of course, the unbeatable Chhota Bheem. I couldn’t agree more with you on the nostalgic sentiment that I feel whenever I watch TV on local cable channels, whether it’s in India or in a hotel for our long weekend trip. There’s something about the way cable TV is portrayed that is so nostalgic, and it’s not only about the show choices that are played. Like you state in your blog, I think the nostalgia mainly stems from the 15 minute advertisements and commercials, which I consistently watch despite them being useless or corny. I really enjoyed your reflection of stepping back into the nostalgic past of cable TV and am now encouraged to explore some cable television shows myself!

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