In November, television industry insiders who gathered in Toronto for the annual CTAM Canada Broadcaster Forum were treated to a panel of real-life “cord-cutters” and “cord-nevers” – consumers who have cancelled their TV service, or never subscribed in the first place – bravely explaining why they felt traditional TV was no longer a must-have. The session was declared “off the record” so all involved would speak freely.
So-called cord cutting, and how to contain it, will be top of mind for many TV executives in 2016, as viewers will be given new choices. The federal broadcast regulator has promised rule changes to let customers choose which channels they pay for, and will require companies to shrink the size of basic cable and satellite bundles.
At the same time, and perhaps more importantly, new streaming technologies and online competitors built in the mould of Netflix Inc. are expanding, giving viewers a wider range of relatively low-cost alternatives, in turn causing some to rethink the value of their monthly TV bill.
JAMES BRADSHAW – Globe and Mail – Jan. 10, 2016.