What is cord-cutting?

2022-05-26

2022-05-26
Smart TV

 

What is cord-cutting?

 

Do you know that an average family in Singapore pay somewhere between $50 and $80 for cable TV each month?

 

Cord-cutting is a fairly recent phenomenon that is quickly gaining traction among movie lovers. Since the start of TV becoming a household staple, people have always been using the traditional cable service to watch movies. To be fair, there wasn’t much of an option back then.

 

Cord-cutting refers to when someone cancels their traditional cable or satellite service to watch TV programs in favour of a different option such as streaming. In recent years, more people have been “cutting the cord” as streaming services become increasingly available.

 

With big brands like Apple, Amazon and Disney pushing for their own streaming services, cord-cutting has never been easier. 

Smart TV

1. Dissatisfaction with traditional cable and satellite services

 

Do you remember a time when your tv programme is controlled by the broadcasters and we have to settle for whatever programme is on screen no matter what we would like to watch? Well, we are happy that those days are finally over.

According to a recent study done by NTU, the number of Singaporeans subscribed to cable TV has dropped from 58 per cent in 2019 to 39.2 per cent in 2021. That is a huge 20 per cent drop in just two years!

Dissatisfaction with traditional cable and satellite TV is partly due to the huge price tag that is attached to these services. Cable TV services are typically lumped in with internet services and provided as a package in Singapore. While the price can vary depending on add-on services and the number of channels offered, on average Singaporeans pay somewhere between $25 to $80 every month.

 

On top of the price tag, consumers nowadays are generally more conscious about the media they consume and are unwilling to sit through advertisements every half an hour.

 

2. More flexibility and control of the viewing experience

 

In a time when there were very few options, Cable TV was enough to provide most consumers with the rigid structure and regularity of their programmes. However, when streaming services started coming into the market, many consumers took notice and quickly switched in favour of the flexibility and control offered.

 

No longer were consumers having to stay up to 2 am to catch their favourite show, now there is a  huge variety of media accessible only with a click. There is no schedule to adhere to and no advertisement to sit through. Unlike cable TV where you are subject to broadcasters’ selections and choices, you are able to view what shows are available to stream before making the purchase.

 

While the price tag for streaming services can range between $5 to $20 per month, its advantage is that the content is accessible across multiple devices. That means if your parents are watching the news on the TV, you can simply hop on your smartphone to continue watching your show of choice. The algorithm also automatically assess your viewing habits so that the viewing experience can be more personalised and tailored.

 

In short, the process is transparent and easy, and you will know what you’re getting out of it.

 

3. Fast internet connection

 

One caveat with streaming services is that you will need a fast internet connection to stream the movies smoothly. However, with the range of technologies made available to consumers nowadays, this is hardly a problem for most people.

 

 

4. Get started with Cord-cutting

 

With so many alternatives for streaming movies, it is easy to see why consumers have been ditching traditional cable services to take control of their viewing experience.

 

Are you a cord-cutter or planning to be one? Get started with cord-cutting with TCL’s range of Smart TVs here!

2022-05-26

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