The percentage of households in the United States that have TVs dropped from 98.9% to 96.7%. Why would you think that happened? Where I live, high-speed internet access costs $40 a month, whereas a decent slate of TV channels on cable costs $70. If you own a computer, the choice is a no-brainer. According to the New York Times:
I had forgotten that there are places in which people can pick up several TV channels by using just an antenna. If I lived alone, I would give up TV entirely because I don't have time to watch it. Link -via TYWKIWDBI
There are two reasons for the decline, according to Nielsen. One is poverty: some low-income households no longer own TV sets, most likely because they cannot afford new digital sets and antennas.
The other is technological wizardry: young people who have grown up with laptops in their hands instead of remote controls are opting not to buy TV sets when they graduate from college or enter the work force, at least not at first. Instead, they are subsisting on a diet of television shows and movies from the Internet.
I had forgotten that there are places in which people can pick up several TV channels by using just an antenna. If I lived alone, I would give up TV entirely because I don't have time to watch it. Link -via TYWKIWDBI
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I still have and use my 20" CRT TV from 1996. It still works. I don't need that HD crap. I also still have the VCR from the dotcom days and it still works, even though I never use its VHS tapes. I also use my computer's two HDTV tuner cards record OTA.
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The only reason I have cable (and it's only basic cable) is that it is bundled with my apartment. I pay $50 a month for cable and internet, whether or not I want to use it. I tend to use the internet more than the cable. I'll occasionally watch something on the Food Network, but most shows I watch are on the basic channels I could receive with an antenna. When I move, I'm definitely only getting internet.
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Who has a 15" monitor these days? My old puter is rocking a 23" monitor and I watch plenty of Netflix and movies on it, via the internet (and the DVD player). I've never had or felt the need to pay for cable tv.
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I very rarely watch TV anymore. At least, not on an actual TV. We only keep one around for my toddler's Barney and Elmo videos.
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I really meant if you had to choose between the two. I have friends of all ages, and some are having a hard time paying bills, even the tech-savvy ones.
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