Quote:
Originally Posted by theducks
They still make antennas. Cheapskates and folk that don't want pay for the fare from 'Basic Cable'.
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Yup. Antennas areback, big time.
And not just for cheapskates.
Cord cutters are the biggest antenna buyers these days, often alongside DVR boxes like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Recas.../dp/B01J6A6H74
Yes,
of course Amazon is going to be in the middle of another revolution.
Cable companies are losing subscribers by the million.
Check this place for a blow by blow account of the ongoing revolution:
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com
It's not just publishers being disentermediated, now, it's cablecos and satcos.
Not only are producers taking their shows directly to Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Youtube Premium, etc. but the cable Networks themselves are streaming their own content directly to consumers like HBO, FOXNEWS, SHOWTIME, MLB, DC UNIVERSE, etc. In fact, look up Philo--it's owned and operated by a combo of the "smaller" cable networks--it directly streams 58 popular cable channels for $20 a month.
https://help.philo.com/hc/en-us/arti...Channel-Lineup
More are coming, with WB, Disney, and NBC UNIVERSAL launching their services over the next months.
The key things about all the services is they are on-demand, contract free, and ad-free. And you can activate for a month, deactivate, and activate something else. Rinse and repeat or mix-n-match.
Even more, there is a new trend for "free" ad-supported streaming services and those too are growing: CW, CWSEED, PLUTO, TUBI, IMDB TV, ROKU TV, ABC, NBC, FOX, etc. No fly by night startups there, either. It's the big boys covering all their bets because nobody knows how it'll shake down. It's exactly like ebook world, circa 2009.
No cable or satellite box needed, just internet.
Antennas are a complement for all this, for local channels.
Quite cheap ($10 and up).
But real "cheapskates" build their own, for $4 and up.
As you pointed out, HD TV runs mostly on UHF (soon *only* on UHF) so any little chunk of wire can do if you're close enough. Youtube is littered with videos for PVC PIPE HD ANTENNAs. Some skip the PVC in favor of soda cans or just coax wire. (The plastic pipe is to protect the wire.)
Think of them as "indie" antennas.
This particular revolution started five years ago but the real explosion is next year. Everybody wants your eyeballs.
Bottom line is *everything* in content is changing; books, newspapers, magazines, audio, video.
And yes, retail.
But changing isn't dying.