For the first time, more people worldwide have a subscription to a video streaming service than a cable television subscription. Cable TV does generate more money than streaming services.
According to figures from an annual report from the MPAA, a film association from the US, there were 613.3 million subscriptions in 2018 alone worldwide for services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. That is 27 percent more than in 2017. In the same period, the amount of cable TV subscriptions fell slightly by 2 percent. Five hundred fifty-six million people worldwide had such a subscription.
That does not mean that more people now have a streaming subscription than a TV subscription. Satellite and IPTV together account for around 500 million subscriptions. In total there are therefore more than a billion TV subscriptions worldwide. The number of subscriptions to video streaming services is growing faster than the number of subscriptions for television.
Cable TV indeed remains one of the most common types of television subscription that has been available in the market. Dominating the telecom industry for a long time and being able to attain maximum consumers, it is recently that we have observed a paradigm shift towards the rapidly popular streaming services accessible to the users. No doubt, with so many cable TV providers dicing a wide range of plans and offers, users do get attracted. It is a fact that high-quality providers like Spectrum have some of the most exceptional packages and bundle offers to benefit their consumers.
Interested? Check them out by clicking here. However, streaming services are here to stay and have taken over the potential market with their number of subscribers increasing every day. So, here comes the big question. Which is better? Cable TV or streaming services? Here you are going to know the comprehensive analysis that gives you a better understanding of both the connection types. So, let us have a look:
Revenue
It is obvious how little the streaming services convert compared to cable. In 2018, cable TV accounted for around 100 billion euros worldwide, about 8 billion euros more than the year before. Video streaming services did not even yield 35 billion euros over the same period
The MPAA report is about the turnover of the global and American TV and film industry. The report also shows that for first-time consumers are spending more money on digital TV series and films than on physical image carriers or the cinema.
Worldwide, 44 percent of spending went to digital products. This can be streaming services, but also films that are purchased digitally, for example. Only 14 percent of the money went to physical products such as DVDs. 42 percent of the money went to the cinemas. In total, around 85.6 billion euros was spent on the TV and film market worldwide.
Sport is not included, so the numbers are lower. Sports are included in the comparison between video streaming services and the various TV subscriptions.
Number of Users Accessing Simultaneously
Though there is no simple answer as to which among the two is a better viewing service, it does greatly depend on the type of entertainment and how much TV you watch. Cable bundles can make a lot of sense for some people who have larger families. The reason is that a more significant number of users streaming might result in slowing down of the internet. Cable TV service does not slow down no matter how many televisions are accessing it. Streaming services might prove more beneficial for those who share a network with a smaller number of people. To run smooth streaming you must have high-speed internet whereas on the other hand, the TV networks are suitable when there is no internet connection.
Cost
When it comes to cost, streaming services might not prove very cost-effective. Many active bundles in the market can help you save money while enjoying good quality entertainment. It is all about smart choices. You cannot declare cable TV nor streaming service to be cheaper than the other one. It depends on picking the right streaming service or cable provider that matches your needs and fits your budget in the best way. Certain streaming services offer lower prices and greater portability than others. So, it does require research to know the cost per month of various streaming service providers and compare them to find the one that proves to be more appealing in terms of price and offerings.
Content Accessibility
Cord cutters are likely to get greater accessibility to massive content through streaming services. Moreover, the original content provided by the streaming services offers jam pack entertainment which is not available to cable TV users. You also get the perk of getting most of your favorite channels and excluding those channels which you do not want to watch.
Portability
The delights of watching your favorite shows or sports game wherever you want and whenever you want is something that has resulted in a higher number of users subscribing to the streaming services. Some of the streaming companies even allow you to download your favorite content so you can watch it later again. There are no boundaries to hang your smartphone the stand in your drawing room to enjoy streaming. You can use the streaming services on the go.
Wrapping Up
Streaming services are proving more cost-effective, portable and convenient for users which is why we see more users subscribing to the streaming services as compared to the cable TV services. Still, it is recommended that you do some homework and find out the best service in your area that perfectly fits your requirements. So, go on and explore the world of streaming content out there with access to unlimited content and exciting options to choose for the perfect punch of entertainment at affordable pricing. The Tech Lobsters have done some work out to were you with the best streaming platform including the suitable Netflix alternatives.
