What Am I Paying For?

Post Date

Mon, 10/02/2017 - 00:00

Categories

Entertainment Blogs

My family uses Verizon for our television access. We have premium access, allegedly the best package with the greatest amount of television stations. Apparently, that is no longer sufficient.

I had read about the television series “The Handmaids Tale,” over a year ago while it was still in production. The book ranks as one of my favorite books of all time, so I was very excited for the release of the television series. I was shocked to learn that it would only be released on Hulu, which required a $9.99 per month subscription fee. While the fee may not appear exorbitant, given what we already pay for cable, I refused to pay it and did not watch the series. Instead, I reread the book.

Similarly, I was excited to watch the newest series in the Star Trek franchise last Sunday evening, Star Trek: Discovery on CBS. After watching the first episode on network television, I learned that the rest of the series would only stream on CBS All Access. When I tried to watch the second episode on my smart television, I learned that CBS All Access can only be viewed after payment of a subscription fee equal to that of Hulu. So, if I want to watch Star Trek, in addition to what I pay Verizon to watch CBS, I have to pay an additional fee to watch CBS All Access.

Star Trek has lost a potential viewer because I refuse to pay an additional fee to watch both CBS and CBS All Access. Is this the future of television? How much will I have to pay to watch the shows that I enjoy?

Comments

Corey Bearak

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One of my issues with cable is the lack of a true a la carte system.

Fred Klein

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I pay for Netflix

Art Lizza

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When I was growing up, we were told that the airwaves belong to the people. I have never paid for television, and have resisted cable because it's my contention that broadcast (and other) corporations, with the bought and paid for blessings of the government, have effectively stolen the airwaves from the people.

Gideon Schein

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Oh woe is me, but that is the present and future of television. I, too, have had to make my choices.

Anne Kleinman

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Thinking of getting rid of cable and buying Netflix, Hulu and CBS all Access - I will save about $30 per month or more and still have most of what I watch. You could also consider YouTube TV for about $35 per month.

Cayce Crown

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We ditched cable and got a "smart TV" and so far, though I do miss TCM, its been good. We get a bunch of interesting channels for free, including the local networks. Added Amazon Prime and Netflix and we are saving a lot of $$$ and aggravation with the horrific customer service of the cable companies. The public library has a bunch of free streamable content as well. I bought CBS all access for a couple months (total $12) and watched "The Good Fight" and then dropped the service. Let the cable go and just buy what you want.