Cable Cord Cutting? Ha! Never!

I've often been asked by friends and family that have made the leap if I would ever consider cutting out cable television, ditching my service with my provider, and moving into the great, cord-cutting frontier. Those who press me say that if I make the move, I'll be able to enjoy nearly all the same entertainment, but I will no longer need to pay Time Warner Cable for the, uh, privilege, of using its service.

Admittedly, at times I've thought seriously about making such a move. There have been times in the past when I've been watching shows on Netflix and catching up on episodes via Hulu Plus and thought that cord cutting wouldn't be such a bad idea. After all, they had, at that time, everything I wanted.

But as time wore on and I thought more rationally, I realized just how ludicrous it is to cut the cord at this point in my life. Hulu Plus is great for some of the shows I watch, but far too many series aren't available. Even worse, the breadth of content, while impressive on one hand, can be rather disappointing for those of us who watch programming not found on the big networks.

And as for Netflix? Well, I've been increasingly disenfranchised with the service. There was a time when I believed Netflix was the answer to all of my entertainment woes. And for a period, it was. But as the service has lost major films and been relegated to a place to find outdated television shows or last season of a popular series, I've realized that little good can come from loving Netflix. The service was once a juggernaut; now, it's a disappointment.

[aquote]It might end up costing me more, but I like the convenience[/aquote]

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying every minute of my cable television service. I have hundreds of channels with all kinds of desirable programming. And although it might end up costing me a bit more than cord cutting, I like the convenience of popping on my television and enjoying all the content I had saved on my DVR.

Plus, there's the issue of HBO. I'm one of those folks that loves practically everything HBO hands out, including its new series, older programs, and sports documentaries. I'm often found sitting in front of my television on a Saturday night watching a boxing match or catching up on Game of Thrones. To not have HBO in my life — and not be able to stream HBO Go from the browser — is enough to make me shudder at the thought of it.

So, forgive me if I don't see the reason to switch to an all-streaming entertainment package just yet. I do believe that eventually, cable and satellite companies could be pushed out of the space, but I don't think it'll happen anytime soon. The amount of content available only through those services and not online makes it nearly impossible for someone like me to cut the cord. And I have the distinct feeling that I'm not alone.