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Cable Comeback: Weighing the Streaming Service Surge

Finding Value in Traditional Television as Costs Climb

Edy Zoo
4 min readOct 29, 2023
Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash

In the golden age of streaming, it might seem counterintuitive to even consider going back to cable TV. Streaming services have revolutionized how we consume media, offering unprecedented convenience and a smorgasbord of content at our fingertips. Yet, as the number of streaming platforms multiplies and subscription costs creep up, some of us can’t help but wonder: Does it make sense to return to cable?

Streaming services kicked off with the promise of being a cost-effective alternative to cable. And for a while, they delivered. “I cut the cord because I was tired of paying hefty cable bills. Streaming seemed like a great deal,” says Jordan, a 30-year-old teacher. Like Jordan, many made the switch, relishing in the freedom to choose and pay for only what they wanted to watch.

However, the streaming utopia is starting to lose its luster. As more companies jump on the streaming bandwagon, viewers are finding themselves subscribing to multiple services to access all their favorite shows and movies. The costs add up, chipping away at the savings once enjoyed by cord-cutters.

“When I did the math, I realized I was paying almost as much for streaming as I did for cable,” Jordan notes, echoing a…

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Edy Zoo
Edy Zoo

Written by Edy Zoo

Edy Zoo is a social critic, theologian, and philosopher who writes about social subjects.

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