In today’s post, I take a nostalgic journey through the evolution of my television viewing from the early days of limited channels to the vast array of options available today. We’ll explore the various phases of my cable and streaming experiences, highlighting the excitement of discovering new platforms, the frustrations of rising subscription costs, and the quest for local news in an increasingly digital landscape. Join me as I reflect on how my viewing habits have changed over the years and the impact of technology on entertainment choices.
1972: THE HBO YEARS
Although I vividly recall the simplicity of my childhood with just three television channels (ABC, CBS & NBC) along with Iowa Public Television, there’s that enchanting moment etched in my memory when HBO burst onto the scene! It was a revelation that led to cable being installed in our home for the very first time (if memory serves, a few years later). Oh, what a thrill it was! It felt as if we had transformed our living room into a mini movie theatre, even with the hefty 500 lb. square television that became our portal to the movies!
2005: THE DIRECTV YEARS
When DirecTV popped onto the scene, we jumped on the bandwagon with a promotional price below $50 a month at the time. Once the promo price evaporated, we’d find ourselves paying over $120 a month in just a few years; for TV.
In a game I’m sure you’re as familiar with as I am, I’d pick up the phone and threatened to drop the service, with the company transferring me to the account conservation team, who would work to return the cost back to Earth financially for me.
Following a number of cycles of slowly raising the cost and eventually lowering it back down, I realized that new subscribers were treated differently than existing subscribers when it came to monthly cost. When I couldn’t reach an agreement with DirecTV to bring my cost down to what they advertised for new subs, I cancelled the service.
2015: THE NO-MAN’S LAND YEARS
Once I’d canceled DirecTV, inside I was thinking, “What have I done!” and wondered how I’d get by without my local news channels. Yes, I would be good with Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video for general entertainment, but what happens during tornado season? (I’d gotten used to our local news breaking in with dire updates during the final episodes of “Survivor,” leading up to their season finale.)
Using my Roku app, I looked for options to watch local newscasts. While I could use the local station’s app on my iPhone, I preferred watching the news on TV. I found an app that claimed to show local news, but for every minute of news, there were unskippable commercials. On average, there were four commercials every few minutes, including one that kept repeating (“Be a Dad Today”), making it feel like I was stuck in an endlessly boring and annoying loop.
2018: THE YOUTUBE TV YEARS
With all three local networks and a host of great content, as well as a cloud DVR (for all around $50 a month), YouTube TV arrived and appeared to be the perfect cost-effective solution for my entertainment needs. Sure, even though Google is one of the largest companies in the world, they still needed to occasionally bump up the monthly cost of their service to account for rising costs from the channels included on their platform.
It wasn’t until they approached $90 a month that I started to rethink my options for entertainment once again.
2025: THE NEWEST ERA
Over the past weekend, I cancelled my YouTube TV subscription. Factoring in what I watched on the YouTube TV platform, I could sign up for Paramount+, Peacock, and Discovery+, and still have more than $50 in my pocket each month.
The news? There are two options, one I prefer just a bit more. Very Local gives me my CBS local news pretty quickly after it’s broadcast. Haystack News is okay, but as of yet, not my favorite. Peacock provides my local NBC affliliate as well, so other than ABC, I’m doing alright!
Beyond that, I can use a variety of other apps (Roku, Freevee, etc.) to find other great entertainment as well.
Solid win all the way around, particularly for my wallet. After all, it’s just television.
MY FINAL REFLECTION
Looking back on my television journey, it’s clear that the evolution of viewing habits mirrors the advancements in technology and the shifting landscape of entertainment. From the thrill of discovering HBO in my childhood to navigating the complexities of subscription services, I’ve learned to adapt and find creative ways to enjoy my shows and local news without overspending. Now, I find joy in curating my own mix of services that cater to my needs.
I’d love to hear from you! How have you navigated the world of television and streaming to keep your entertainment enjoyable yet budget-friendly? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
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