TV Viewing How You Want It

For years, many customers have been “cutting the cord” with their cable providers, but one hurdle has been getting access to premium content they would like to watch. Shows such as AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and “Mad Men” on basic cable plans or HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and “True Blood” on cable premium packages are not readily available. Sure, you can get a season pass to a show on iTunes or Google Play, but then you are getting only that show for about $40.

That is, until now.

Recently at CES, the WWE launched its own network. Before you scoff, hear me out. For about $9.99/month with a six-month commitment, you can have original programming, new and old, as well as all the pay-per-views offered, which would cost $44.95 each from a cable provider.

This may not seem like a game changer, but here’s what makes it one. It is strictly DIGITAL content. There will be no cable channel for you to tune into. You download the app to your Xbox One, PS4™, Apple TV, Roku, tablet or smartphone. This is TV on your terms. Watch the shows you want, when you want.

I know what you’re thinking. “This is wrestling. I haven’t watched anything like that since I was a kid.” Don’t kid yourself. Studios will take notice and be monitoring this very closely.

WWE Network

Want proof? The NFL Network has just announced its own digital network. As a fan you’ll be able to watch as much football as you want. Set the “programs” you want to watch and set the team you want to follow. But the catch is you can’t watch live games. In the NFL version there are two tiers: the free service and NFL Now Plus. It seems their model is meant to supplement live games.

Think about it. If you could get your local channels for free via antenna, supplement those local channels with Netflix and then get three to four network subscriptions for about $45, why wouldn’t you? Basic cable alone costs $20-$35 a month, and then you don’t even get all of the channels you want. By the time you upgrade to Basic Plus ($45/month) and then add premium channels such as HBO or Cinemax ($20/month), you’re looking at $65 a month or more. In that scenario, you’re getting a lot of channels you don’t want instead of only paying for what you actually want.

À la carte TV. It’s finally here.

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