My inclination is that linear cable and "channels" will just die off.

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Baltimore_Hokie

The idea of turning on a cable box, dialing up SpikeTV on channel 238, and watching a new episode of a show on a certain date/time live will become a relic (it more or less already is.) Everything is ultimately going to be, for better or worse, offered up like Netflix - content is made available beginning on this or that date/time, and people will just pick what they want to watch on demand. Instead of cable providers fighting with Disney over whether or not they make ESPN6 available and for how much, the new fights will be between Smart TV manufacturers and Media Conglomerates over how much kickback the manufacturer gets for allowing this or that streaming app to be available on this or that device. Imagine owning a 75'' Sony TV and, because Sony and Disney are in some sort of spat, you can't use any Disney/ESPN streaming apps on that TV without understanding how to jailbreak the device because Sony's proprietary firmware disallows it. That's the future.

Posted: 07/28/2026 at 03:00 PM ET

(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)

Thread Replies (18)

Full Thread →

This youtube makes a lot of sense to me... -- TDVick Jul 26, 2026 at 04:51 AM ET

TDVick • 07/26/26 04:51 AM ET

2 things I don't understand about the B1G's approach to Southern expansion -- Maroon Baboon Jul 26, 2026 at 11:51 PM ET

Maroon Baboon • 07/26/26 11:51 PM ET

My opinion, it is the old BC thing in ACC expansion -- VTCALS72 Jul 27, 2026 at 07:54 AM ET

VTCALS72 • 07/27/26 07:54 AM ET

I am once again begging folks to understand that TV markets are no longer- -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 27, 2026 at 11:47 AM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/27/26 11:47 AM ET

I agree with you the model is changing to something new. -- VTHokie2000 Jul 28, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET

VTHokie2000 • 07/28/26 12:18 PM ET

True - I'm sure the "cable channels via streaming" services like Hulu and- -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 28, 2026 at 12:51 PM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/28/26 12:51 PM ET

FWIW blackouts still exist in the NHL. If Monumental Sports has the -- VTHokie2000 Jul 28, 2026 at 01:31 PM ET

VTHokie2000 • 07/28/26 01:31 PM ET

My inclination is that linear cable and "channels" will just die off. ◄ -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 28, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/28/26 03:00 PM ET

But isn't what you call -- VTCALS72 Jul 27, 2026 at 03:35 PM ET

VTCALS72 • 07/27/26 03:35 PM ET

There are no more "markets" in the sense that you're selling a bundle of- -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 27, 2026 at 05:05 PM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/27/26 05:05 PM ET

All that still speaks to a process of bringing your product to market -- VTCALS72 Jul 27, 2026 at 06:04 PM ET

VTCALS72 • 07/27/26 06:04 PM ET

Here's where I think our disconnect on this is- -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 28, 2026 at 09:45 AM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/28/26 09:45 AM ET

Good post. Fully agree with the general theme of your 2nd paragraph -- VTCALS72 Jul 29, 2026 at 08:27 AM ET

VTCALS72 • 07/29/26 08:27 AM ET

I always thought it a house of cards to build your business model on -- Maroon Baboon Jul 27, 2026 at 01:56 PM ET

Maroon Baboon • 07/27/26 01:56 PM ET

Duke B-ball with UNC is huge money(maybe)** -- MrFantastic! Jul 28, 2026 at 06:58 AM ET

MrFantastic! • 07/28/26 06:58 AM ET

Agree with everything in your post 100%. -- Baltimore_Hokie Jul 27, 2026 at 02:13 PM ET

Baltimore_Hokie • 07/27/26 02:13 PM ET

Agreed -- TerryD Jul 27, 2026 at 03:02 PM ET

TerryD • 07/27/26 03:02 PM ET

I think the numbers changed signficantly once the SEC landed Texas and OU -- TDVick Jul 27, 2026 at 05:53 AM ET

TDVick • 07/27/26 05:53 AM ET

Interesting take, here’ a clickable link for others to make it easier. -- Stech Jul 26, 2026 at 07:44 PM ET

Stech • 07/26/26 07:44 PM ET