Everybody records TV shows now.

[GA Russell]

It says here that nobody watches TV shows when they air anymore, except ballgames and awards shows.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-abandons-same-day-ratings-842498

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-20/fox-to-stop-issuing-live-ratings-for-most-shows-on-its-network

Edited November 22, 2015 by GA Russell

[JSngry]

Pretty sure that recording and streaming are not the same thing.

But yes, "delayed viewing" (as they call it) either with streaming apps or DVRs is not only a trend, it's a very pleasant reality for most everybody these days.

I also get the impression that the cable companies are really scrambling, because their facilitators for this (like OnDemand, etc.) is also becoming obsolete, as it requires cable service in the first place, and..who here is or is thinking of becoming, a cord-cutter? Not me, but I still listen to AM radio, so don't count me as representative, please.

Hell, Time-Warner is offering a streaming app, I guess for those times when you don't really feel like you need cable but figure, oh hell why not.

But hello, cable going the way of land lines, probably, and yes, I still have one of those too. Content Providers and Content Deliverers...new paradigm a' comin'.

[gmonahan]

I'm still stuck with Comcast--too many trees around me for satellite.  Comcast has all kinds of streaming/searching as well as a pretty good DVR, so I manage all right.  There is, however, a fair amount of truth to the joke circulating on the net:  "How to win the war on drugs:  1) Legalize all drugs.  2) require that all drugs be purchased through Comcast Customer Service."

 

gregmo

[A Lark Ascending]

I watch TV live if it's something I really want to watch; but I love having the ability to record for later or catch-up. Solves the problem of being out or just not in the mood (or the dilemma when two things you want to watch are on simultaneously). 

I think there is still a pretty strong tradition of watching live in the UK - we've only had multiple channel possibilities relatively recently (25 years?). When I was at work yapping about what had been aired the previous night was still standard chatter in staff rooms. I expect in the States you've had multiple possibilities (as with radio) for much longer. 

[catesta]

It's become a big part of how I view TV shows and movies. Most of the series running on HBO, Showtime, etc. come on too late on Sunday for me to watch so I either set the DVR or catch it with the OnDemand function. It comes in most handy with regular network and commercial cable channels as well. Some of the shows OnDemand are rigged by the networks so you can't bypass the commercials so I prefer to DVR but don't always know to do it.

I'm still in the cable world. I hate it, but satellite is not without it's problems. I have a certain admiration for those that have done away with both and gone completely Netflix and shit like that. I don't see myself doing that anytime soon but have plans to start exploring it.

[Van Basten II]

Even in the VCR era, I rarely watched anything live, except maybe events that you need to know at the same time than everybody else like elections, some sports events, tv series that you knew everybody would talk about it in the office the next day  .

 

The digitalisation of broadcasts just made it easier.With  cable networks à la HBO  offering drama without commercial interruption you get less patient with network tv and their inane ads and promos throughout a show. Why a normal human being wants to be subjected to this crap. Already tv is not always the best medium to enlighten ourselves, no need to push over the edge  So if there is a way to spare us , you'll bet many people will. 

American sports are among the worst culprits of them all. UFC fights that take about a half hour for 3x5 minutes event that sometimes won't last that long  Ice Hockey is another example of wasted time , same game that gets to be played just over two hours in the Olympics suddenly takes almost 3 hours in the pro ranks. But the most extreme case of wasting everybody's time is NFL and College Football, who offers you a gargantuan broadcast of more than 3 hours to show something along the  lines of about 15 minutes of actual action. On a tape delay basis and  with the control of the remote the freakin game lasts at around 75 to 90 minutes.and you won't miss much insights  from the "brilliant " crew.

 

I can understand the feeling of watching it live with the boys but truth is , it is just not an efficient way of following a game.