Cable TV’s Fall From Grace Continues As Consumer Satisfaction Dwindles, Study Shows

Ever wonder what happens when so-called “disposable income” is a nearly non-existent luxury? People learn how to do without. Unfortunately for cable services providers in the U.S. it appears that their bread and butter was one of the first things to hit the chopping block. According to a May 2017 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) study, customer satisfaction with cable TV providers is at an abysmal 64 percent.

What’s driving the approval ratings down? It apperars that for cable TV companies, there are plenty of areas that are in need of improvement. What’s more, industry experts say those areas which desperately need addressing simply aren’t being remedied by the providers themselves.

“The threat of competition does not appear to be encouraging improvement fast enough for pay TV,” Claes Fornell, ACSI Chairman and founder, said in a press release accompanying the data. “Customer service remains abysmal, and viewers are continuing to switch over to streaming services with much higher customer satisfaction. More than half a million subscribers defected from cable and satellite providers during the first quarter – the largest loss in history.”

Where are all these eyeballs going then? Given another recently-released treasure trove of cable TV-watching data, some 20 million U.S. households have cut the cord with their traditional cable provider. In fact, 782,000 people went without the service in the first quarter of 2017 alone. While online-only streaming services is one option for those who are still willing to pay regularly for at-home entertainment, there are other more budget-friendly choices out there. One of which is a digital television antenna, which providers for better reception of dozens of over-the-air broadcast channels. A Clear TV Key review will tell you that this device is a one-time purchase guaranteed to cut out the $100 most people spend on cable television per month.

According to the ACSI study, fiber optic and satellite TV services are at the head of the pack compared to traditional cable television. However, both of these options are still going to generate monthly bills; only a digital TV antenna is the sure-fire way to save money while remaining informed and entertained.