With technology at practically every corner of one’s existence, it’s hard to function without it; even when it comes to where and how you watch television.
The trend towards Internet-only service has reduced cable TV subscriptions significantly in the past few years, according to BroadbandNow.
“I watch TV maybe twice a week, like on an actual television. I mostly watch Netflix,” says secondary mathematics education graduate student Anna Shelton, from Adamsville.
Amazon, Hulu and Netflix grasp approximately 100 million subscribers with their seemingly unending amount of video content, according to bankrate.com.
Through a random poll given amongst this writers’ peers, the results have come to an agreement with Shelton. 82 percent of the students surveyed preferred streaming television over cable TV for various reasons.
“While I am at school, I watch more streaming TV because it is more convenient with a smart TV. Also, I have a busy schedule and it’s easier to catch up,” says junior education major, Abby Loveless, from Centerville.
Others said that convenience may not be the biggest factor, but that selection does play a role in their decision.
“I like streaming TV because I can watch with limited commercials, go back and watch TV shows that don’t air anymore or watch shows that just aired but I didn’t have time to watch when it played in real time,” says junior communications major, Grace Salmon, from Wilsonville, Oregon.
For others, it’s largely about price.
“I like streaming more because it’s cheaper and more convenient as a college student who doesn’t make much money and moves around a lot,” says Sophomore K-5 integrated studies major, Kali Barcafer, from Memphis.
With the majority of UTM Students preferring to stream, 41 percent of the 82 percent hold Netflix as their number one “go-to” TV network. Though there are a number of reasons why, the main reasons are standard amongst those questioned.
“Netflix, by far. It’s my mom’s account that the family shares, so the convenience factor plays in,” says senior communications major, Seth Carr, from Martin.
“[I watch more] Netflix because more of my favorite shows are on it,” says freshman criminal justice major, Dylan Giffen, from Martin.
“I like Netflix more because it has more movies and more options,” says senior vet tech major, Mindy Knight, from Munford.
Though the results show Netflix as “Martin’s most wanted”, Hulu trails slightly behind it, taking 30 percent of UTM students with it.
“I watch more Hulu because it has more shows that I like. I can also watch a new episode the next day, unlike Netflix where you have to wait for the whole season to come out,” says sophomore secondary math education major, Terry Bingham, from Saltillo.
“[I like] Hulu because [of the] up-to-date TV shows and content,” says senior agriculture education major, Chad Lewis, from Gates.
Straggling somewhat behind, yet not completely forgotten, YouTube and Amazon Video still have a place among the hollow pockets of struggling college students at 20 percent and nine percent respectively as the number one pick for UTM students.
“I probably watch YouTube the most just because I like to watch vlogs and things like that. I also like Amazon Video because my favorite show, Doctor Who, is on that platform and not on any of the other platforms,” explains senior music education major, Becca Dean, from Paris.
“I like YouTube because the ads are short and all the content I watch is personal,” says freshman music education major, Victoria Simms, from Dyer.
Though streaming TV has taken the popular vote, cable TV has not become totally extinct, though only 18 percent of UTM students prefer cable TV over streaming TV. Nonetheless, their reasons for choosing cable over streaming are still totally valid for college students.
“I think I watch more cable TV when I can, because when I’m at home I have shows to watch every day of the week and if I were to stream them, it would be a whole year later after they have aired,” says senior communications major, Kimani Subber, from Memphis.
“[I like] cable TV because it’s more convenient and it’s easier for me to watch what I want,” says junior meteorology major, Shannon Sullivan, from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“I watch more cable TV, but just slightly more,” says junior interdisciplinary studies major, Christian Coleman, from Milan. “Streaming provides more entertainment, but cable provides certain options [that] I don’t currently have with streaming. However, with more advances in streaming, it’s becoming more economical to buy streaming apps and have access to similar content.”
According to beyondhonormovie.com, the price of cable tv and the increasing package prices are its main disadvantages. With this, you’re practically forced to pay for a number of channels that aren’t at all interesting to you.
Henceforth, when deciding on what to watch and how to watch it, price, convenience and quality play a big factor.
According to CBS News, new research shows that internet users of all ages are more likely to use streaming video over cable.
Though cable is free on campus, most students are accustomed to streaming their tv because it’s cheaper to watch at home than it is to buy cable television.
