Kyana Townes

Why did cable just suddenly disappear off the face of the earth? Today, it seems like something you only see at your grandparents’ house, or at a hospital.  

 Just like everything else that is popular for a certain amount of time then it is suddenly replaced by the next massive thing, cable seems to have given way to streaming. 

My friends and I have had numerous talks about things we miss from our childhood, and cable was something that came up in our conversations quite often. Simple factors like what tv number was channels certain shows were on for their providers, which main character was the best, and which generation had the best cartoons.  

Gen-Z experienced the tail end of cable TV’s prominence. For people who are members of Generation Z, we grew up in an era where we started with cable, but that was soon replaced by the domination from the world-known phenomenon which is said to be streaming services, with appointment-style viewing giving way to: 

On-Demand Convenience: Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer users the advantage of watching whatever you want, whenever you want, but it can also lead to decision of overwhelm, stress, or annoyance by having a hard time selecting the perfect show or movie. 

Binge-Watching Culture: Unlike cable, where you had to follow a set schedule, streaming allows for binge-watching, which has led to both positive and negative impacts on social interaction and engagement. Watching a show on a streaming site really does not let the user engage in experiencing time to settle on the previous episodes because they must endure the heavy amount of information from each episode. This built patience for watchers but also conspiracy theories and talk topics for fan talks. Binge watching has made more of the audience members lack devoted fan connections with the characters of the show but also other fans because they move quickly from shows because they are able to watch the show faster because all the episodes are released.  

Loss of the “Appointment TV” Tradition: Shows on cable TV would air weekly, and viewers had to be on time to watch. With streaming, many shows drop all at once, removing the anticipation and collective cultural experience. 

CNN Business stated “In July, linear TV made up less than half of all TV viewing, according to Nielsen. Both broadcast and cable “each represented record low shares” of total viewership, the firm’s report said, making up just 49.6% combined. Meanwhile streaming services, such as Netflix and YouTube, grew last month to a record high of 38.7% of all total TV watching.”

Cable has declined tremendously in viewership. It is becoming less common for cable to be utilized in this current time when technology is becoming more advanced, and you have streaming services.

Another factor in when gen-z’s face nostalgic feelings is cable because it reminds them of their childhood, a time when technology and media were simpler. For some, it is a connection to a time when their parents or older siblings would watch shows together, creating shared memories. 

Also with social media, people often reminisce about TV moments, commercials, or shows they watched as kids, sparking a longing for the “good old days” of cable TV. Often on social media sites like Instagram and TikTok on the explore (for you) page or reels page viewers continuously scroll upon and post where a meme or caption is said that reminds them of their childhood.