The Free Ride Is Over For Streaming Video (No longer will users be able to endlessly stream)

TechCrunch.com ^ | May 19th 2012 | Ryan Lawler

[AmonAmarth]

Comcast’s plans to do away with its 250 GB data cap and charge users based upon usage marks the end of an era for cable TV providers, and for the online video industry. No longer will users be able to endlessly stream all the content their hearts desire. Not just that, but the fact that usage-based pricing is arriving at the same time that more, higher-quality content is appearing online could have a dampening effect on demand for services like Netflix or Hulu Plus.

Comcast, of course, says that its new, usage-based pricing policy is pro-consumer, and to a certain extent it is. The average broadband subscriber — those who only use up about 8 GB or 10 GB of data a month — shouldn’t necessarily pay the same as those whose usage goes above 300 GB in the same period of time.

But for those of us who are avid streaming video users, usage-based pricing models could change the overall value proposition of watching video on the Internet.

[AmonAmarth]

Crap. I canceled Cable 2 years ago and I have 20 over the air channels, Netflix, and Hulu. $16.00 a month, everything the family likes to watch. Now the price will be going up, big time.

[Uncle Ike]

Hey, all of you “Internet-over-Cable” snobs - my poky old DSL streams everything just fine - and the price hasn’t changed in years.....

Watching HULU (Free) as I type this... ;)

[the invisib1e hand]

kill the tv. you’ll all be better off.

[TexasFreeper2009]

dont even know who comcast is and don’t care, it wont affect me or my ability to stream over my AT&T dsl.

[Dr. Sivana]

Ha ha. I have heard this all before. There are enough outlets now, that unlimited plans will expand, NOT contract. I remember AOL resisting unlimited dial-up hours. I also remember paying by the minute for Compuserve and Delphi.

Comcast can do what it wants. The DSL providers and others will provide the bandwidth over time to win customers. The cable companies always treat broadband like the unwanted step-child anyway. Until they learn, they will pay, by losing customers.

[WackySam]

Comcast’s plans to do away with its 250 GB data cap and charge users based upon usage marks the end of an era for cable TV providers COMCAST

[Myrddin]

I've always had some kind of data cap. As a consequence, I never initiated an interest in streaming movies or other video content as a source of continuous entertainment. The occasional brief YouTube video gets some attention. I won't notice a bit.

[Uncle Ike]

” I remember AOL resisting unlimited dial-up hours. “

I remember AOL using up all of my “free” minutes with every-other-day update downloads (2-3 hours each @ 1200 bpm)... I dropped them as soon as MSN came on with their unlimited plan...

[icwhatudo]

Just took a look at my comcast account. I ditched cable tv and now watch everything thru the internet. I was over 370GB in February, 260 in March, and 202 in April. Moving the max to 300GB will help me avoid more nastygrams.

[rovenstinez]

I would say the LEAD horse in this effort is Carlos Slim Helu, he owns so many Telecomunications in Latin America, and just recently Tel Mex told it’s customers in Mexico that they would start paying for content downloaded...

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Now the price will be going up, big time.

Maybe. 250 GB is a lot of Netflix and Hulu viewing. Charging by usage is a lot more fair, anyway - in theory. Internet users who use 10 or 20 GB a month should get much lower Comcast bills under the new pricing structure but probably won't - Comcast will probably make the old base rate the new minimum rate and charge upward from there based on usage.

Note that Comcast will not charge beyond the service minimum if customers stick exclusively with Comcast's own Xfinity streaming service - those customers will never be charged extra, no matter how much bandwidth they use as long as the bandwidth is spent on Comcast's own service. Pretty much like the power company not charging us beyond the service minimum as long as we buy all of our appliances from the power company. That was what the Net Neutrality issue was about, though it was pretty much lost in a lot of misconceptions.

[omega4179]

Cable is the reason we have the Matthews and Oprahs , every Patriot should cancel it. I wish my Wife would agree..

[omega4179]

and the MSNBC and CNN and NBC...

[Paladin2]

Cable B gone for ~ 15 years.

I'd pay 10% for my pick of 10% of the 300 channels.

[tennmountainman]

The real issue is for local communities to quit giving Comcast monopolies on running cable and internet to every house. These communities need to allow other companies to compete with Comcast. Other companies who want to compete should be allowed to run their own lines, not buy wholesale off Comcasts lines.

[vetvetdoug]

Comcast employees are the #1 donors to the Obama campaign. Comcast’s CEO is the weekly golfing partner of Obama. Comcast can shove anything they want down the consumer’s throat and don’t have a worry with the current DOJ. I canceled Comcast back six months ago and haven’t looked back.

[netmilsmom]

I was the one who pushed it in my house.

We have a Roku and it’s the best.

[Pontiac]

HD TV Ping

[The Duke]

I have no problem with the notion of paying for that which I consume - as long as market competition is protected.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Roku will play any video you can find streaming on the web? Nice unit if so.