Commentary: Netflix inspired me to cut the cord

Andrew Herzog, host of The Bonfire on TheBlaze Radio Network, shares his thoughts on the current media landscape and the ongoing arms race between streaming services and traditional networks:

I haven’t had cable for a couple years now, and I won’t go back. There’s no point.

With Amazon, Hulu and Netflix at my fingertips I don’t need anything else for my entertainment.

Case in point: Netflix says they currently have 30 original scripted series on the books, and next year they plan to double their original programming to 1,000 hours of entertainment, including 20 unscripted (i.e. reality) shows.

That’s a promising sign to someone like me, who doesn’t need live programming anymore.

The only live programming I’ll occasionally watch is sports, and I’ll usually go to a bar to immerse myself in the game experience. Other than that, I don’t need to see the latest episode of something as soon as possible. I don’t have the time to schedule my day around the TV, nor do I want to. Watching TV is a pastime for me, so I need it when I want it. Netflix fits that bill.

Netflix made me cut the cord when they delivered a variety of entertainment at the time that I wanted it at a price I could swallow. They cemented my decision when they began producing original movies and series of their own, on top of all the licensed stuff they already gave me.

And when Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos says, “Don’t look for us to be bidding for [sports] league rights,” that assures me he isn’t interested in competing with traditional cable companies. Cable has the benefit of premiering most content and broadcasting live sports, but that won’t last long. The writing is on the wall: traditional cable is on its way out and you can’t stop the on-demand/direct-to-user truck barreling down the highway.

Sarandos also says, “We’ve been maniacally focused on one product. We sell a product in a way big companies aren’t able to do because they’re so big.” So no, Netflix isn’t looking to be acquired by some large media conglomerate that would screw up their winning strategy. Good call, Ted.

HBO Go, Apple TV, Roku, and Sling TV are just some of the first steps down a road of entertainment customization. I cut cable because I realized how much of it was trash and unwatchable, and yet I was still paying for it. Netflix continues to hone in on its core competency of on-demand entertainment, both original and licensed, so I feel confident my small monthly subscription is well-spent.