It’s Hard Being a Dinosaur

I moved from suburban to Chicago to suburban San Antonio this month. The move was driven by family issues. My wife and I have grandchildren here and we want to be a bigger part of their lives. Any move is disruptive, but a long-distance move that requires changing every service provider imaginable – from doctors, to utilities, to auto mechanics – is overwhelming, complicated and stressful.

But easily the most complicated aspect of the move was changing the providers of internet, television, streaming and cell phone services. I fully expected to be able to “cut the cord” and get all my entertainment via the internet. Turns out we own a combination of “smart” and “dumb” televisions that make such a move almost impossible.

The local internet and cable provider (who also handles our security system) suggested a TV package that looks and feels like cable (i.e. there’s a menu with a list of what’s available to view) but is delivered through the internet. You can also access streaming services through this package – except that one of my TVs is made by a manufacturer that doesn’t allow me to access the two streaming services I most watch because …I honestly didn’t get a good answer why.

To access those services, I either need to create a Google account or purchase an Amazon Fire TV Stick that would turn my dumb TV into a smart one. What I need is something to turn my dumb brain into a smart one – or a professional consultant who can explain how I can watch what I want – primarily local news sports, and streaming services – without having to pay $300 a month for the privilege!

I have downloaded no less than six new apps – most of which I have no real idea how to use – that are supposed to allow me to watch TV, listen to music, control the temperature in my house, use my security system (three separate ones for that!) and – of course – pay my bill for each.

I’m frustrated, cranky, and longing for my cable bundle. Knowing that those days will never come back, here’s what I really want:

• The ability to watch the 20 stations I most frequently watch, including local channels and some of the major cable channels. I watch news and sports on these stations. Almost all my “entertainment” viewing is done on streaming platforms.
• The ability to purchase a bundle of streaming services including Netflix, Max, Peacock, Hulu, Paramount, Apple, and Amazon and somehow decipher what shows are on what platforms.
• The ability to pay a fair price for these services. What’s fair? I don’t know, but it isn’t $300 per month, that’s for sure.

The cable guy is coming back tomorrow to see if he can get the smart TV and the dumb TV to operate in unison. In the meantime, I’m reading much more than I did before the move and I actually feel smarter for it. I wonder if the dinosaurs felt the same way.

Posted at MediaVillage through the Thought Leadership self-publishing platform.

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