Why I cancelled my pay television subscription

August 18, 2010  |  Media  |  Share  | 

On Tuesday I tweeted that I was pleased with DStv making it simple for subscribers to cancel their accounts. This prompted replies from people wondering why I cancelled my subscription. I can’t answer that with a character limit of 140, so I decided to put my answer here instead.

About a week before the 2010 FIFA World Cup I bought the new HD PVR 2P decoder for DStv. I had been without DStv for almost two years but made an impulse buy of the decoder when I saw the price – R2000. I wanted to check out DStv’s high definition channels and thought it would be worth having for the World Cup. I set it up myself, after returning the decoder because the first one I was sold had a mismatched smart card.

Watching the World Cup in HD was totally worth it – mostly because it was a great excuse to have friends over. Now, about a month after the event, I have cancelled my subscription. These are some of my reasons:

  • There’s nothing on. I really can’t think of anything on DStv that I have an interest in watching. Now and then Discovery HD Showcase will have a decent enough documentary that’ll keep me interested for a short while, but that’s about it. I can’t stand puerile, imported-and-knocked-off reality bullshit like Idols and TV series that are outdated.
  • TV is a waste of time and cognitive energy. It’s depressing how much time our species spends lying in front of televisions with our brains idle. I like making things, reading, spending time with my kids and fitting as much productivity into the finite time I have on earth as possible. What do I get from watching television? Even documentary channels have been dumbed down with shows like Ice Road Truckers on History Channel. How the fuck can watching barely-literate Canadians driving trucks in the snow be classed as History? And if you tune into Discovery you get to watch a fat guy building a motorbike. Seriously?
  • It’s expensive. Considering the return – null – paying close on R600 per month is just too much for subscriber television. Some things are a waste of money no matter how rich you are. Television is one of them.
  • It makes my kids sad. Gone are the days when children’s television consisted of 30 minutes on a Saturday morning. Now there is 24/7 content across multiple channels and the sprogs know it’s on whenever they want it. Thing 1 (my oldest son – I have two) is addicted to CBeebies. As kids’ content goes CBeebies is brilliant and educational. But it’s on all day – and he knows it. It makes him tense when he isn’t watching and he nags for it. I’m sure that CBeebies has its shows available on DVD. I’ll use the money I’m saving to buy him a few. Tonight our house was quiet and Thing 1 spent time playing with his brother, who fell asleep soon after. Win.
  • I don’t like sports. I enjoyed the World Cup, but I don’t get sports in general. Grown men watch other grown men throwing balls around and then either celebrate or get depressed based on the outcome. I am yet to hear a cogent argument for why sport matters. I choose to get happy or sad based on meaningful events. There are enough real things to worry about in the world without having to care about who kicked a ball more accurately. I know a vast majority of people will disagree with me on this, but let’s get back to DStv – without sport, what else does the service have going for it?
  • I get my news and entertainment on-demand, online. I don’t think I need to do much explaining on this point. We all know how iTunes and YouTube works. I also love watching next-level online broadcasts like This Week in Tech where I can engage with hosts and other viewers in real time.
  • Content licensing is retarded. It’s 2010. The world is connected. And yet we still have douchebags in suits that think it makes sense to license things by country and roll out content to different territories at different times. I want to buy my content online and download it at will. Legally. The way content is licensed for pay television windows (an industry term) is silly.
  • There are better things to do with 42 inches. Plug a modern gaming console or a Mac Mini into your television and put all that screen real-estate to better use. Even the most inane of video games are more mentally stimulating than Idols and contain a more accurate view of reality than Oprah. Your HD TV makes a really good screen for your computer.
  • DVDs are cheap. If I really want to see something I can get it on DVD or Blu-ray and watch it with better quality and less advertising. For less money.

These are just the most front of mind reasons for why I don’t see the value of having a pay television subscription. If television channels were provided as part of a triple-play telecommunications package I might take them. In their current form there is just no value. I’m not a TV guy.

What are your reasons for not having pay television? And, if you disagree with me, why do you see value in having it?

 
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  • http://twitter.com/AndrePretorius Andre Pretorius

    “Content licensing is retarded. It’s 2010.” … but you know what, its getting there. I admit, slowly, but its getting better. I would rather pay my R600 and watch new seasons, than downloading it, which i do, but less and less every day. DSTV is getting quite up to date recently.

  • Neil

    Agree with you all the way. I gave up my TV subscription long ago. I realised that I only watch one TV series at a time, since that is all that is available between all the channels on offer. It makes more sense to just buy the series on DVD and watch it “on-demand”.

  • Guest

    I don't think I read the “In my opinion” even once in this article. A disappointingly one-dimensional article, IN MY OPINION.

  • Guest

    I don't think I read the words “In my opinion” even once in this article. A disappointingly one-dimensional article, IN MY OPINION.

  • http://www.simon.co.za/ Simon

    Um, there is only one author on the post, which was made on a website that is called 'Simon Dingle'.

    It should be obvious to any idiot that the entire article is my opinion. Some of us have the balls to post things using our real names, unlike you.

  • Alastair

    A very well thought out argument, one which I cannot find any real fault with. I do think that the PVR has changed how I consume TV though, I cut out the heaps of drivel, and fast forward through the one advert and plethora of promos for programmes I am not even vaguely interested in. I am now starting to enjoy watching TV again, what I want, when I want, and the ability to rewind a little to see something cool again is awesome.

    Sometimes I just need to “veg”, and be entertained/educated without having to select or choose something, and this gets me to the crux of the matter… I don't trust dstv to deliver. To say that dstv is 99% kak might be being kind. It's sad that it has been reduced to this, but until something better emerges I shall continue to feel ripped off.

  • http://www.simon.co.za/ Simon

    DStv is doing a lot of things right and it isn't responsible for content licensing that is established elsewhere. I have nothing against people wanting to veg, or the services that allow them to. It just isn't for me.

    The only reason I wrote this article was because people were asking me why I cancelled. If nobody cared I would've kept my reasons to myself.

  • http://www.simon.co.za/ Simon

    I agree. It is getting better. We still have a long way to go though.

  • Alastair

    Jeez man, exactly how many dimensions would you like this article to have??? Simon stopped subscribing to dstv. He gives his reasons. You can agree, or disagree. Perhaps that is beyond your one-dimensional brain? LOL

  • Jonathan

    Totally with you on this, Simon!

    I haven't owned a TV in about 3 years as I consider it a waste of my time. That's not to say I don't watch the odd series on my computer via DVD or otherwise, but as you say it's on demand, more cost effective and seriously limited.

    I prefer watching sport at the local pub or somewhere with friends as the main thing I get out of that is connecting with people, no matter the outcome of the game ;-)

    I was asked today by people viewing my house (which is for sale) why there was no TV to which the agent snidely replied “Jonathan 'watches' his computer screen all the time” to which I commented, “Greater success can be achieved 'watching' my computer screen than will be achieved by a lifetime in front of the TV!”.

    Some people just don't get it…

  • http://twitter.com/macnessa macnessa

    If I wasn't already married, I think I'd propose, right here on the spot. I agree with you on EVERY SINGLE POINT. The only reason we have DSTV is for the sport (for my husband) and even he will agree to deactivate our subscription for a few months at a time (usually Summer so we spend more time outdoors). I cannot stand the CRAP on the kids channels (my kids are NOT allowed to watch any of the others besides CBeebies, and even that is limited to 'bedtime hour' only from 6-7h30pm. As for hooking up a gaming console to a 42″ screen, I really think I'm in love ;) ha ha. Bring it! So yes, DSTV subs are easy to 'disconnect' and 'reconnect' for events like the world cup. But …tell me this…have you ever tried to cancel a TV licence? Oh man, it's like the undead. They just will NOT DIE.

  • Guest_again

    Fair enough Simon. Great line that one about the balls:-) Last heard it in 86.

    Why have a comment's section at the end of “your article” if you're gonna respond the way you have? Do you expect everyone to just agree with you?

    You say it's all opinions but to me “Content licensing is retarded” and “It’s depressing how much time our species spends lying in front of televisions with our brains idle” sound like statements of fact. It sounds like you've conducted a real study and you know exactly how many people do this. My mistake then. Maybe you just had a terrible English teacher.

    And try to be a bit more mature in you responses. What will your kids think when they read this 20 years from now? Piss poor stuff.

  • http://www.simon.co.za/ Simon

    I still don't know who you are and now care even less for your opinions.

    I, on the other hand, was asked for mine. The only reason this post exists was because friends and followers on Twitter enquired. I don't honestly give a shit how immature you think I am, or what you make of my opinions. Come out from behind the curtain and then we can have a civil discussion, until then I'll keep smashing the blinds with a bat.

  • Guest_again

    Get over the “Who are you” thing Simon. I could say I'm the Pope and how would you know I'm not?

    I could very well be one of your friends and followers on twitter but clearly I've made the fatal mistake of not agreeing with you.

    We might not even differ so much in our opinions. I just have a real problem with mickey-mouse journalists who can't distinguish fact from opinion, and don't even make the effort to.

    You've provided a platform for people to comment on your article and I've done just that. That's one more hit on your webpage. That's what you really want is it not? Be grateful.

  • http://alextheafrican.wordpress.com/ kalengi

    “I’m not a TV guy”

    That right there is all the support you need for the preceding arguments. If you're not into TV then it's tough to get captivated. I, on the other hand relish it. I can consume a wide range of content types, so there's usually something I can watch. In fact I acquired a taste for sport after getting onto payTV.

    I agree that there's lot's of room for improvement, but there's always stuff coming on that keeps my interest.

  • http://www.simon.co.za/ Simon

    This is my blog, you moron – not one of the publications I write for.

    I will accept being called many things, but gauging my journalistic integrity is something I will only accept from my editors or legitimate media commentators. As someone who goes to the ends to maintain integrity as a journalist the best response I can offer to your taunt is “fuck you”.

    The comments on my blog are for discussions and I take time to respond to the people who take part. Of course I want to speak to my readers. You, on the other hand, I have not time for.

    I'll leave this up long enough for you to read it and get it through your infantile skull before I delete your meaningless minutiae.

    Now go and grab a dictionary so you can make sense of what I've written and then crawl back into your hole, you little shit.

  • Guest_again

    “fuck you”.

    That's quite some integrity you have there….

    Goodbye Simon.

  • Guest_again

    I've already saved it on my flash. Something to laugh at on a bad day…

  • Guest_again

    Yeah but that's it. I was merely disagreeing. I'll put on my 3D glasses. Maybe that'll help me get it. LOL

  • http://twitter.com/HandyTechTipper HandyTechTipper

    I agree. Succinctly summarised by someone on CapeTalk567 recently: “When we got pay TV our weekends shrunk into nothing and all our free (and family) time disappeared!”

  • Faranaaz Parker

    Agree with most of your points. The only reason we actually have Dstv is to watch sports. Husband is a rugby fanatic and we both like European football.

  • o5iri5

    grrrrr, I hate you Simon. But just because you are right, I guess, I'm gonna cancel my subscription too then. I can get all the latest seasons of everything (Top Gear etc.) online anyways.

  • http://chiroclinic.co.za ChiroClinic

    I agree with you Simon. I cancelled my DSTV subscription 2 months ago now. I de-tved myself cos I spend so few hours at home and so those 2-3 hours I'm at home at night I also thought could be better spent doing other things than watching TV just for the sake of it. I just watch a DVD movie now and then in the evenings or weekends.

    I actually enjoy not getting Sky news alerts screamed at me all the time and read just get on with my own life instead of other peoples problems.

    I would recommend people try it as a life experiment. It is easy to cancel or resubscribe if you really want to after the experiment.

  • http://twitter.com/CathrynR Cathryn Reece

    I put off getting DSTV until July this year for many of the same reasons. Having said that, we are enjoying it now – mostly for the Mythbusters and cooking shows – but it was a luxury item we put off getting until we really really could afford it!

  • Jono A

    Totally agree with you Simon, I still have a TV with a DVD player attached to it, but I cancelled my DSTV subscription about 2 years ago because I felt it was too expensive, and that I wasn't deriving value from it. I haven't missed it at all.

  • http://www.craiglotter.co.za Craig Lotter

    I honestly wish I didn't have it at home – absolute waste of money as far as I'm concerned – but my wife likes it and thus it'll have to stay – until we need that money for something else of course!

  • http://twitter.com/soqko SOQKO Music

    you make a lot of sense! that is the very reason I did not but a new tv with the world cup craze! But I might just get one now – a 29 inch mac screen for my pc :)

  • http://twitter.com/jameshrogers James Rogers

    TopTV isn't really any competition to DStv. But I did get it for the WC2010. It was cool at the time, we hooked up a projector to all our gadgets (MacBook, DVD Player, Cellphone & TopTV). When we actually started watching TopTV after the WC2010 ended, I was shocked at how pathetic it is:

    1. The show the same shows every night between like 17:00 and 21:00.
    2. The repeat ENTIRE seasons, e.g. The did all the seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was pretty cool as we had never seen it, but then, when the season ended, they started from Season 1 all over again. Now they are in the last season again and I'm pretty sure they are going to start all over again. The same with Scrubs.
    3. The ads for the programs on the FOX Channel (The only channel that's really worth watching), are the most annoying ads ever! “Now Let's push PLAAAY!” every night, just before the show is about to start, then about 10 times again within a few hours. It really is just not cool. If they are wanting more people to adopt TopTV, they really have to improve the quality. They should get their own ads on the channels, e.g. advertising cars or just the usual stuff, instead of just repeating the same promos over and over again. It's got to be the most annoying pay service ever. We had M-Net from day 1, you know, when everyone rushed to the store when M-Net started and we all bought decoders (sound familiar), but M-Net did it with style. They got us decent shows and didn't bombard us with kak.

    I have cancelled my TopTV subscription, after only two months or so. Now I am stuck with a Dish & Decoder, which I can't sell, because they were so cheap to start with anyway.

    So, now, we are getting an AppleTV or MacMini and will use my USA based account to buy up to date TV shows and movies. They are released the day after being aired in the States, so we are current. You can get Top Gear through it, so I will be chuffed.

    We need all in one pay services, (Broadband, TV & Telephony), like overseas. Aunt in the States pays about $40 pm and gets everything included (3x cell phones, TV, Broadband and landline).

    Catch a wake up guys, Multi-Choice, I'm sure you guys can pull that off.

  • Barry Ee

    will you still pay your TV license

  • Glen

    Hey Si, I agree with all of your points above and it is great dicussion to have. Glad that it brought up so many good comments.

    I think a pay TV-less household like yours is easier to re-adjust to since you only had Dstv for about 2 months or so. It is great that your wife is supportive on your decision to cancel – I know my wife would not be. :)

    But, as much as I'd like to based on your points above, I'd never cancel my Dstv because of the following reasons.

    1. I don't receive a terrestial signal. Terrestial is so 1980's. I need my eNews Prime Time every night and I don't want it with meters of snow in between.

    2. DMX. I cannot live without DMX. Although I have gigs of music, I'm tired of my own playlists and since we don't get Pandora and LostFM proper in SA, DMX does the job just great! I don't want to play DJ all the time. iTunes Genius sucks as well.

    3. HD. Enough said.

    4. I hate a silent house. My house is never silent. If there isn't music on, the TV is on.

    5. Although there are some shows I watch on-demand, I don't have the time to search, download and sort all my TV content – as much as I want to. I also need to consider my wife who is not a geek whatsoever, so my content like video podcasts is limited and I refuse to watch anything on a computer screen. So 1990's.

    6. I need Carte Blanche and my Sunday night movie. There is no way I can end off a weekend without that.

    7. I'm not a sports nut either, but there is nothing better than having your mates over for a braai to watch the game – and have it in HD.

    8. Cbeebies is the best kids channel by far. There is no better content that I could ask for my 2 year old.

    Alastair sums it up, PVR has made watching TV better and after a hard days work, vegging on the couch is a welcome relaxer and I'd hate to do that in front of SABC.

  • http://twitter.com/RianVDM Rian Van Der Merwe

    Hi Simon – thanks for this post, very interesting. I've been considering this for a while now as well. I have a few specific questions that I was wondering about…

    I have an upcoming US trip so I wanted to look for alternatives while I was there… Do you think Apple TV is a good idea in SA, or is the content still too limited in the SA iTunes? The other problem with it is, of course, that it only plays iTunes files… Are there alternatives to Apple TV that can play any video file?

  • BantuK

    good one sir…lol

    my chum wants to buy the dish soon so i will show him this post of yours

    what do u think of TopTV? is it a good buy/investment?

  • Gunner

    Have been living without a TV for about 5 years now and I haven't missed a thing (There is an amazing world out there, just ready to be discovered and seen …)

  • Koenraad Boshoff

    I don't know what cbeebies is but it is sad that your 2 year old is already plonked in front of a telly

  • Timdolan99

    Spot on!  Am going to cancel my subscription right now!