The Core

"The Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau admitted recently that the audience for live TV is dropping at a rate of roughly 10 percent per year as viewers abandon both broadcast and cable networks."

You don't have to read any further, the above tells it all. But if you're interested
http://www.avclub.com/article/tv-audiences-are-steadily-shrinking-and-its-all-in-216463

So, in 5 years, traditional TV viewing in the US will be so withered that it will be nearly irrelevant.  In 7 years, all but gone.

>HBO

And all the other premium channels if they play their cards right and become carrier agnostic.  HBO seems to be leading the pack, I guess because they have the most muscle.

AMC signed on with SlingTV. It went live there about a week ago. Smart.

I think content producers are going to face a situation that roughly parallels newspapers. Their whole cost structure is going to be toppled. They will not be able to afford what they've become accustomed to.  I also think the losers will be the second-tier consumers that liked the less popular programs.  In short, if you don't like "House Of Cards" or "Orange Is The New Black," tough ...you're not in the target demographic, so go watch old stuff on Netflix.

Time Shifting Has Become The Default

"ad avoidance is a factor in time-shifting, but not the main one. 60% of respondents cited the convenience of watching on their own time as the primary benefit, vs. only 37% saying skipping ads was favored."

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/245710/time-shifting-has-become-the-default.html

I'm not sure I agree with the above results.  IMO, TIVO was probably the beginning of the slippery slope and the convergence of internet and digital content delivery just accelerated the slide to where we are today.  Whether it's ad avoidance or convenient viewing, traditional TV has hit the tipping point and even the luddite public is becoming aware that there are increasingly popular alternatives.  I've installed OTA and am preparing to install the Channel Master DVR to do both for Louise. Time-shifting is probably the most important reason for what she might want to view and doesn't want to miss BUT for daily general use, the number & duration of consecutive ads is unbearable --even though I don't watch TV, I'll be damned if she should be forced to endure that barrage just to catch a program OTA.

>perhaps it will happen more quickly

See "even the luddite public is becoming aware" above

Reddit says that you frequently get standard internet no matter what you pay for.  Buyer beware.

2nd year will be mid-70s or higher.

Why Cable TV Beats the Internet, For Now
It’s not time to cut cable yet, unless you’re among the few cord-cutters who can clear enough hurdles

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-cable-tv-beats-the-internet-for-now-1427225376?mod=e2fb

So after years of having cut the cord, I'm going to call the cable company to see what the catch is for $40/month for basic+HD and highest speed internet, while I am on slowest (60mb) for $60/mo. It's for the first year, so I'm sure the price balloons for second year which you are locked into.

So I missed the $40/ EACH part in small print, so the offer is $80/yr for tv/internet first year then goes to 110 second year.

Not even close to interested.