Here's What Big Cable Could Do To Make Cord Cutters Love Them Again

Big Cable Needs Some New Ideas to Win Back Cord Cutters

Big Cable Needs New Ideas to Win Back Cord Cutters

Over a Million Cord Cutters dumped their cable TV providers last quarter. And by offering more of the same, it won't do much to bring them back. Face it Big Cable, you've been dumped for something younger and a lot more attractive. And it costs a lot less to support.

Here Are Five Things Big Cable Could Do to Bring Cord Cutters Back

An Open Letter to Big Cable from a Former Subscriber

Dear Cable TV Providers,

The old tried and true has not been working out so well for you lately. When you have more people leaving every month than are signing up for cable TV there seems to be a problem.

Hopefully, by now you're past the denial and the anger stage. This does not mean you need to accept things the way they are. Because ultimately this could mean your end if the cord-cutting trend continues.

Now is the time to reinvent yourselves. And consider new ways of doing business. This can change your image and make it seem cool once again to fork over a monthly bill for cable TV entertainment. And to be honest, raising prices on your broadband customers is not the best solution.

1. Remove Expensive Sports Packages - Philo did it, and by offering your customers a low-cost package of channels for $15/month it will make your service all the more attractive. And this alone could help keep many subscribers hooked to the cord. Make ESPN and other expensive Sports or News Channels part of a premium package. So adding it would be no different than paying extra for HBO or Showtime. Because customers that really want sports, won't mind paying for extra. And the ones that don't shouldn't have to pay for something their not using.

2. Bundle Apps - Add every popular streaming service you can like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and others and include their apps on your cable TV or satellite box. If TiVo can do it, so should you. Better yet cut a deal with Roku and include their software as well. Then make a deal with the content providers to give you a cut to handle all the billing for each service. Managing and paying one bill a month is certainly much more convenient for your customers than paying three or four. Even if your customers chose not to subscribe to Live TV, you're still getting a cut of the action on your millions of subscribers so this can really add up.

3. Offer Discounts to Long Time Subscribers - Reality check Big Cable, you are no longer as cool as you once were. Today cutting the cord seems a lot cooler and you finally will need to compete. And one way to do so is to think like a new company that's just starting out. Give those that refer a friend a small reduction off their bill. Offer long term customers appreciation bonuses for staying on. But whatever you do don't let good paying longtime subscribers leave without giving them a special promotion for staying on longer.

4. Honor Your Agreements - When you give a customer a deal and tell them the price is fixed for a year, don't raise the price three months later. And suddenly get amnesia when an irate subscriber asks you about it.

5. Provide Outstanding Customer Service - Train your employees to be nice to your customers. If they have a problem help them solve it quickly. Because if you make them mad, they will happily tell ten of their friends and relatives about how much you suck.

Now put that thinking cap on and try and figure out some more ways to make keeping the cord cool again. We know it's not easy, especially since you've had it good for so long. Listen to your customers, the ones you still have. Maybe do a survey and ask them what they would like to see. Just do something, so you don't end up being a footnote in history like cassettes and eight-track tapes.

Let us know if you come up with something better, in the meantime, we are going to continue watching our Roku and Nvidia SHIELD and enjoy being a Cord Cutter.

Sincerely,

mkvXstream

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