When it matters

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 There’s never a problem with hundreds of millions of people watching an event on tv when the signal is broadcast over the air. But…. Every single event I’ve wanted to watch via a streaming service has been a rotten experience from frequent buffering, pixelization and sound compression to reduce bandwidth. 

I purchased an evening of marching band streaming from bands of America for the San Antonio super regional. It was okay for a while. When it mattered, the buffering monster reared its ugly head and I was not able to see one of the most competitive bands. Obviously it doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things because I don’t even remember whose performance got hosed. The service picked up again after their performance.  Thanks for nothing Box 5. 

A few years ago I purchased the grand national weekend from flo marching. I spent the entire finals performance fuming because all I saw was pixelated performances that either look like a vhs tape that was 30 years old or the frame was frozen while the wheel of death spun because their servers couldn’t handle the traffic. You’re fired. 

Last nights big fight was another futile exercise exhibiting why live streaming doesn’t work. The fight was either completed pixelated like a 1983 atari game or again the spinning wheel of the death. 

When it matters streaming doesn’t work. It’s a futile exercise in trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.  The DVR was a superior solution of being able to record a live performance and watch it later. 

I understand there are many events that don’t warrant a national broadcast. The fact of the matter is there are many niche markets. For me, grand nationals is like watching the Super Bowl. Imagine if Netflix streamed the Super Bowl and the time was spent watching some candlewaxed distortion of a competition that didn’t work 80% of the time. People would be furious. 

People need to stop using technology to solve problems that don’t exist.  All these production companies are doing is angering and disappointing their fan base. 

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