Residents in Mississippi and Louisiana were recently surprised to turn on their televisions and have no cable service.
According to reports, calls to their customer service offices were futile. Instead of being greeted by an agent who could assist them, customers heard this automated message:
“As of November 30, 2023, Bailey Cable has closed its doors. If you have lost your service, it will not be restored. There will be no billing for the month of December. We thank you.”
Bailey Cable has not supplied any other information to its customers or the media about its shutdown. While the mayor of Jackson, Miss. told news outlets that he planned to find out if the company was required to give notice to its customers, it’s cold comfort for the many viewers who now find themselves without cable during the holiday season.
More cable companies shutting down
Sadly, this is not the first cable company that has closed in 2023. Earlier this year, Mid-Rivers Communications. announced that their cable services will become obsolete on Dec. 31, 2023.
Faced with a sharply declining customer base, many are opting to pivot to offering streaming-only services.
In October, Spectrum TV customers learned that the cable company was ushering them to a streaming-only service via its new Xumo box.
Sparklight Cable TV, which is located in 24 states, made a similar announcement this year. The company’s name changed to Sparklight TV as they will offer streaming and broadband services only instead of providing cable TV.
Other cable companies chose to merge with successful streaming TV service providers. WOW! replaced its cable offerings with YouTube TV while Wilkes Communications and RiverStreet Networks became part of DirectTV.
While these cable companies have found ways to pivot and preserve their profits, it does little for their customers who might not be prepared for the switch to streaming. This is especially true for customers like those of the newly defunct Bailey Cable who suddenly find themselves unable to access news, weather, sports, or entertainment.
Elderly customers and customers with slow internet access struggle with streaming options, meaning that the loss of traditional cable can leave them in the dark and without access to their favorite programs.
The solution for frustrated TV viewers
Even for those who can seamlessly transition to streaming-only TV and afford the cost, the ability to access live, local TV with an antenna is a lifeline that should be a priority in households across the U.S. Using this handy channel checker, you can see how many OTA channels are available in your area.
Instead of being beholden to corporations that may shut down services at any time, over-the-air TV antennas allow viewers to safely and affordably maintain their access to important services like the news and weather. This access is most important to the people who are elderly and homebound.
To bridge between streaming and cable or satellite services and features (like watching on multiple TVs in the house, recording and a channel guide) consumers can pair their TV antenna with a Tablo device. Tablo DVRs offer features similar to pay-tv, but without any monthly subscriptions or fees.
With the simple installation of a Tablo device, consumers can access the local channels they need while still enjoying the ability to record, pause and rewind thanks to its DVR function. Tablo users can also enjoy over 40+ free streaming channels in addition to what they get with an OTA antenna.
Take this quiz to find out if a Tablo device is right for you.
