[zippergz]

Just out of curiosity, what country are you in? In the US I've had all three current major cable TV providers (and several of their predecessors), and I've never had a long contract (it's always been month-to-month). Is it common to require long commitments in other countries?

[chestnut-tree]

In the UK, most TV subscription services that sell you a "package" of channels have long-term contracts (12 months is usually the minimum). They try and sweeten this by providing you with a "free" digital video recorder (not really free) and often combine TV, phone and broadband services into one subscription package.

Streaming-based services such as Amazon, Netflix and Blinkbox (owned by supermarket giant Tesco) let you subscribe on a month-to-month basis or film-by-film basis. These services feel more flexible because they're not trying to sell you a whole bunch of channels, some of which you may not have much interest in.

Interestingly, even the BBC can see where the market is heading for many viewers. Their "youth" channel BBC Three (aimed at 16-34 year olds) will stop broadcasting terrestially and become an online-only channel via their iPlayer service. I guess this reflects how more and more people consume content today - they don't consult a TV schedule, they expect to be able to view content when it suits them.