Being only 65 years since cable television found its place in America, is it finally becoming old? Since the availability of streaming Netflix, a distributor of media both online and through mail, the television has begun a tremendous decline. With Netflix expanding to most computer and handheld devices in 2009, it seems the television has lost its purpose. The television is dying, and for good reason.

Why be stuck with having to watch only what is on at the moment, when you have an unlimited amount of possibilities for shows right at your fingertips? Sophomore James Naclerio said, “I don’t need to watch TV when I can live-stream things like the Bruins games online.”

Watching shows online also gives you chances to watch shows commercial free. Unless you are someone who is fond of the constant commercials interrupting your program, then there is no doubt that the television is becoming less and less needed. In 2011, television sales dropped 2.2%, which on the scale of millions of television viewers, is an incredible decrease in buyers! And as there years fly by, these numbers keep increasing, proof of the television’s decline. Maybe this is why TV companies keep coming out with new products, to keep people interested. Unfortunately all these new models must come with a price, and with all these shows available on the Internet, are the cable bills becoming a too pricey? 10th grade’s Jack Sullivan says, “TV is too expensive, especially when you can get the same programs for a much cheaper price online.” Even brands like Xfinity have created apps to watch the television straight from your phone or laptop. With all these ways of accessing shows at anytime, commercial free, it seems like television truly is dying.

Apple has created the Apple TV which allows us to watch television from things like projectors. Sites like Project Free TV allow you to stream your favorite shows days after they first air. Why struggle to find the time to watch new episodes when you can watch it commercial free the next day? Some people only use the television as monitors for their game devices. I have friends who only have a television so they can play on their Xbox or Playstation, and others who can access Netflix through their Wii. Television has been so affected by the internet, many companies are adding internet features to their television in hope of sales increase. Similar to the car’s addition of music websites like Pandora, many televisions now allow you access to Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other popular websites. But even with all these new additions, it doesn’t seem like the television will ever truly make its comeback.