Inflation-weary millennials canceling Netflix for ‘MASH’ reruns and antennas
nypost.comsitcom hung up its fatigues in 1983. But after swapping his expensive streaming habit — he and wife Nicole were paying about $100 per month for Netflix, Hulu and the like — for an electronic antenna — purchased on Amazon for less than $28 — Connon says the CBS classic is his new favorite binge-watch. “We weren’t using our streaming services enough, and we’d have a real problem picking what we want to watch,” said Connon.
I thought, ‘Why not just cut out the cable and try this antenna thing?'” Amidst the worst inflation in their lifetimes, millennials and Gen Zers are turning to something strange and exotic: free TV.
The Consumer Technology Association reports that 8.5 millions digital antennas — small, sleek black boxes that are far more discreet than the rabbit ears of yore — were sold in 2021.
According to Richard Schneider, CEO of Antennas Direct, antennas are one of the fastest growing categories in consumer electronics in 2022, largely driven by inflation. “We’re hearing directly from customers that they’re having to either choose to pay for groceries or to pay for six streaming services, which is tragic,” Schneider told The Post. “People are often surprised that an antenna can get 50 to 150 digital channels without buffering, which makes it a no-brainer for those looking to save money.”More than 40 million American households, or one in three, currently use an antenna, according to CTA, with more than 50 million expected by 2025 — a sizable chunk of an estimated 127 million households.
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