PCWorld Forums: Giving Up Cable And Satellite Tv - PCWorld Forums

Post your comments for Giving Up Cable and Satellite TV here

Going off the the traditional sources for television can be economical but frustrating for many. With advent of digital broadcast and analog broadcasts non-existant, new sets without the need for a converter box have filled the void. It has also opened up the market for formerly cable only networks to get picked up and "broadcast" along with other stations content. For those owners who are within range of a new service, "channel one" carries a program guide. Channel one was one of the original broadcast analog channels but due to sun spot cycles and atmospheric "ducting", signals were being bounced from coast to coast, interfering with local broadcasts from far away. Thus chanell one was eliminated and channel two was the first on the dial. Now with the stacking of digital channels on top of normal content, some carry as many as twenty channels, most often used for alternate language programming and other content. A well thought out purchase or build of a PC to pick up internet streaming and route it to an HDTV, would indeed eliminate the need for any antennas. For those who already had an outside antenna for analog broadcasts, this antennas are well suited for digital reception without any modifications. Touted "HD" antennas are a bit smaller and a bit longer but are no better than any analog ones, just a ploy to get users to upgrade when not really neccesary. Dumping satelite, cable or DSL links to TV content can save as much as $75 for basic service and twice that much for sports and movie options. For the one time price of $100. suitable outside antennas will bring in the local content users find as the basic information provider. OTA (over the air) has become a building block for those in a pinch from the economy and providers have begun to step up with new content and community oriented programming. This is a good thing for the local economies and organizations struggling to reach the local residents. Just the tip of the iceberg and only the beginning.

I've been cable free for about a year. Haven't missed it for a second. I don't even get broadcast tv - the reception is too bad where I'm at. I have 6 shows that I watch regularly. All of them are available through Amazon VOD. At roughly 20-30$ per season, I save a ton over cable. With additional subscription services like HULU, Amazon Prime, etc. I get way more shows than I could ever watch, and for so much less than I was paying.

I was paying $100 per month just for the tv portion of my bill. I had just the basic service, no premium channels. Of the 100 or so channels I got, I only watched 7 or 8.

Cable tv services are going to have to change their methodology. People are getting tired of paying for things they don't use, and now real alternatives exist. The only way I'd ever consider going back is if they offered an ala carte option that was reasonably priced. Something like $30 per month for ten channels of your choice.

Oh, and the best thing - no commercials. That's been so nice. Especially in election year. I haven't heard one "and I approved this message". The only commercials I ever see now are on YouTube.

I have been off cable for a year and never look back
Netflix on Roku and RSS feeds give me more than I can read and watch in a lifetime

cryofpaine, on 14 June 2012 - 08:23 AM, said:

The only thing is that Hulu Plus has some commercials. However, they're only a minute or so long (and there are only a few ad breaks in a half hour program), and so they don't annoy me too much. Make the ad breaks shorter, and I might actually watch the ad!

cryofpaine, on 14 June 2012 - 08:21 AM, said:

The only problem with cancelling the cable is that in a lot of places, cable internet is one of the only options, and so you're stuck paying the cable company whether you like it or not. (even if you're paying them less than before) In my case, my dad cancelled the cable TV a few years ago, and switched to Hulu Plus, Netflix, and OTA programming. Of course, we found that the 1.5mbps ATT DSL (the max they offer; now they're only offering 768kbps) we had wasn't enough to stream anything in a resolution better than 480p (which doesn't look good on a 1080p 46" TV, trust me), and so we eventually switched to 15mbps comcast internet.

Honestly, I doubt they'll offer ala carte channels unless they're forced to. Just look at Verizon's new plans - plenty of minutes (what people are using less and less nowadays), and less data (what people are using more and more of). They just have to make more money...

I'm willing to bet that everybody who's given up their cable/satellite TV service, has REALLY F-A-S-T internet service. You're lucky. I envy you.

The fastest private (ie: NOT a party-line DSL) internet I can get is 220Kbs.

So NO, I'll keep my cable service @ 499 Peso/$11.88 per month.

MLStrand56

Everything that mjd420nova said is absolutely correct. He must be a TV, Satellite, or MW engineer.

MLStrand56

MLStrand56, on 15 June 2012 - 02:23 AM, said:

MLS: All of the above apply. Besides doing computers, I do earth stations, both installation and maintenence. TV experience goes back to the vacuum tube days. Presently training a replacement so I can retire by the end of the year.

I cant live without my SEC Football and i cant stand to watch last years episodes when on cable you can watch them as soon as they air. Like Shotime or HBO hows? You guys cant watch them for a lonng time. Its according to your needs and this is definately not for everyone thats for sure.

Thanks for showing/sharing the knowledge that most of us consumers, that Pay for TV, Cable, Dish,Etc.,already know, but those companies don't or won't acknowledge.
I have til Aug. when my DISH contract is up, and believe me, I will have even MORE knowledge about all this alternative TV by then, and I hope and pray that someone from Dish and the rest is reading this, and forwards it on to 'Those in Power', so they will 'Get It' and make some moves towards "Ala Carte" TV. - I absolutely HATE paying for 'The top 120', only to have included for my Paid TV programs that include channels that are straight up advertising, (The Vacuum Cleaner Ch., Jewelery Ch., Multiple Sports ch's, etc)- and even tho I don't watch 'em, I PAY for 'em! (with NO CHOICE!
Listen up and read, DISH, DIRECT, Cable Co's., etc!! - YOUR time's a comin' - (Hell, it's already here!)- Start making some serious changes, or it's So Long!!
BTW, just another thought, - DISH likes to brag that they have "Over 30 million Satisfied Customers". - So #1, I doubt that they are ALL satisfied!
#2, - if you multiply 30 Million, times say, $50.00 per month, (a minimal, rounded average), then we come up with One hundred, Fifty Million Dollars per month!! - And the reps tell me that they 'need' to include all the BS channels to help pay for the 'Good Stuff'!! - Some how, I doubt it!!

We gave up cable and never looked back! I also have found places to watch sports and I don't miss the dish bill one bit! I wish more people would do that..........in fact they are, that's why your bill keeps going up............speaking of up when are all my friends going to wise up??

That's live sports by the way!