Life without tv... can you stop paying for cable or satellite? - Page 2

Tennessee Riddle · 12-28-2007, 06:28 PM

We got $15 basic cable which includes the three major networks, public tv, Fox, WGN, WB, the arts, spanish, two shopping networks, and the 24 hour prayer channel. Despite the slim channel pickings, I can always find something to dumb down my brain and relax.

It took two or three phone calls before the cable company would admit they had a $15 package.

shinypenny · 12-28-2007, 09:12 PM

You will have to rip my Tivo and Desperate Housewives out of my cold dead hands.

frugalmom1 · 12-31-2007, 05:28 PM

I have never had cable TV growing up and we still don't have it. We have a good old fashioned aerial antenna in our attic. It must be about 30 years old. Recently when we bought a new TV with the new HD tuner in it, we now get many new digital stations on it. With all these new stations, who needs cable or satellite dish? Besides other than the news, I don't have time to sit and watch TV shows.

hollyvangogh · 12-31-2007, 06:54 PM

We don't pay for cable...and probably never will. The advantages?
1. Save money
2. Don't have to watch commercials (which in the end saves even more money)
3. Don't have to filter the trash
4. Don't end up watching for hours at a time (do more productive things instead)

When we do watch stuff we download it, or we watch movies on videos and dvds. We're only interested in a few shows anyway...some of which aren't even on TV anymore (West Wing, Star Trek).

coell · 01-01-2008, 08:42 PM

Besides free and legal watching through network websites, there are also bit-torrent methods that are within the legal-gray area. My understanding is that shows that are broadcast over the airwaves for free (non-cable subscription channels), so they are ok to copy and share ... but then someone mentioned ONLY if the ads that paid for the broadcast are not removed? Either way, I haven't heard of people getting busted for downloading that way, and I avoid the movies, HBO series, music, etc ...

I got rid of cable and have since used BitComent client and search for episodes through Mininova.org.

flibberty jibbit · 01-02-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazy23

That's a really interesting point. I wonder if you desire less stuff because you're watching less commercials?

I rely mostly on Tivo and DVDs, so I haven't watched a lot of commercials for a while. Maybe I'm getting less brainwashed?

We've used MythTv for years now and have been really pleased with it's capabilities. For those who haven't heard of Myth - it's the open source solution to Tivo. Set up isn't easy, that's the caveat. Myth autostrips commercials before we view recorded contents.

Anyhow, my children are so used to watching recorded shows that they vocally complain about commercials. Having said that, over the last few weeks they've been watching unrecorded TeleToon so they've seen every kids commercial known to man. And their previously minimalist Santa lists went from "a violin, new ear rings, socks, new Thomas buildings (Thomas the train) and chocolates" to "Bratz dolls, Fisher Price Space Heroes, Webkins (wth?)" and every other piece of plastic junk known to mankind. No word of a lie the change happened within days.

corymva · 01-02-2008, 11:00 AM

There was a time when I absolutely had no problem going without cable tv, in fact I remember enjoying life a little more when it was gone. Now that I have it back, I find that if I miss AEHD, FoodNetworkHD or any of the Discovery/National Geographic HD channels I am actually angry or irritable. So I think that means that I have a problem, and I need an HD cable intervention

I know I would probably sleep better without it!

Unfortunately my wife and I signed a 24 month agreement with Verizon for Cable/Internet/Phone, so it looks like I am stuck with it, until I bite the bullet and pay the early disco fee.

will1363 · 01-02-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pomdarryl

I just have all-day sessions at Borders and the local library.

Shameful use of Borders. If you aren't going to buy anything, you shouldn't use the merchandise. Because of you, people that buy books get smudged pages and torn covers. As for the library, bravo!

Savio · 01-02-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

We don't pay for cable...and probably never will. The advantages?
1. Save money
2. Don't have to watch commercials (which in the end saves even more money)
3. Don't have to filter the trash
4. Don't end up watching for hours at a time (do more productive things instead)

When we do watch stuff we download it, or we watch movies on videos and dvds. We're only interested in a few shows anyway...some of which aren't even on TV anymore (West Wing, Star Trek).

Nice list..thanks.
I live with my parents. But I dont watch much Tv, basically because there is nothing intresting on, and the rest of the family has always something to watch that dosen't intrest me at all.

There have been times when I went without tv for a week or so, I wish I could do the same with Internet.

Ronni · 01-02-2008, 02:47 PM

I've been without cable/satellite for more than a year now, and if it's not around, I don't miss it. However, if I go to someone's house and they are nice enough to let me have control of the remote, I suck up the Food Network like a dying plant sucks up water. (Speaking of, I wonder how my poinsettia is doing?)

So, if it's not available, I am fine without it. But if it's around, I enjoy it.

01-01-2008, 08:42 PM	#15
coell Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Reputation: (10)	Bit torrents for missed episodes Besides free and legal watching through network websites, there are also bit-torrent methods that are within the legal-gray area. My understanding is that shows that are broadcast over the airwaves for free (non-cable subscription channels), so they are ok to copy and share ... but then someone mentioned ONLY if the ads that paid for the broadcast are not removed? Either way, I haven't heard of people getting busted for downloading that way, and I avoid the movies, HBO series, music, etc ... I got rid of cable and have since used BitComent client and search for episodes through Mininova.org.

01-02-2008, 11:00 AM	#17
corymva Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 1 Reputation: (10)	I have gone without it in the past.... There was a time when I absolutely had no problem going without cable tv, in fact I remember enjoying life a little more when it was gone. Now that I have it back, I find that if I miss AEHD, FoodNetworkHD or any of the Discovery/National Geographic HD channels I am actually angry or irritable. So I think that means that I have a problem, and I need an HD cable intervention I know I would probably sleep better without it! Unfortunately my wife and I signed a 24 month agreement with Verizon for Cable/Internet/Phone, so it looks like I am stuck with it, until I bite the bullet and pay the early disco fee.

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12-28-2007, 06:28 PM	#11
Tennessee Riddle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15 Reputation: (10)	We got $15 basic cable which includes the three major networks, public tv, Fox, WGN, WB, the arts, spanish, two shopping networks, and the 24 hour prayer channel. Despite the slim channel pickings, I can always find something to dumb down my brain and relax. It took two or three phone calls before the cable company would admit they had a $15 package.

12-28-2007, 09:12 PM	#12
shinypenny Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Reputation: (19)	You will have to rip my Tivo and Desperate Housewives out of my cold dead hands.

12-31-2007, 05:28 PM	#13
frugalmom1 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 Reputation: (10)	I have never had cable TV growing up and we still don't have it. We have a good old fashioned aerial antenna in our attic. It must be about 30 years old. Recently when we bought a new TV with the new HD tuner in it, we now get many new digital stations on it. With all these new stations, who needs cable or satellite dish? Besides other than the news, I don't have time to sit and watch TV shows.

12-31-2007, 06:54 PM	#14
hollyvangogh Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 30 Reputation: (10)	We don't pay for cable...and probably never will. The advantages? 1. Save money 2. Don't have to watch commercials (which in the end saves even more money) 3. Don't have to filter the trash 4. Don't end up watching for hours at a time (do more productive things instead) When we do watch stuff we download it, or we watch movies on videos and dvds. We're only interested in a few shows anyway...some of which aren't even on TV anymore (West Wing, Star Trek).

01-02-2008, 02:47 PM	#20
Ronni Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 92 Reputation: (25)	I've been without cable/satellite for more than a year now, and if it's not around, I don't miss it. However, if I go to someone's house and they are nice enough to let me have control of the remote, I suck up the Food Network like a dying plant sucks up water. (Speaking of, I wonder how my poinsettia is doing?) So, if it's not available, I am fine without it. But if it's around, I enjoy it.