Seriousness So I'd like to dump Satellite/Cable TV - Page 2

rhadin · 09-12-2010, 06:17 PM

This is a constant battle in my household. The last TV I watched was the US presidential debates, and I would have listened to them on the radio instead if I didn't have the TV. I'd like to cut out my FiOS TV just because of the cost, but my wife won't let me. I wouldn't mind so much if I could choose 5-6 channels and pay $10 a month for them, but Verizon and Time Warner Cable both insist that I get all the junk channels like ESPN, Reverend Rick's Bible Thumper Channel, and channels in languages I'll never speak even if I live another 150 years. The Time Warner folks, back when I had TW cable TV, when I would complain about the newest increase so they could provide another sports channel couldn't understand that there are people who really don't care that 2 overweight people want push and shove each other and bang heads. American football is simply sumo wrestling played by a group of men, and there is little more boring than watching and listening.

kennyc · 09-12-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Kenny, the free time that most people spend watching television I spend listening to music. So I am out of touch with television programs.

Don't the channels you listed issue their programs on DVD? A cheap Netflix subscription might allow you to watch much of what you would be interested in.

Reading books on the same subjects might be more worthwhile too, hour for hour.

Yep, that's certainly one solution and may be the one I opt for rather than putting money into more hardware or other stuffs...

kennyc · 09-12-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohmi2

I used to watch a lot of TV but not now. Now it's news and documentaries.

There are so many good documentaries that are available(free) on the 'net, that I'll download one (history, archaeology, mysteries, etc) to Real Player and then watch on my laptop in bed at night. There are also some good movies available.

Cheers.

Links to any sites would be appreciated. Thanks.

Have you watched "The Corporation" WOW!

My new DroidX has HDMI output so I can plug it into my large TV and great small screen on its own to watch internet based video.

nohmi2 · 09-12-2010, 06:51 PM

[QUOTE=kennyc;1106979]Links to any sites would be appreciated. Thanks.

Have you watched "The Corporation" WOW!

My new DroidX has HDMI output so I can plug it into my large TV and great small screen on its own to watch internet based video.

http://www.documentarywire.com/page/12/

http://www.pbs.org/

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/

http://www.biography.com/video/index.jsp

The first one is my favourite.

Cheers

kennyc · 09-12-2010, 06:59 PM

Thank you Nohmi2 - Karma sent!

You 2 Matt!

kennyc · 09-12-2010, 07:16 PM

"The Secret History of the Credit Card" is pretty incredible... just saw it on that first link!

v1k1ng1001 · 09-12-2010, 08:20 PM

I went without television for a year or so and didn't miss it too much.

When I finally invested in an HDTV I decided not to pay for cable and instead I bought an Acer Revo nettop. Basically I just use the television as a giant computer monitor so that I can download and stream all my media. A wireless mouse/keyboard is my remote although you can set it up to work with a more traditional remote.

Instead of mindlessly channel surfing shows that I am only partially interested in, I have to select in advance exactly what I want to stream or download. The result is that I watch television a lot less and, when I do, I enjoy it a lot more.

Spoon Man · 09-12-2010, 08:58 PM

Right now we're without Cable/sat, we have a netflix subscription and use hulu for things we can't get on that, plus an antennae if we want to. We do watch less television, and like phenomshell said, more enjoy what we watch.

Falbe Publishing · 09-12-2010, 08:59 PM

I dumped satellite TV because the price was outrageous considering it is mostly commercials.

Anyway, I recommend a Netflix subscription. (I'm not being paid to say this. I'm just a happy customer.) You can get just about any documentaries, TV shows old and new, foreign films, and movies you can think of. There are many plans to choose from, so you can meet your budget. Also a portion of the content can be viewed instantly through the internet, which is included in the subscription. Many devices will also let you feed the netflix into your TV.

WAY more choices in content w/o commercials on your schedule for a lower price. So, I highly recommend.

Of course at some point in the future when Netflix has huge marketshare it will jack up prices and add commercials, but I'll enjoy it while lasts.

Also keep in mind you can usually see local news broadcasts on their station's websites too.

As far as I can see the only competitive advantage cable and satellite have is sports.

Spoon Man · 09-12-2010, 09:05 PM

Even if you like sports you can find subscriptions online that allow you to watch the games, commercial free even, and its a lot cheaper than cable.

GA Russell · 09-12-2010, 09:14 PM

I would pay for cable if it were a la carte, $1 per channel per month. But they want to sell me what I don't want to buy.

kennyc · 09-12-2010, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the great info everyone!!

I think tomorrow is the day...

nohmi2 · 09-13-2010, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Thanks for the great info everyone!!

I think tomorrow is the day...

Enjoy.

Cheers

astra · 09-13-2010, 04:51 AM

I don't pay for cable or satellite TV.
I have Freesat for my DH and I don't watch TV programs at all. I watch only movies on TV once or twice per week. BDs and DVDs.
However, when I am in the office I cannot participate in most of chats when they discuss this guy in yesterday's show or this lady etc. Then again, do I care? Probably not enough to start watching TV rubbish.

Sweetpea · 09-13-2010, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I don't pay for cable or satellite TV.
I have Freesat for my DH and I don't watch TV programs at all. I watch only movies on TV once or twice per week. BDs and DVDs.
However, when I am in the office I cannot participate in most of chats when they discuss this guy in yesterday's show or this lady etc. Then again, do I care? Probably not enough to start watching TV rubbish.

I do pay for cable TV. And I still can't participate in most chats when they discuss this guy in yesterday's show or this lady etc.

If I only watched "yesterday's shows", I wouldn't need the extended selection! I prefer the Discoveries, National Geographics, Histories, etc...

09-12-2010, 06:59 PM	#20
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Thank you Nohmi2 - Karma sent! You 2 Matt! Last edited by kennyc; 09-12-2010 at 07:45 PM.

09-12-2010, 08:20 PM	#22
v1k1ng1001 Addict Posts: 378 Karma: 1624276 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South, South Texas Device: Pocketbook 620	I went without television for a year or so and didn't miss it too much. When I finally invested in an HDTV I decided not to pay for cable and instead I bought an Acer Revo nettop. Basically I just use the television as a giant computer monitor so that I can download and stream all my media. A wireless mouse/keyboard is my remote although you can set it up to work with a more traditional remote. Instead of mindlessly channel surfing shows that I am only partially interested in, I have to select in advance exactly what I want to stream or download. The result is that I watch television a lot less and, when I do, I enjoy it a lot more. Last edited by v1k1ng1001; 09-12-2010 at 08:23 PM.

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09-12-2010, 06:17 PM	#16
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	This is a constant battle in my household. The last TV I watched was the US presidential debates, and I would have listened to them on the radio instead if I didn't have the TV. I'd like to cut out my FiOS TV just because of the cost, but my wife won't let me. I wouldn't mind so much if I could choose 5-6 channels and pay $10 a month for them, but Verizon and Time Warner Cable both insist that I get all the junk channels like ESPN, Reverend Rick's Bible Thumper Channel, and channels in languages I'll never speak even if I live another 150 years. The Time Warner folks, back when I had TW cable TV, when I would complain about the newest increase so they could provide another sports channel couldn't understand that there are people who really don't care that 2 overweight people want push and shove each other and bang heads. American football is simply sumo wrestling played by a group of men, and there is little more boring than watching and listening.

09-12-2010, 06:51 PM	#19
nohmi2 Pensively observing. Posts: 1,758 Karma: 12675456 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Varied.	[QUOTE=kennyc;1106979]Links to any sites would be appreciated. Thanks. Have you watched "The Corporation" WOW! My new DroidX has HDMI output so I can plug it into my large TV and great small screen on its own to watch internet based video. http://www.documentarywire.com/page/12/ http://www.pbs.org/ http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ http://www.biography.com/video/index.jsp The first one is my favourite. Cheers

09-12-2010, 07:16 PM	#21
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	"The Secret History of the Credit Card" is pretty incredible... just saw it on that first link!

09-12-2010, 08:58 PM	#23
Spoon Man Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 3002 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: Kindle 1	Right now we're without Cable/sat, we have a netflix subscription and use hulu for things we can't get on that, plus an antennae if we want to. We do watch less television, and like phenomshell said, more enjoy what we watch.

09-12-2010, 08:59 PM	#24
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	I dumped satellite TV because the price was outrageous considering it is mostly commercials. Anyway, I recommend a Netflix subscription. (I'm not being paid to say this. I'm just a happy customer.) You can get just about any documentaries, TV shows old and new, foreign films, and movies you can think of. There are many plans to choose from, so you can meet your budget. Also a portion of the content can be viewed instantly through the internet, which is included in the subscription. Many devices will also let you feed the netflix into your TV. WAY more choices in content w/o commercials on your schedule for a lower price. So, I highly recommend. Of course at some point in the future when Netflix has huge marketshare it will jack up prices and add commercials, but I'll enjoy it while lasts. Also keep in mind you can usually see local news broadcasts on their station's websites too. As far as I can see the only competitive advantage cable and satellite have is sports.

09-12-2010, 09:05 PM	#25
Spoon Man Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 3002 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: Kindle 1	Even if you like sports you can find subscriptions online that allow you to watch the games, commercial free even, and its a lot cheaper than cable.

09-12-2010, 09:14 PM	#26
GA Russell Ticats win 4th straight Posts: 7,694 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I would pay for cable if it were a la carte, $1 per channel per month. But they want to sell me what I don't want to buy.

09-12-2010, 09:15 PM	#27
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Thanks for the great info everyone!! I think tomorrow is the day...

09-13-2010, 04:51 AM	#29
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I don't pay for cable or satellite TV. I have Freesat for my DH and I don't watch TV programs at all. I watch only movies on TV once or twice per week. BDs and DVDs. However, when I am in the office I cannot participate in most of chats when they discuss this guy in yesterday's show or this lady etc. Then again, do I care? Probably not enough to start watching TV rubbish.

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