Cancel Television

[DADoES]

Paying $40/month for cable TV and rarely turning the thing on is pointless. My picture quality deteriorated after they "improved" the system to carry cable Internet. That's $480 per year that could be spent better elsewhere, but I'm wondering if I'll regret not having it. Cable used to be cheaper than satellite but now they're pretty much the same. Anybody gone/going without TV service and missing it?

 

[jmirawm]

cut to basic............

When cable internet became available I switched to cable from Dish network. Dish networks internet was going to be $75 bucks. Cable was only $40. I just got the very basic tv cable package, about 12 channels. I do not miss all the channels. But I am usually in front of my computer more than the tv now. Only a very few shows I watch. I did enjoy Dish when I had it. I did not enjoy being in the middle of a show and a strong thunderstorm come up and I lost reception.

 

[westtexman]

Life Without TV . . . .

Glenn,

I lived without cable for 3 1/2 years, and life was GREAT. Then for some reason I decided to get it again, and I'm not sure it's worth what I pay for it. Between my cable (extended basic because I LOVE BBC America) and my T-1 quality Internet service, I pay about $103/month. I'm sure if I were to get rid of it again I wouldn't miss it after about a month or so, but I have a feeling there would be this "void" for a few weeks. LOL.

Bryan

 

[swestoyz]

Bring on the Bunnies!

Glenn,

I've been using bunny ears for almost 2 years now and haven't been happier! My cable subscription is for the sole basis of the Cable modem - and at 35 bucks a month, I'm not complaining. Although I'm 'missing' those cable shows - I rarely watch TV anyways. Usually for a little bit of the local evening news, Law & Order, and Jay Leno. Otherwise, its Laser Discs and CED's for me! Movies are usually a much better form of entertainment, IMHO. LOL

Ben

 

[swestoyz]

Another point -

We may as well enjoy the Free NTSC signal while we have it. It isn't going to be around forever. Sad, very very sad.

Ben

 

[DADoES]

There're no "local" TV stations, and we're about 60 miles from Houston and 50 from Victoria (one station there), so this is the fringes of acceptable performance from an antenna ... not to mention the sources are in opposite directions. I could pick-up HD broadcasts from the Houston affiliates, but I'd have to get a tuner and antenna and a signal booster. I don't have cable Internet, dial-up suits me fine and it's free being as I work for the provider. I'm just not sure about not having TV for news if an "event" of some ilk happens. I already have hundreds of hours of DVDs that need watching, so it's not like there's a complete lack of viewing material.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I bet I'm the only nutbag that; A- Has a small TV with built-in VCR; B- keeps it in the closet next to the vacuum; C- only pulls it out when guests stay over and whine that there's no TV; and D- has every VHS episode of "I Love Lucy", "Three Stooges", "Are You Being Served", and "Keeping Up Appearances". Who needs to spend good money for cable?
Bobby in Boston

 

[drmitch]

I moved in this house in 94 and have never had cable, only rabbit ears. I only get one channel but its clearer than my neighbors cable. If I need to I can go to moms but I spend most of my time here. I have DSL but I really dont think its worth the money.

 

[drmitch]

Oh I forgot! My vintage Sci-fi/Horror/Comedy collection!

 

[swestoyz]

Glenn,

I wondered if you were possibly affected by your geographic location. I understand the concern for news. What I've found works for me is if it's that important of an issue, I'll pull up an article on the Net, or wait for the Nightly News. Otherwise, I live a sheltered life from the media.

Acceptable performance? Heck - If I can hear what they are saying, and can tell they have clothes on, it is good enough for me!

Bobby - I'm sure you're not the only one!

Ben

 

[sudsmaster]

I cancelled my cable service about two years ago and haven't missed it enough to reinstate it.

At the time the monthly bill for "basic/standard" cable - that is, analog with the usual channels like history, discovery, a&e, and the various news channels, but not any premiums like HBO - ran $55/month. Recently I got an offer to put that all back in - analog cable - for $30/month. I would consider it but it looks like they want a 12 month commitment.

To replace the cable I used two rooftop antennae. One pointing to San Jose, where the local NBC affiliate used to broadcast from, and the other at SF, where the rest of the channels mainly congregate. I get great broadcast reception here, and since the local NBC affiliate moved its transmitter to SF, it's even better.

What finally got me was that most of my viewing is major broadcast network anyway. I did enjoy History Channel and Comedy Channel, but the commercials were just as frequent if not even moreso, and more annoying, than on broadcast TV. I just can't see paying $55/month for the same commercials I can get for free, lol.

To my mind, cable TV is a big scam. It was promoted as a way for people to get commercial free-TV. It hasn't lived up to that promise. There are ton of garbage channels on any cable (or satellite, for that matter) package. Stuff I don't like and don't want in my living room (like Fox News). Why should I pay for crap? If they had ala carte, where I could select may four or five cable channels, for a small fraction of the normal service charge, that would be different. But I don't see the greedy and inept cable/satellite business getting there any time soon.

 

[gansky1]

Oh no...

Keep those nippers away from my cable, I must have it! We have digital cable, DVR service/box, cable internet, phone, everything tied to the black cable hanging from the pole in the back yard. I'm no TV junkie and seem to get a lot accomplished despite the constant drone of the television, but couldn't live without CNN, HBO & Encore movie tier, NickGas & other kid's networks, History, HGTV, etc.

 

[DADoES]

HGTV. I love HGTV, even though I seldom have opportunity to watch it.

There is the theater room next door if something comes along that *must* be seen ...

 

[bingwsguy]

It all started when.......

Last year I dropped my cell phone in a snowstorm, and didnt realize it until the next day so I suspended service. A week went by and couldnt find it and I realized "I dont miss it" so I cancelled it. That pompted me to analyze other things. I started with the cable bill and found out from the woman on the phone that my plan was "grand fathered"....now normally that is a good thing, but not in this case...I was paying $17/month more for my service than I should have been due to the time I signed up for service! Needless to say I cancelled all the pay channels and went to basic service and havent missed it at all. Then I went on to the phone bill....should we start another thread? hehe

 

[brettsomers]

its INSULTING to PAY to have advertising channeled into ones home. in case yall dont know, ADVERTISING is the primary reason for the existance of television. the broadcasting industry makes its money off of advertising. i have 78 channels, and i only watch about two or three times a week. i get my news off the net. most television is garbage, only good for when one is lazy and there is NOTHING else to do but LAY THERE!

 

[jmirawm]

Gansky **could not live without CNN**

Translation......Could not live without Anderson Cooper

 

[appnut]

I"m thinking about switching form cable to satellite (which would be lower in cost) so I can watch Logo.

 

[toggleswitch]

Yay Anderson!

Said: Only good for when one is lazy and there is NOTHING else to do but LAY THERE!

S - - and dr - - - can both be FABULOUS with the right pusher. (Just kiddin- I'm pure on both accounts).

oh Hunny, enjoy life, never just lie there! LOL ROFL

 

[sudsmaster]

I also get most of my news from the internet. Local news is best supplied by the daily newspaper, which generally costs about $30/year. Each year I find they jack up the newspaper rates, but if I inquire by phone they usually tell me something like, "Well, if you only got the paper tues-sun then instead of $60/yr it's only $30/yr. I did that, and guess what, they still deliver it on Mondays anyway...

As far as losing the analog TV broadcast signal, all that is supposed to be replaced by broadcast digital signal. Plus each station seems to have multiple digital channels, especially the local PBS station, which has about four digital channels total. Once I get an HD tuner, I'm going to add that to the "mix" on my in-home TV broadcast network.

re: cell phones. I agree. I have had them in the past, supplied gratis by employer. They can be convenient but outside needing one for a highway emergency I don't miss them. I prefer not to have an electronic leash.

Occasionally I'll spend some of the savings generated by not paying for cable TV and buy a DVD of a movie. On my list is the Wallace and Grommit movie, when it comes out, as well as Brokeback Mountain, when it comes out (or did it "come out" already? hehehe).

 

[westtexman]

I LOVE British Comedy!

Bobby,

I am a HUGE fan of British comedy. Not that I'm a layabout like Onslow or anything, but I do like to watch "Keeping Up Appearances" on DVD. I have the complete set. I really like "Are You Being Served" as well, but I don't have those yet. Maybe I should cancel cable afterall! It's not like I'm missing anything.

Bryan

 

[toggleswitch]

BB mtn.

Good one Rich. LOL

 

[bingwsguy]

The British Comedy...

I love them also...have "Absolutely Fabulous" and "Are You Being Served" on DVD...and "Keeping Up Appearances" is on the local public network, so I can see that every Sat. night

 

[Designgeek]

I've never had cable (or satellite) and don't feel a need for it. I have a black-and-white TV, which suits me fine (in fact there's something nice about seeing stuff in B&W). I do have DSL, and I get most of my news online (and the rest from the radio). I have multiple telephone lines and have considered cutting back but can't for business reasons (busy signals lose customers). As for the cellphone, my clients never fail to make astounded noises when I announce that I don't have one and would rather not have one. I did have one in the past, and don't miss it. I don't subscribe to newspapers; trees are an inefficient carrier medium for news compared to electrons over a telephone line.

So, interesting convergence around here so far. Seems like most of us are fairly similar in the profile of our media engagements.

 

[mickeyd]

Onslow rules--and poor, poor Richard

So much in common among club members. Why it's just uncanny!
"Keeping Up Appearances" makes me howl every Tuesday night on PBS. I still haven't seen them all. Another Britcom: a guy-- he didn't talk, just an occassional mumble; a holiday party with a turket ending up on his head; late for the dentist, shaving& brushing teeth &dressing while DRIVING there; a church service where he kept nodding offto the garbled droning and shouting of the minister. I cried laughing so hard at him. Can't remember the title.

I have a 12 incher and I catch grief all the time: "When are you going to get a REAL TV?"

People say, "You're kidding!!" when they find out I have no cell phone. I hate them; they're little dictators that imprison some of the nicest people I know, and disrupt some of life's finest moments.

I get the New york Times on line and watch the News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS

And after Robert, Jon Stewart of the Daily Show is God.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE WASHING MACHINES. YAY YAY YAY

 

[mickeyd]

T U R K E Y

DUMMY

 

[appnut]

mickeyd said

"I have a 12 incher and I catch grief all the time". Dare I touch this or not. Hmm. (I beat ya to it Toggle)

Daniel, I think the mumbling Brit comedy you are describing is Mr. Beem. He aws hillarious for sure.

 

[retromom]

Mrs. Bucket and Mr. Bean

MickeyD....Our family (and quite a few people on the forum) has roared with laughter at Hyacinth Bucket and her poor Richard for a few years now. We always enjoy her encounters with the Vicar and Elizabeth's brother Emmot. I wish, at some point, that they would have shown her son Sheridan instead of making him the invisible character on the phone that is the perennial student always asking his mum for money.

And now to Mr. Bean.....what can I say....too funny! We have quite a few of the videos. Have you seen the one at the Launderette? OMG - it's hysterical, especially when he switches the fabric softener for coffee!

If this is the only reason to have cable or satellite tv....enjoy; it's worth it! Quite cheeky it is!

Venus :-D

PS We're convinced Mr. Bean is an alien from some unknown planet. ;-)

 

[whirlcool]

Britcoms:

I haven't met a person yet who hasn't liked Keeping Up Appearances. My favourite episodes were the ones featuring Rose, and how she always pops up at the most inopportune times.

We have the DirecTV "Expanded Basic" service which is $55.28 per month. We recently reviewed our viewing habits and found that on the local stations (including networks) we only watch the local news, 20/20, Primetime, 60 Minutes, and Motorweek and This Old House and that's about it. Most all of our favorite shows are on cable networks.
Of which drive me nuts. You can just about find "Rosanne" on TV somewhere just about every hour of every day. I liked the show, but please. Also, it gets me when several cable channels are running the same movie over and over ad nausem at the same time. We have 130 channels, of which over 80% of the content is stuff we have seen before.
And then there was "Discovery Wings" which had some interesting shows about commerical aviation, but then it turned into the "Military Channel" which reminds me of the parades the former Soviet government had in Red Square on May Day. "See how powerful we are!" is the message.
Speaking of sitcoms, has anyone seen "Mile High" on BBCA? That show seems to make people think that every flight and layover is a party! If people only knew the reality of it all......

 

[mattywashboy]

well for an australian living in australia its easy to live without Foxtel (cable). But for an englishman living in australia (myself), it is very difficult. Having access to UKTV 24-7 is a must with Keeping Up Appearences on everyday at 4, followed by Coronation Street and then Are You Being Served. I don't think i could walk in from work everyday with out that familiar "The Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking.......SHERIDAN!" waiting for me as i turn on the box. For too long i went without cable and had to watch australian trash such as Neighbours (muffled cry of anguish) and Home and Away (yawn), the only thing good about those programs is the packages that stroll down the beach
Anyway, long story short, can't live without cable, don't care of the cost, when i find i can't afford food i might stop my service, till then, "Are you free Mr Pearson?", "No i'm watching Keeping Up Apearences thankyou very much!"
Happy viewing
Matt

 

[sudsmaster]

I confess that "Keeping Up Appearances" usually sets my teeth on edge. The pomposity of that woman, Hyacinth Bucket, and the emasculated daily humiliation of her long suffering husband, Richard, I find a bit depressing. There are laughs when she is usually shone up as the fool she is, towards the end of each episode. But the jokes about her fine china with hand painted periwinkles, her grueling candlelight dinners, or her princess telephone get a bit stale for me.

I do enjoy the Onslows... do any of them ever work for a living? Or are they professional dole-accepters?

Fawlty Towers was a gem.

My favorite Brit comedy of all time was "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin". First broadcast in the 70's, its send-up of corporate stupidity, materialistic modern culture, and meaningless lives was way before its time, as well as more than a little existential wandering. "I didn't get to where I am today by biting people in the changing room..." LOL...

Sadly, the series is not available on DVD as yet... and it is rerun only rarely on our local PBS stations... nearly always on one for which I get poor reception.