Cutting cable

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AnastasiaRomano

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We’ve finally agreed to cut cable entirely… there’s rarely anything family-friendly on TV, and we’re tired of it. I’m sure the kids will whine, as there are some kids’ shows that they do enjoy watching – though they’re gradually outgrowing the preschool shows, and the older kids’ shows are just weird.

So, what other options are there to have access to the occasional cartoon or movie that is appropriate? Hulu Plus, Netflix, anything else?
 
I tried it, but I couldn’t get live sports anywhere and ended up really missing it-so I went back.

If that isn’t a problem for you, Netflix and Hulu plus are great options. Hulu plus has current shows, but you get commercials. Netflix has movies, tons of TV series, no commercials-but nothing really current.
 
We’re also cutting back our cable subscription to the minimum. Thanks mostly to a Roku box we installed on the TV. Lots of free stuff…esp religious. However you need a high speed internet connection also none of the propaganda promoting the usual party line and their beautiful people.

It’s not instant as cable but it’s more than adequate esp if you’re sick of cable. AND most importantly we rediscovered the joy of reading while watching TV because you’re not scrambling to manage the sound.

Thanks to Roku TV has once again become a **guest **in our home…with all the standards civilized people require of guests in their home.
 
Seeker1961 said:
I tried it, but I couldn’t get live sports anywhere and ended up really missing it-so I went back.
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The thought has crossed my mind as I really don’t watch alot of TV, but when I do, it’s sports related. ESPN3 is worthless now that everything has shifted to the Watch ESPN App.
 
Awesome! We cut the cable about 8 years ago and haven’t regretted it since! There’s always a few shows you miss, but in general it’s so interesting how you just forget about TV altogether once you don’t have it.
 
Ahhh the darn tv.

When we moved to our current location, my treat to myself was Directv for Sunday Ticket.

We’ve had and have not had TV throughout the last 12 years. I like to think of it as definitely a ‘want’.

But I’m having a hard time wanting to dump it. It’s costing me somewhere around $3 / day outside of football season.

I think I’m going to work on the home phone first and maybe get that magic jack as a replacement first.

Maybe I’ll work back up to tv.
 
We have an aerial antenna and the reception is great. We watch PBS for the kids and a few other shows, but mainly we watch the weather. Our area is prone to severe storms. Mostly watch movies on the VCR or DVD and also over the Internet. We live I. Tge country so our antenna is outside; however, mant antennas will work from inside the attic if you are in town, and if you live in the city, the old rabbit ears still work too. Before we moved here, our last military post was in an urban area and rabbit ears are all we used. It’s free–unless you need a converter box but tgat is a one time buy–and most locations have multiple channels available. We have 3 full time kids stations that are truely family friendly, 6 PBS channels, and many we have never watched. Here we are 50 from any brodcast towers and still receive 105 channels total…and all for free. We don’t feel bad to not watch since we aren’t paying for them. We do get live sports, not as much as we would like, but enough.
 
SonCatcher said:
The public library can be a great source.
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I agree. At least here in Milwaukee, i can get thousands of titles at the library. And all the Milwaukee county libraries are connected, so i can choose names online - and have them delivered to my library - all for free.

We have never had cable or netflix or any online streaming with our kids - and they haven’t yet complained. (They, of course, don’t know anything different).
 
Amazon Prime, 79 a year plus free shipping on orders with Amazon. Really pays for itself if you do a lot of shopping with Amazon.

MLB tv at 109 a year

NFL sunday ticket at 300. Hopefully 2013 will see a price cut in options for streaming.

I am considering cutting cable as well but I am dreading trying to straighten out things with the cable company where I live. Calling them up is like calling an insane asylum and having the patients answer the phone. I’ve considered just driving out to their office, leaving the equipment on their front door, and then changing credit cards.
 
We cut cable several months ago and now only use Netflix and HuluPlus. Netflix is great for kids programing, because they have a lot of options!
 
KostyaJMJ said:
Amazon Prime, 79 a year plus free shipping on orders with Amazon. Really pays for itself if you do a lot of shopping with Amazon.

MLB tv at 109 a year

NFL sunday ticket at 300. Hopefully 2013 will see a price cut in options for streaming.

I am considering cutting cable as well but I am dreading trying to straighten out things with the cable company where I live. Calling them up is like calling an insane asylum and having the patients answer the phone. I’ve considered just driving out to their office, leaving the equipment on their front door, and then changing credit cards.
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LOL! 👍
 
Ophelia23 said:
We cut cable several months ago and now only use Netflix and HuluPlus. Netflix is great for kids programing, because they have a lot of options!
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I’ve been looking around a little and am thinking that we may end up using both Netflix and Hulu Plus. Netflix has more for the kids, but the handful of TV shows that my husband and I like seem to be more available with Hulu Plus.

Thank you everyone else for your suggestions. I hadn’t previously considered iTunes, but if we ever get an iPad, that might be worth looking into as well.

I’m really glad to hear from others who’ve cut cable. We don’t know any families IRL who’ve done this, so it’s reassuring to hear that we are not alone 😉
 
SonCatcher said:
The public library can be a great source.
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We do check out some videos and DVDs at the public library occasionally. However, their selection of children’s videos is somewhat limited. Our library is pretty small. I miss the days of living in a big city where there were big libraries!

I’ll make a note to check out the DVDs next time, though, to see if they’ve gotten any new ones lately. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
 
Piwowar said:
Good Afternoon,

If I cut cable, there goes EWTN.
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If you can connect your TV to the Internet, you can watch the live shows via streaming video. Some of their other shows are available as streaming video as well.

We “cut the cord” (sort of) almost 6 months ago. DirecTV wanted us to keep the equipment in case we changed our minds, so we’re on a 6-month suspension. Except for not getting some of the sports we like to watch, we’re doing fine. About ready to tell them to come get their equipment.
 
I’ve thought about cutting the cord myself. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and an antenna will get you about 75% of anything worth watching on cable. It won’t, however, get you shows from premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.) or live sports. I love NCAA football and basketball. My husband also likes the Tennis Channel, and he likes being able to watch UFC. I’d also miss the DVR.

Our cable TV, high speed internet, and landline phone are bundled. If we dropped the TV the cost for the other products would rise a bit. We already have Netflix, and adding Hulu Plus would be another $8.00 a month. In the end, we wouldn’t be saving enough $$$ to make it worthwhile.

Just my 2 cents.
 
BettyBoop416 said:
I’ve thought about cutting the cord myself. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and an antenna will get you about 75% of anything worth watching on cable. It won’t, however, get you shows from premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.) or live sports. I love NCAA football and basketball. My husband also likes the Tennis Channel, and he likes being able to watch UFC. I’d also miss the DVR.

Our cable TV, high speed internet, and landline phone are bundled. If we dropped the TV the cost for the other products would rise a bit. We already have Netflix, and adding Hulu Plus would be another $8.00 a month. In the end, we wouldn’t be saving enough $$$ to make it worthwhile.

Just my 2 cents.
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Sports is the only thing keeping us on cable right now. DH watches a lot less than he used to (thankfully), but he still likes to watch “his” team for college basketball, and then our local NFL and NHL teams. Football is on a local channel, but we’ve never had luck getting reception for that, and hockey is only available on cable unless NBC picks it up over the weekend (and then, same reception issue.)

Netflix and Hulu Plus would satisfy all of our other entertainment needs. It would cut our “entertainment” bill in half (still paying for high speed Internet). I am bummed about the extra cost, but if we didn’t pay for cable, DH would be out at the sports bar to watch the games and would spend the same amount on beer. 😛

This is causing him (and me!) some concern, though! If it ever comes to pass (wouldn’t surprise me), I might finally get my way. 😉
 
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