Would you be willing to cut your cable cord?

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When I was in high school I gave up TV for lent one year and never really went back to watching it. I currently own a tv, but it is only hooked up to a DVD player (no VHS, Cable or regular TV - although I suppose I could attach an antennae to it and get PBS or something).

I really don’t miss it, and when I do have an urge to vegge in front of the tv, I check out a DVD from the library. 👍
 
I live in an area with poor reception, so the complex provides extended basic cable for free. Prior to moving here I lived with 3 fuzzy channels and rabbit ears because I chose to spend my cash on movies or books that I really wanted to enjoy. I’ve found that since I have cable I watch EWTN and lots of HGTV (home & garden) or TLC (mostly their home improvement type shows). I’ve given up TV for Lent in the past and not really missed it.

I was so out of touch during law school (since I didn’t watch TV or even hear much radio) that I didn’t know the Soviet Union had collapsed until 3 days after the fact. I can now get news stories via the Internet, so the TV is not even my primary news source. I think TV has become less relevant as a media in recent years regardless of what we think about the “entertainment” programming. I’m more worried that if I have kids they will have access to garbage via the Internet that no V-chip will block.
 
I have about 300 cable channels coming into the house 24 hours per day. That’s 7,200 hours of programming per day. There are incredibly good programs every day.

Get a TIVO or a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the cable company. It allows you to scan the program guide, click the red button, and the show will be recorded on the TIVO. It also let’s you collect a series that telecasts at the same time every week.

The TIVO then displays its own directory of captured shows on the TV. Just click on any captured show and it plays.

It also allows you to pause any live show. If you are watching a live football game, and the QB falls back for a pass, begins the throw, and you get hungry, just push the pause button. Go have a sandwich, come back to thje couch, hit the button and watch the QB complete his throw.

My DVR holds about 40 hours.
 
Peace-bwu said:
1. Would any of you be willing to cut the cord for one year as an experiment?
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I already don’t have cable. 😛

– Mark L. Chance.
 
If cutting out cable or satellite TV is what it takes for you to maintain your desired level of purity, then go for it. You are following the teachings of Christ.

On the other hand, there are plenty of people (yours truly and his SU included) who don’t have any trouble not tuning into the offensive programs. We have Direct TV (had it before it started carrying EWTN, rejoiced all the more when it did start), and we find that there is so much wholesome, informative programming that we don’t have time for the garbage.

Let each one be convinced in his/her own mind.

DaveBj
 
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aimee:
No, because there are a lot of good shows. And they are not on cable.

now boycotting sponsors…that might get something done.
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Most of these shows are on ABC, CBS, or NBC which are not even cable channels.
There are good shows on EWTN, the Hallmark channel and maybe a few more.
If you are going to cut the cable just put the tv on the curb. Now I would be up for that. But I love EWTN.
 
I only have cable for computer access.

The only tv shows for which I’d like to get cable would be EWTN and FOX news.

Does dish carry any objectionable shows?

~~ the phoenix
 
We’re actually talking about getting rid of cable TV. We’re trying to get rid of as many unnecessary expenses as possible before I go back to school, and cable looks like the biggest culprit. We can have a friend record “Battlestar Galactica” for DH, and the only other three shows that we watch are on network TV. We only watch a bit of TV here and there, so there’s no point in paying for what we don’t use.

We are definitely keeping our cable modem, though. It’s definitely been worth it.
 
Yes but not the cable modem. There has been nothing on cable TV worth watching for months now. Not even on Food Network. History, Discovery, and TLC have sold out to sensationalism. I haven’t watched a program on the mainstream channels in years. Every now and again PBS has good science and history programs but a full quarter of the year in programming is now devoted to fund raising. EWTN is up on the digital tiers and our local Catholic channel is the pits. So yeah, I could do it.
 
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Anglican77:
I wouldn’t give up cable because it’s the only way you can get a decent picture for the supposed “free” channels. :rolleyes:
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That’s so true! When we first moved into our house we got two channels–both of which showed reality TV all the time (or so it seemed). We first got Direct TV and then switched when the cable company offered us a better deal. Most of what we watch is on cable, there really isn’t much on any of the broadcast networks worth watching–except for football, of course! I’m all for people doing things to improve their lives and if getting rid of TV is the way to go, go for it! I don’t watch much TV, but it’s nice to have that option. Of course, DH and I have already discussed–if money gets tight the first things to go are cable and the internet.
 
If I had cable I would cut it. The only thing else I can think of is to throw a brick through the regular TV screen, but that wouldn’t fly very well with the little dove who has been patiently waiting for the return of “American Idol”!.. Yuck!!!.. If it wasn’t a sin against the 5th Commandment I would poke out my eyes and ears!
 
I have not watched TV in about 3 years. I honestly didn’t even realise I wasn’t watching for the first year.
 
Mike Dye:
If I had cable I would cut it. The only thing else I can think of is to throw a brick through the regular TV screen, but that wouldn’t fly very well with the little dove who has been patiently waiting for the return of “American Idol”!.. Yuck!!!.. If it wasn’t a sin against the 5th Commandment I would poke out my eyes and ears!
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:rotfl: hey I watch AI 😃
 
Mike Dye:
If I had cable I would cut it. The only thing else I can think of is to throw a brick through the regular TV screen, but that wouldn’t fly very well with the little dove who has been patiently waiting for the return of “American Idol”!.. Yuck!!!.. If it wasn’t a sin against the 5th Commandment I would poke out my eyes and ears!
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American Idol and EWTN - the only reasons why I don’t cut my cable!
 
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Timidity:
I think your propition is poorly thought out, and would have the opposite effect than the one you intend.

With a single exception, all the morally offensive shows that you list are not cable shows, so cutting the cable would have no effect on the broadcasters (the vast majority of which do not receive payment from the cable providers). Cutting the cable would, though, take away ETWN and other religious programming, first from my home and eventually from the everyone’s home.

My cable box and my PVR silently report every show I watch to the people who crunch numbers. If a significant number of conservative Christians were cut the cable, what the providers will see is a drop in viewership for these wholesome channels. If the wholesome channels no longer bring in customers, why would the providers continue to carry them? They’d be better served by cutting EWTN and other and replacing them with “The Gay Channel”.
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I was very specifically talking about* basic cable*, not the extra cable channels. I belong to Dish network. We have already taken all the cable channels off (HBO, showtime, cinamax, etc.) We get a few good channels but not woth $60 per month. I’m talking about NBC, CBS, FOX. We pay for those too, and those are the channels I would like to see change so that I don’t have to pay for total smut. Basic cable (local channels, news channels, Discover History. Families should be able to have basic channels without worrying about the commercials for “Naughty Nurses” while watching CNN.

Which channels are included in Basic Cable depends on the carrier. We have a sattelite connection through Dish Network. We block out alot of channels. I want people to have the freedom to purchase special cable channels with questionable content if they wish, but the BASIC channels are what I am having a problem with.

You misundererstood what I was proposing, that we have already cancelled our special cable movie channel packages years ago (HBO, cinamax, Movie channel etc.) I am concerned with the *BASIC *package. We have it purely for News, EWTN, various learning channels, Pay Per View, and the occasional movie or sitcom that we find entertaining. Our family ends up also paying for all the sitcoms that we can’t stand or that I feel morally obligated not to pay for.

I am posing the question whether my family could actually give up or BASIC cable connection (as in having no tv connection) and watch DVDs that we either rent, purchase or borrow, and get our news online. I can’t watch the news with my kids in the room anyway, so I end up finding most of my news online. I am also wondering if any other families have considered or would consider doing the same thing.

I would rather give EWTN 20 bucks per month, or purchase the programming I especially like from their website, and budget the rest of my $60- $70 on DVD rental or purchase. The only programming I feel obligated to fund is EWTN. I would rather sacrifice the other smut and give them more money than they would get from me through my cable subscription.

I know several families who already do this, mainly because of the high cost of cable (they don’t pay for local channels either) they simply rent the movies, documentaries or sitcom seasons they want to see.

Don’t you have to pay for basic, local channels? I do.
 
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kage_ar:
We went to Dish about 2 years ago - so we can HAVE EWTN!
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I use Dish Network too. EWTN is one of the few channels (aside from news and local channels, History channel and kids channels that we watch regularly.) If we decide to also cut the basic cable, I will donate a monthly amount to EWTN, and purchase programming I would like to watch over and over (such as the Saint’s movies for kids… I have already started a collection) I have no idea how much EWTN gets from my basic cable purchase, but I am sure that they will be getting more straight from me if I donate an alotted amt. per month and order books and DVDs from them.

I have been thinking about this for several months. It dawned on me recently that I am giving money for basic cable on Dish network to not only pay for the good programming but also the bad. (not just “bad” but promoting the culture of death)

There is something wrong with our budget when we pay for more money for basic cable than we give to the collection at Mass. I am more concerned with being responsible with my own money when it comes to funding the culture of death than I am with what anyone else does.

I am just curious how many like -minded people there are out there who are, or would, consider doing the same thing. If there are several, then it would be good to inform the cable providers, local channels, and advertisers where that money is going.
 
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Timidity:
I think your propition is poorly thought out, and would have the opposite effect than the one you intend.

With a single exception, all the morally offensive shows that you list are not cable shows, so cutting the cable would have no effect on the broadcasters (the vast majority of which do not receive payment from the cable providers). Cutting the cable would, though, take away ETWN and other religious programming, first from my home and eventually from the everyone’s home.

My cable box and my PVR silently report every show I watch to the people who crunch numbers. If a significant number of conservative Christians were cut the cable, what the providers will see is a drop in viewership for these wholesome channels. If the wholesome channels no longer bring in customers, why would the providers continue to carry them? They’d be better served by cutting EWTN and other and replacing them with “The Gay Channel”.
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I have a similar take on the situation… I am a bit of news junkie–maybe partly on account of working in state government. I want to know what is taking place in our world–especially with bird flu looming and Iran re-starting its nuclear program on the heels of declaring that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. I think being informed is important for Christians, in particular, and newspapers are (by and large) not doing well in today’s market, and may be headed for trouble.
 
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Toni:
Most of these shows are on ABC, CBS, or NBC which are not even cable channels.
There are good shows on EWTN, the Hallmark channel and maybe a few more.
If you are going to cut the cable just put the tv on the curb. Now I would be up for that. But I love EWTN.
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With Dish Network we have to pay for the local channels. I believe for us it is considered the BASIC package.
 
I actually rely on cable for GOOD programming because the networks have slid so far into sensationalistic programming. I enjoy the History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet and some of the events/competitions featured on the sports channels. I also watch the various news channels during the day if I’m in one place or in the evening when the kids are in bed.

3/4 shows listed by the OP are network shows. It’s getting to the point that I can’t have the Today show with Matt & Katie on anymore while feeding my kids breakfast --if it’s not some sex-saturated segment or celebrity pregnancy/divorce/drug-bust/bulemia update, it’s the commercials in between featuring clips for that afternoon’s Dr. Phil, Tyra or Oprah shows–all of which are obsessed with cheaters, swingers, sex-addicts, teens who dress/act like hookers, abusers, etc… I’m not a soap opera watcher, but from what I’ve heard it’s nothing less than soft-core porn. What ever happened to all the oversight and tight rules on content for network broadcasts since children have easy access to all this smut?
 
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Timidity:
.

My cable box and my PVR silently report every show I watch to the people who crunch numbers. If a significant number of conservative Christians were cut the cable, what the providers will see is a drop in viewership for these wholesome channels. If the wholesome channels no longer bring in customers, why would the providers continue to carry them? They’d be better served by cutting EWTN and other and replacing them with “The Gay Channel”.
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Do all cable boxes report viewing? Does Dish Network? Just curious. The last I heard, there were focus groups of consumers who reported viewing, and the rest were measured by the channels they pay for, but the technology has changed a lot since then.
 
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