Cutting the cord on cable TV

I apologize if this is a topic that has been discussed previously but I did not see it when I searched.

I am thinking about cutting my cable service but need your guys help in determining if it is worth it and a true cost savings. I have Comcast for Cable and Internet. I have 2 HD TV's and 1 regular tube TV. For the tube TV I can get a digital converter from my parents house that they do not need anymore to watch the regular network channels and I am ok there. I need to know if it is better for the HDTV's to get either a wifi enabled Blu Ray Player or a Roku or some other device. Also should I purchase an HD antenna? I know I will probably need to get a subscription to Netflix and I may also need to subscribe to Hulu Plus. I wonder if having to do all these upfront costs would be then worth it at that point.

Right now I pay $110 per month for Comcast Digital Preferred and High Speed Internet. I have 2 HD Boxes and I rent the WIFI modem (I know I should save the $7 per month and buy my own wifi modem). I also have HBO and Showtime included in my package. My concern is how much will I save per month. Since I would still need High Speed Internet from Comcast I doubt I would get any real deal since not bundled with another service. we have FIOS in our area but I imagine it would be the same with just FIOS Internet.

I am sure there are many FW folks who have cut the cord. Has it been worth it, what are your real savings and what devices are you using to access your shows and other entertainment. I like how I can watch most of the shows for free online but would prefer to watch them on my TV and not just my laptop screen (I can of course connect it to the TV but that can always be a hassle).

I apologize if I sound like I am rambling, please let me know your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

I have 1 tv, and 1 digital box on it plus Netflix. I use regular old roof-top attenna get about 20 channels. Channels either come in or don't come in, no snowy pictures, all the shows are HD, I'm told but I have a regular tube tv right now.
My monthly cost is $8 for Netflix, and my internet connection cost (which I would have anyway) at $20/mo.

We have not had cable for 5+ years and never missed it. I put a large antenna in my attic and get OTA digital TV. Added a multi-outlet booster and tied into each rooms cable outlets.

We use to have FIOS for internet but went to Cox as they were cheaper. Had less problem with cox than Fios.

If you really need other shows look into Roku, Netflix, Amazon, etc... for shows.

I would recommend this antenna http://www.frys.com/product/5834693 and I pay $19.95 a month for 3 MBPS ATT DSL, worked fine for streaming movies.

I have used TiVo HD units for OTA but you don't get a guide so DVR functions are next to worthless. Maybe this changed. Sometimes I turn on Netflix subscription on my Samsung BluRay player, but after watching all their content and not enough new stuff canceled that, might turn it back on after a year when they restock their content.

You can get you bill from $100 down to $20 and I found better use of my time than TV

I cut the cord with Comcast about three years ago and went with FIOS for internet and phone. (I'm too far from the central office for DSL). Recently, I dropped the phone service and ported the number to my existing cell phone. I connect my laptop's HDMI port to the HDTV and stream Amazon on-demand movies and other streaming web video. If I do want to watch something on broadcast TV, I have a combo indoor VHF/UHF antenna connected to the HDTV.

See my post here about antenna selection and some websites to visit to make sure you have adequate over-the-air reception.

Netflix and Hulu Plus through a Roku box is less than $20 a month and give you a ton of content. Amazon Prime is $79 a year and besides giving you 2 day shipping on pretty much all Amazon items, gives you access to content on Amazon on demand. The one thing you can't get with all of these is Sports. You may be able to get over the air (OTA) signals if you live close enough and have a good antenna. You can search internet to see what kind of stations you'll be able to pull in.

Skip Hulu Plus because the commercials will drive you crazy. I hated it. I had to pay yet still had to sit through commercials with no way to fast-forward through them. The Netflix streaming is worth it though. I have an antenna (with signal booster) in my attic and I have 2 Tivos. I only get 23 channels but they are crystal clear. Because I can record 4 shows at the same time in HD the shows collect up fast and I have plenty to watch. In fact I am usually way behind on my TV watching. I also use a friend's Netflix if I want to stream a movie. I am so thrilled to not pay that cable company anything other than for internet service. When I have to call about the internet they always seem so surprised that I don't have cable like there's something wrong with me.

I've been toying with cutting cable for about a year now. What has stopped me is that my townhouse setup is such that a serious antenna won't work, and I'd essentially need a baby antenna for my main two TVs. (I already don't have cable on my kitchen TV as I refuse to pay another $7, and get by with rabbit ears and a DVD player) But I watch so incredibly little OTA TV (mostly football and baseball) that the antenna issue doesn't matter.

I've decided to see what my TV usage is during the Olympics and go from there.

Good luck OP, ditching TV service (FIOS for me) is on my to do list too. The only regular TV shows I frequently watch are Jeopardy and The Daily Show. I bought one of those Leaf antenna but it doesn't get the Jeopardy channel (ABC?). I currently watch 90% of my TV through a HD TiVo and I download a lot of content to that. I also have a Roku + Amazon Prime.

I just wanna watch Jeopardy dammit!

ganda said:   Good luck OP, ditching TV service (FIOS for me) is on my to do list too. The only regular TV shows I frequently watch are Jeopardy and The Daily Show. I bought one of those Leaf antenna but it doesn't get the Jeopardy channel (ABC?). I currently watch 90% of my TV through a HD TiVo and I download a lot of content to that. I also have a Roku + Amazon Prime.

I just wanna watch Jeopardy dammit!

Try a different antenna and also check where the main signal comes from so you can direct and tune your antenna toward the stations you want. I get about 40+ channels with my larger antenna and better quality than cable.

I use an OTA antenna from Monoprice and 30 miles away get great signal. I placed the antenna in my attic and connected it to the cable networking in the attic.

Monoprice Antenna

Good luck if you are the head of a family with kids, you have had cable, and your spouse isn't affirmative looking for things to cut.

Then the TV isn't for you, it's for everybody else. This seems to be the cable companies' basic model.

Basic digital broadcast (through just a cable wire for about $15, or with an antenna) plus Netflix and/or Hulu Plus is just fine, then spend your newly found money on some good hardware streaming boxes (or maybe a new game console!) and everything is good. PBS alone has plenty of really good, commercial free shows.

But beware. The kids want to see the premiere of Hannah Montana meets Scooby Doo so they can talk to their friends about it at school. Pull that plug and you are punishing them. Also you can no longer say "no Hannah Montana meets Scooby Doo tonight unless you brush your teeth." Choose Wisely.

Well I've cancelled cable about 4 times, and then turned cable back on each time... Here are my takes/suggestions/comments- I'm sure others disagree but oh well:
1)You generally want to place an outside antenna to get good reliable broadcasts. Occasionally inside antennas work, but don't count on it. You might even need a signal booster- I would run an antenna first and go from there. TiVo premiere boxes can let you record HD OTA antenna channels (all major networks)- but his is a signifcant investment- around $500 each (if you pay for lifetime service)- TiVo also has Netflix and Hulu Plus I think. Roxu boxes are slicker than TiVo (and cheaper), but can't record OTA broadcasts.
2)The main thing that kills this for guys is the lack of sports options- especially around football time.
3)It's not very wife friendly- I'm sure some wives adjust to it, but mine didn't. It will require several sources and switching.
4)We both found ourselves missing some channels that we couldn't get- maybe about 40% of our TV watching we could not replace.
5)I enjoy the convenience of having it all delivered to me in one location (I have TiVo boxes)-so I like cable tv.
6)Seriously though, if you are RENTING your cable modem you need to buy one. If you aren't willing to fix an easy $7/month bleeding, then why try to ditch cable.
7)When you ditch cable, your internet rates will rise by ~$10/month (non-bundled rate).
8)Call to cancel- we got our cable/internet bill reduced to $90/month(charter, 15/5 internet, HD digital standard)- the same speed internet only option (no cable tv) would run me around $50. So my additional cable tv bill of $40 seem pretty reasonable. I own my TiVo boxes so I don't rent those. I own my cable modem.

The question is: what are you willing to live without?

I have a thread on this that's been retired in the finance forum: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/1157845/ That is about cutting all of the telecommunications services.

1) HDTV Is free OTA.
2) PBS has usually about 4-5 channels in your area as well.
3) Most cable companies are forced by states to offer "basic lifeline" service which is analog and digital feeds of all the over the air channels, + a few ones for free, like CNN or ABC Family. which runs around 20-30 bucks a month.
4) Explore both DSL, and Cable, and if you have it in your area, fiberoptic like AT&T U-Verse for your internet. It is probably cheaper than you think.

For me, the bottom line is: if you want sports, and don't live in a large market where the ABC, NBC, CBS affiliates don't carry your team all the time (ala red sox, yankees, etc.) then you might miss it for the sports.

Many of the people commenting on my old thread specifically mentioned the Roku, Netflix, etc. For me, my solution was build a windows 7 media center, throw in some HD Video cards to use the Windows Media Center software, and use it as a HD dvr/ channel guide / Netflix Player / TBS.Com player.

I also eventually went OTA and dropped cable completely.

Enjoy.

Can I still get the puppy?

For less than $30/month, I get Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime...and I watch it all thru Roku (a one-time $50 investment). These 3 "networks" have some crossover/similar content, and they have unique shows, too. Hulu Plus has commercials and their player isn't nearly as good as Netflix or Amazon, but it has content that you cannot get elsewhere. If you want to watch shows like The Middle, Modern Family, Despearate Housewives, it's a good deal at $9 per month.

I bought my first apartment last month and we (wife and me) are going to move in 2 months. In the new place I will have

Tv: HD OTA local channels, is FREE but you will need an UHF Antenna (any UHF will work fine), so add $20~50 for initial setup and use RG6 cable/compression conectors

Internet: AT&T DSL without a phone line (sometimes called DSL Direct), it will cost you $20~25 a month(3/6Mbits) for the first 12 months, call in 11 months to cancel the service and they will extend this promotion for another 12 months, worst scenario you cancel the service and re-activate (sign-up) the the next day. Setup and Installation is free (self service kit, just a cd with 4 filters) but you will have to buy your own modem. Actiontec GT701D is great modem, you can buy for $40 at Amazon or you can get for $20~30 on eBay (used).

Phone(landline): Google Voice with Simonics SIP gateway, that way I can use my own pap2 adapter, free in/out calls and free local phone number. It's free until December 31 2012, if Google does not extend this free service, it will cost you no more than $5, which is the actual cost for Skype ($3) for unlimited calls and a DID number ($2 from another company).

Optional: Netflix, Hulu and others services

Another option not very common and ethical... if you have a family member with Comcast HD service, ask them to request 2 additional HD boxes, then request Comcast Basic at your home ($25+taxes=30) and connect those boxes, it will work without a problem but they must come (boxes) from the same City. This trick works with DirecTv and Dish Network too(DN with pair boxes, they use one master and one slave box).

It's not really a tough decision if you think about it. Cut it and see if that works for you. You can always go back (and usually with a promotional rate) and are out the price of an antenna in the worst case. You will probably realize that you miss one or two or five cable channels at most.

When you call the cable company to cancel, make the cut off for a month out. Then, sit back and watch how many deals they give you to try and keep you. When I cut, it was actually funny how many times they called with different deals. Two days before the cut, I had a message that said, "This is important. You will lose television service if you don't call us right away. We are sending someone out to shut off the service and are willing to offer you a promotional rate for 2 years." Then, the date lapsed and they never cut the wire. I ended up having free service for the final 8 months in that apartment.

Now cable-free and prefer the $1200 a year to a bunch of channels I didn't watch. I sit on my rear enough at work and now with the internet. That's what making us fat these days, not the soda which has been around for 100 years.

I pay $17 for channels 1-27....the basic stuff. I don't get ESPN.com, but I have an xbox gold membership and I can watch sports on the xbox via ESPN.com. I did pay the $120 for a season long mlb.com subscription. I can watch it on my tv through the xbox, or from my phone to the tv. I also have Netflix, and I've bought a season pass off of Itunes for Breaking Bad. I'm sure I could have hit it off of torrents...but I figure for the $15, it was just worth it to be able to download it directly to my phone.

Honestly...you just get used to not having it.

I am TV cutter

shank said:   Need said:   shank said:   While DirecTV and Viacom were fighting over the past week, we had no choice but to watch the Daily show online. Having become accustomed to watching the show on a DVR, with the ability to 30 second jump through commercials, I find having to sit through online commercials VERY annoying. In the few instances where I actually watch live broadcast TV, forced to watch commercials, they are at least somewhat entertaining, where the online ads are MUCH lower quality, very repetitive, generally difficult to watch.

Have you tried watching it with Firefox and Ad Block Plus? It seems to block almost all streaming commercials except for the ones on Hulu and CBS. I haven't tried with the Daily Show, but it works on most of the sites.

DTV and Viacom kissed and made-up, so I did not have to go through such gyrations.

I prefer to watch on my big screen, fed by a Logitech Revue, not sure if it is possible to install Firefox, Ad Block Plus.

Oh I watch it on my big screen via HDMI connection from my laptop. I am watching the streaming Olympic from NBC now on my big screen without the commercials because of Ad Block Plus. It is just so nice to not see any commercials. Ad Block Plus blocks all commercials from the FOX, HGTV, SPIKE TV, MTV, HISTORY, Discovery, WB, etc... It works most of the time with CBS also, but sometime it would stall the playback. It doesn't work at all with Hulu, so unless there is something is ONLY on Hulu, I don't watch it streaming on Hulu.