pisistratus said: Question: is there a need to keep (paying for) the TV cable, if so many shows and movies are available online?
See the QS for a list of website offering free access to shows and movies.
yeah i usually go online to CBS or NBC to watch shows the night before such as NCIS & CSI: Miami. However, you do need cable / high speed internet to watch this without buffering. Who doesn't have that these days right?
Great thread topic. I would like to read more about ways to bypass the cost of cable, dish, direct TV. I am thinking a plasma or lcd with computer in the living room but what size computer processor. Looks like channel surfing would be more difficult? Bump for more thoughts on this topic.
Watching Internet TV on a laptop or desktop display is one thing, but I find it hard to believe that it will come close to matching the quality of DirecTV HD on a large screen LCD.
This topic is right on time. At the end of my current billing cycle I'm getting rid of my cable and just keeping the broadband service. I was about to begin searching for online sources to replace it with. I don't watch a lot of TV.
rtrdealin said: At the end of my current billing cycle I'm getting rid of my cable and just keeping the broadband service. I was about to begin searching for online sources to replace it with. I don't watch a lot of TV.If you have Comcast HSI / TV and cancel TV, your HSI bill may increase (+$15 in my area).
jolma
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 16, 2009 @ 3:46p
A better question is which of the above mentioned sites are legal. A few wrong clicks and you could have your internet cancelled and thousands of dollars in fines.
flyboy
Ancient Member
posted: Aug. 16, 2009 @ 10:25p
Thanks OP.
new2fatwallet2
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 17, 2009 @ 1:43a
pisistratus said: Question: is there a need to keep (paying for) the TV cable, if so many shows and movies are available online?
See the QS for a list of websites offering free access to shows and movies. I am interested in this; and I clicked on each link just to brief look. It appears that only hulu let you pop out the screen and resize it to any size I want. With tvweb360.com, it can be only be the tiny window OR full screen (low resolution). All the others seems to be only in the small windows.
Can the windows for these other services be adjusted -- I mean the TV/Movie part of it? If yes, can you provide some instructions of how to use them?
jolma said: A better question is which of the above mentioned sites are legal. A few wrong clicks and you could have your internet cancelled and thousands of dollars in fines. Please explain further how this could happen?
"A better question is which of the above mentioned sites are legal..."
I can tell you that the broadcasters webpages (of course!), Hulu (a joint venture of GE's NBC-Universal and NewsCorp's Fox TV) and TV.com (owned by CBS) are 100% legit. Some other sources, like AOL TV (from Time Warner, co-owner of CW and owner of HBO, TBS...) have arrangements to show Hulu and/or TV.com videos on their pages, as well as the ones from the company they own...
I would love to get rid of cable ($54 a month for the cheapest service). I only watch a couple of shows, which I'd be satisfied with watching online. However, the hubby and son like to watch sports, so we're pretty much tied to cable because of that.
sherry7 said: I would love to get rid of cable ($54 a month for the cheapest service). I only watch a couple of shows, which I'd be satisfied with watching online. However, the hubby and son like to watch sports, so we're pretty much tied to cable because of that.
Have them check out espn360.com - assuming your broadband provider subscribes. Not an HD signal, but there is a wide selection and variety of sports from around the world.
shank said: sherry7 said: I would love to get rid of cable ($54 a month for the cheapest service). I only watch a couple of shows, which I'd be satisfied with watching online. However, the hubby and son like to watch sports, so we're pretty much tied to cable because of that.
Have them check out espn360.com - assuming your broadband provider subscribes. Not an HD signal, but there is a wide selection and variety of sports from around the world.
Thanks...I will check into that. As long as they can watch the Steelers, Pitt, and Penn State they're good to go!
shank said: Watching Internet TV on a laptop or desktop display is one thing, but I find it hard to believe that it will come close to matching the quality of DirecTV HD on a large screen LCD.
Actually, over the air broadcast from an antenna gives a better picture than satellite or cable due to the compression they use. Also, most of the networks are currently broadcasting in 720p (I believe CBS broadcast in 1080i), and there is much content on the internet in 720p. Finally, you are not restricted to a laptop of desktop display. I have a HTPC hooked up to my 50" plasma and it gives as great a picture as I get from my Dish Network STB.
rsuaver said: If your cable company sends clear QAM signals, just get the barebones basic cable ($15)...In my area, we haven't seen basic cable for $15.00 since the early 1980's. And even then after they added the fee's and tax's it was $20.00 or more.
kuron said: shank said: Watching Internet TV on a laptop or desktop display is one thing, but I find it hard to believe that it will come close to matching the quality of DirecTV HD on a large screen LCD.
Actually, over the air broadcast from an antenna gives a better picture than satellite or cable due to the compression they use. Also, most of the networks are currently broadcasting in 720p (I believe CBS broadcast in 1080i), and there is much content on the internet in 720p. Finally, you are not restricted to a laptop of desktop display. I have a HTPC hooked up to my 50" plasma and it gives as great a picture as I get from my Dish Network STB.
Are you saying that the Internet-based TV programming (Hulu, Sling, etc) is available in 720p? This is not (yet) the case for most sports, such as espn360.com.
This also assumes that the HTPC has HD video and audio output; not a big investment (a few hundred $), which will be recouped quickly by eliminating satellite or cable service, but still requires some work and knowledge.
I believe that it will take something like Pandora (software or web site eliminating the need to search through multiple web sites for specific programming), before such a practice becomes mainstream - and force current providers to reduce their prices.
new2fatwallet2
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 18, 2009 @ 9:27p
kuron said: shank said: Watching Internet TV on a laptop or desktop display is one thing, but I find it hard to believe that it will come close to matching the quality of DirecTV HD on a large screen LCD.
Actually, over the air broadcast from an antenna gives a better picture than satellite or cable due to the compression they use. Also, most of the networks are currently broadcasting in 720p (I believe CBS broadcast in 1080i), and there is much content on the internet in 720p. Finally, you are not restricted to a laptop of desktop display. I have a HTPC hooked up to my 50" plasma and it gives as great a picture as I get from my Dish Network STB. What is an HTPC? How is it different from a regular PC?
It's just not there yet. I'm sure it eventually will be where Internet tv takes over but that's not happening next year and definitely not for the rest of this year. What slim pickings you have with online stuff tends to be less than 480i broadcast quality -- no thanks, but I don't even watch anything that isn't at least 720p anymore.
I get HSI via comcast and opt to get basic cable- in some areas they dont advertise it but they almost always offer it I think (federal requirement)? I use an antenna for almost all my TV (HD broadcast signal)- the reason I use basic cable is: 1)b/c it costs only about $5-$15 but reduces the cable bill by $10 so only costs about $5 2)I can also get HD signals (basic networks) through comcast 3)and if my antenna signal goes I have a reliable source 4)Comcast doesn't bother to scramble standard def signals in a lot of areas (so few people get the basic basic package) so I get the extended package (Discovery Channel, etc) in SD for free
wp746911 said: I get HSI via comcast and opt to get basic cable- in some areas they dont advertise it but they almost always offer it I think (federal requirement)? I use an antenna for almost all my TV (HD broadcast signal)- the reason I use basic cable is: 1)b/c it costs only about $5-$15 but reduces the cable bill by $10 so only costs about $5 2)I can also get HD signals (basic networks) through comcast 3)and if my antenna signal goes I have a reliable source 4)Comcast doesn't bother to scramble standard def signals in a lot of areas (so few people get the basic basic package) so I get the extended package (Discovery Channel, etc) in SD for free
Where do you live? It has been YEARS since I have seen basic cable in So Ca for $15 - advertised or otherwise.
ElLobo11
Member
posted: Aug. 23, 2009 @ 12:22p
I would love to ditch cable, but my wife will ditch me if she can't watch Weeds, Hung, and Entourage. Do any of these websites have HBO or Showtime shows?
shank said: wp746911 said: I get HSI via comcast and opt to get basic cable- in some areas they dont advertise it but they almost always offer it I think (federal requirement)? I use an antenna for almost all my TV (HD broadcast signal)- the reason I use basic cable is: 1)b/c it costs only about $5-$15 but reduces the cable bill by $10 so only costs about $5 2)I can also get HD signals (basic networks) through comcast 3)and if my antenna signal goes I have a reliable source 4)Comcast doesn't bother to scramble standard def signals in a lot of areas (so few people get the basic basic package) so I get the extended package (Discovery Channel, etc) in SD for free
Where do you live? It has been YEARS since I have seen basic cable in So Ca for $15 - advertised or otherwise.
I second shank's comments. 2006, colorado. This is basic analog cable, maybe 15 channels (I didn't care enough to try to get additional channels under #4- I'm not a big tv watcher). No converter box from the cable company required. I had to make sure the phone rep and I were both talking about the basic analog, and not basic digital cable costing $30-50+, when I ordered.
cable TV is not good..and too expensive because the lack of real competiton.
yes there are so many website we you can watch tv shows online for free..
but it all depends on what you like..some people dont like shows..they just like to watch the news and the discussion on TV like beck shows or larry king..or watching live events etc..
but if you are into TV shows cable TV is a waste just watch it on the internet
pisistratus said: Question: is there a need to keep (paying for) the TV cable, if so many shows and movies are available online?
See the QS for a list of websites offering free access to shows and movies.
The problem is many of the cable stations do not broadcast full length episodes online. I personally like NETFLIX. I use them to stream as well as some of the sites listed on here. Plus we get DVD's. I have a lower end PC from woot with a tuner card in it and HD out. It is hooked to my 42" "friends and family" philips tv. The tv, surround sound, and computer (which I can use for internet, a dvd player, DVR, etc.) was well under $1K. We also use an OTA antenna. I do not think I will ever again pay for TV.
Slurpee23
Handsome Member
posted: Sep. 1, 2009 @ 2:24a
What kind of specs on a computer (preferably not a laptop) would you need to get a 1080i (or 1080p) picture on a say...24 inch HD Monitor?
Would a simple video card with an HDMI output work?
Hmmmmm.....I'm thinking I should use fatwallet to get these items now (:
This is what I did to help replace my Time Warner Cable after I cut it off this past May (saved $80):
1. Asked the wife if it was ok to cancel cable 2. Bought a Dell HTPC 435MT from Dell Outlet, installed Windows 7 RC and connected to my HDTV via HDMI (1080p capable) 3. Bought a SiliconDust HDHomerun networked TV tuner 4. Bought a TERK HDTVa amplified OTA antenna 5. Connected the HDHomerun to a coax cable (which was still live even though I had canceled cable already) and to the OTA antenna 6. Setup Windows Media Center 7 with the two tuner sources, enabling me to pick up a ton of HDTV local channels plus unencrypted QAM channels like Showtime, Discovery HD, Style, MTV (lets hope Time Warner doesn't encrypt these channels soon). 7. Subscribed to the $9 Netflix plan 8. Installed a couple of add ons to Windows MCE: SecondRun TV for Hulu and MyNetflix for Netflix streaming movies
Now, I can watch and record the TV shows I get from the two tuners as well as access the Hulu and Netflix streaming libraries. Best of all, the setup is wife friendly and as long as she can get Oprah, no problem! I can also stream the TV recordings and watch Netflix via the Xbox 360 in our bedroom (using as an extender).
There are some initial purchases to get the setup started but I am not missing the $80 per month cable bill at all.
paolobeltran said: This is what I did to help replace my Time Warner Cable after I cut it off this past May (saved $80):
1. Asked the wife if it was ok to cancel cable 2. Bought a Dell HTPC 435MT from Dell Outlet, installed Windows 7 RC and connected to my HDTV via HDMI (1080p capable) 3. Bought a SiliconDust HDHomerun networked TV tuner 4. Bought a TERK HDTVa amplified OTA antenna 5. Connected the HDHomerun to a coax cable (which was still live even though I had canceled cable already) and to the OTA antenna 6. Setup Windows Media Center 7 with the two tuner sources, enabling me to pick up a ton of HDTV local channels plus unencrypted QAM channels like Showtime, Discovery HD, Style, MTV (lets hope Time Warner doesn't encrypt these channels soon). 7. Subscribed to the $9 Netflix plan 8. Installed a couple of add ons to Windows MCE: SecondRun TV for Hulu and MyNetflix for Netflix streaming movies
Now, I can watch and record the TV shows I get from the two tuners as well as access the Hulu and Netflix streaming libraries. Best of all, the setup is wife friendly and as long as she can get Oprah, no problem! I can also stream the TV recordings and watch Netflix via the Xbox 360 in our bedroom (using as an extender).
There are some initial purchases to get the setup started but I am not missing the $80 per month cable bill at all.
Didn't realize it since I thought that I called in to cancel it would be their responsibility to kill the signal. Just to make sure, I removed the connection and am strictly OTA now. Thanks for the info.
Just an FYI.. Companies like Comcast are now enforcing a maximum usage per month of 250GB/month in an acceptable usage policy. This may seem like a lot, but will be eaten up VERY fast with all this new streaming video stuff.
Something to think about.. I think eventually Comcast will drop this ridiculous policy and re-open the broadband floodgates. I can't believe these pathetic companies are trying to do this...selling $60-$130/mo premium broadband packages and tossing a limitation of 250GB/mo .. which is a spit in the dust for what I do.... I had to upgrade to Comcast Business to get these jackals off my tail.
During the time my brother moved out, my parents downgraded their cable service to basic. No one bothered to come out and downgrade the signal. They were paying $20/month for the same service they had for $50-$60/month. Then my brother came back and they now have the FIOS triple package. That sure is expensive!
I'm in a place where analog cable and Internet (via same company) are part of my rent. I don't have a phone (just a cell phone). When I move to a place where cable is a cost to me, I plan on getting Internet cable only (through the cable company or Verizon). I have a PC hooked to my TV. I'll attempt the OTA digital signal and the Internet to see my shows.
If you do not care about immediacy, Netflix is a good thing. They even have a few shows online too.
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.
