Cutting Cable... What to get instead

JasonMouse · May 22, 2016

Many of those considering cutting cable will probably end up just going online and re-selecting a better cable package. The last time took me about 2 hours figuring out how much the monthly bill would be, but we're down to pretty much basic cable without any sports channels. $117 / month, and it would be about $100 / month if we got rid of the DVR. Our internet is 75/75 Mbps which is extremely high speed compared to most. "Internet only" would be about $80 / month with no cable package. Also note that removing sports also removed a hidden $5 monthly sports tax fee my area imposes for some reason.

I built an HTPC for my main TV. It also acts as a NAS, online back-up, Plex server, and searches for extraterrestrial life in its free time.

disneydeal · May 22, 2016

Camonkeygirl said:
My husband and I are getting increasingly frustrated with our cable service (missed service calls, pixilated channels, etc). We bought a new DVD player with access to Netflix, Hulu and more. Can anyone tell me what kind of shows are on Hulu? Can we get current seasons in addition to past ones?

Thank you

Shows like Survivor or Catfish you have access to every show of every season.

cariann77 · May 23, 2016

We just went through trying to make this decision. We really wanted to cut our cable out, but with the introduction of internet data caps there's no way we could do it. We were with ATT and just got a notice that unless you have a cable package you will be limited on the amount of data you can use monthly for their internet service and then charged additional for any overage...just like a phone. Comcast is testing this in several markets. I'm sure this will be standard shortly.

I hate cable companies.

4HOLIDAYS · May 25, 2016

We just got a new notice from Comcast yesterday. We currently pay an extra $30 /month for unlimited data. You are allowed 300gb and then either the $30 for unlimited or per block is $10/50gb.

New letter said, they will now allow 1T for regular users and the bill at $10/50gb used over or stay with unlimited but cost is going to $50/ month.

We already have their internet with 2 tv's for bedrooms on it, direct tv for 4 tv's (2 are me and 2 are Dsis) so bill is split but we were thinking of dumping cable and direct tv. We already use 700/800gb/month. Gamers -teens-work- homeschool ....

They definitly get you one way or another. I think we are dumping it all anyway.

ludari · May 27, 2016

Over the past few days I have been testing an indoor HDTV antenna to get my local channels and it has been working fine so I just got off the phone with the cable company to cancel my service. I'm confident that things will work out fine especially since I have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Epix. I also have over 800 movies on a computer hard drive.

disneydeal · May 27, 2016

If I do cut cable I'll still want home internet so I can use wifi for streaming. That's my problem the internet is the expensive part. Nobody wants to pay $60 to 90 a month for Internet. Especially with our cell phone service closing in on $200 a month.

disneydeal · May 27, 2016

Currently have twc ultimate 300 which is up to 300Mbps. With TV service for $129. They are quoting me 90 a month to keep just the internet.

Other options
Google fiber 100. up to 100 Mbps for $50 a month
Google fiber 1000. up to 1000 Mbps for $70 a month.
Google fiber 1000 +their TV package for $130 a month but includes only 1 TV box. If I want 5 boxes for 5 TVs that's 20 more so now $150 plus taxes and fees...

My antenna I bought few days ago is free Tv.. Looking better every day.

skelow401 · May 27, 2016

PlayStation Vue looks most promising to me. Especially if you live in an area where you get local channels also. Sling TV would be next.

DisneyArie · May 30, 2016

I do not have cable. I purchased the Amazon Firestick for $19 and pay Comcast for the fastest internet speed available in my area. With constant promotions, my bill has never been more than $65/mth. I installed Kodi on my firestick and can stream whatever I want.

**Kodi is a legal (if streaming from a legal source) media player.

OneThree · Jul 27, 2016

Just cancelled my DirecTV today. I'll miss Sunday Ticket this fall but I just can't justify the monthly costs, annual price increases and paying for all the channels we never watched.

flateacher · Jul 27, 2016

It is hard at first but you get used to it... then you never go back... because you won't be able to stand writing the check to the cable/directv folks. :teeth:

kathy884 · Jul 29, 2016

Here is what DH and I watch on cable. Any easy options to cut the cord or are we stuck? DS just watches Netflix and buys digital movies.

We like the Tennis Channel, ESPN, and ESPN2 for tennis matches. We like Chiller and Hallmark Mystery and Movie. We also occasionally watch PBS and AXS, and regularly watch 60 minutes on CBS (local that we could probably get with Rabbit ears). Disney, FX, and SciFi are also channels DH sometimes watches that we would like to have available. It would be so nice to be able to just get the channels we want and just pay for those. To get these channels we get the basic expanded cable package plus $10 a month to get Hallmark that is on another tier. And then we have to pay $10 a month to get a sports upgrade, but all we want on that or ever watch on that is the tennis channel (We are huge tennis fans, though, so it's worth it to us to get this). Of course I'm saying have to, but what I really mean is that we like these channels and decided it was worth it to pay for them. The gold package (Charter cable) would cover what we get without paying the extra tiers and give us premium movie channels too, but would cost us $15 more a month in total and even thought tons of channels are offered, we aren't interested in any of the extra ones offered and prefer to pay $15 less. Our interests are limited pretty much to what I have listed.

We have two TVs -- only one has cable and a DVR. The second is DS's TV and just has a PS4 on it and Netflix. Since he has Netflix, we have Netflix available too on a second device without an extra charge and watched quite a few interesting documentaries on there, but aren't aware of other things except Murder She Wrote reruns on that, that we'd like to watch. Three different times I thought of a movie I'd like to watch, but Netflix each time only had that movie available in DVD form and we just have the download plan.

Cable cutters, is there a cheaper way to get what we are specifically interested? In my limited looking I just wasn't seeing all these options except on Cable or Satellite.

Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL · Jul 29, 2016

cariann77 said:
We just went through trying to make this decision. We really wanted to cut our cable out, but with the introduction of internet data caps there's no way we could do it. We were with ATT and just got a notice that unless you have a cable package you will be limited on the amount of data you can use monthly for their internet service and then charged additional for any overage...just like a phone. Comcast is testing this in several markets. I'm sure this will be standard shortly. I hate cable companies.

Internet caps from in-home broadband provider? WTH!!

I live in NY and we haven't heard of this......yet. Sounds like cable companies are beginning to adjust their price structure as a way to compensate for cord cutters.

milwaukeemommy · Jul 29, 2016

I'll have to read this thread when I have time, as I want to cut cable to. It's ridiculously expensive! We saw a box thing at our State Fair last year, only about $200 & you can get ANYTHING, but we have 5 tv's in the house so .... chaching! I know it would be worth it in the long run but my biggest concern is getting local news. I personally don't watch as much tv as the rest of my family but I do like my news, & it seems local news doesn't work on some of these boxes/ sticks/ insert other device here.

DawnM · Jul 29, 2016

cariann77 said:
We just went through trying to make this decision. We really wanted to cut our cable out, but with the introduction of internet data caps there's no way we could do it. We were with ATT and just got a notice that unless you have a cable package you will be limited on the amount of data you can use monthly for their internet service and then charged additional for any overage...just like a phone. Comcast is testing this in several markets. I'm sure this will be standard shortly. I hate cable companies.

Are you saying that as long as you have a package, you can keep unlimited internet?

DH works from home 3 days per week so we have to have unlimited. He uses a lot. So do we.

DawnM · Jul 29, 2016

milwaukeemommy said:
I'll have to read this thread when I have time, as I want to cut cable to. It's ridiculously expensive! We saw a box thing at our State Fair last year, only about $200 & you can get ANYTHING, but we have 5 tv's in the house so .... chaching! I know it would be worth it in the long run but my biggest concern is getting local news. I personally don't watch as much tv as the rest of my family but I do like my news, & it seems local news doesn't work on some of these boxes/ sticks/ insert other device here.

Can you find that box online and post a link?

xlxo · Jul 30, 2016

A lot of those boxes are "Android TV" and running a flavor of Kodi with add-on's. Another option is to install Kodi on your computer/laptop for free.
https://kodi.tv/download/

Warning.... Kodi and some Android TV require you to figure out how to install the add-on's after googling the instructions on the web. For a few hundred dollars, some Android TV boxes will have it configured for you.

milwaukeemommy · Jul 30, 2016

DawnM said:
Can you find that box online and post a link?

I don't remember what it's called but I will look for it. Otherwise, our State Fair is next week again already, I'll look for it & get the details.

OneThree · Jul 31, 2016

kathy884 said:
Here is what DH and I watch on cable. Any easy options to cut the cord or are we stuck? DS just watches Netflix and buys digital movies.

We like the Tennis Channel, ESPN, and ESPN2 for tennis matches. We like Chiller and Hallmark Mystery and Movie. We also occasionally watch PBS and AXS, and regularly watch 60 minutes on CBS (local that we could probably get with Rabbit ears). Disney, FX, and SciFi are also channels DH sometimes watches that we would like to have available. It would be so nice to be able to just get the channels we want and just pay for those. To get these channels we get the basic expanded cable package plus $10 a month to get Hallmark that is on another tier. And then we have to pay $10 a month to get a sports upgrade, but all we want on that or ever watch on that is the tennis channel (We are huge tennis fans, though, so it's worth it to us to get this). Of course I'm saying have to, but what I really mean is that we like these channels and decided it was worth it to pay for them. The gold package (Charter cable) would cover what we get without paying the extra tiers and give us premium movie channels too, but would cost us $15 more a month in total and even thought tons of channels are offered, we aren't interested in any of the extra ones offered and prefer to pay $15 less. Our interests are limited pretty much to what I have listed.

We have two TVs -- only one has cable and a DVR. The second is DS's TV and just has a PS4 on it and Netflix. Since he has Netflix, we have Netflix available too on a second device without an extra charge and watched quite a few interesting documentaries on there, but aren't aware of other things except Murder She Wrote reruns on that, that we'd like to watch. Three different times I thought of a movie I'd like to watch, but Netflix each time only had that movie available in DVD form and we just have the download plan.

Cable cutters, is there a cheaper way to get what we are specifically interested? In my limited looking I just wasn't seeing all these options except on Cable or Satellite.

Have you looked at the streaming services such as Sling TV for the channels like ESPN, Disney, etc...? I think one thing to keep in mind for the streaming services is whether or not you have caps on your bandwidth from your ISP.

For the OTA I just installed a Mohu Air 60 outside which brings in the locals (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX). I went with that solution because it feeds all the cable outlets in the house, including the basement.

kathy884 · Jul 31, 2016

OneThree said:
Have you looked at the streaming services such as Sling TV for the channels like ESPN, Disney, etc...? I think one thing to keep in mind for the streaming services is whether or not you have caps on your bandwidth from your ISP.

For the OTA I just installed a Mohu Air 60 outside which brings in the locals (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX). I went with that solution because it feeds all the cable outlets in the house, including the basement.

That's pretty good. No I never looked at Sling before, but just took a look. Thanks for mentioning that. Sounds like the wave of the future, and I'm pretty unknowledgeable about all of this.

There is a package for $40 a month that gives us three of the 11 we watch (ESPN2, FX, and Scifi (71 channels in total). Two, PBS and CBS we could get local. We don't have caps on bandwidth. So it looks like we could save quite a bit of money, cut our bill in half if we would be willing to go without six of the 11 channels we like to have. // Guess I'm not ready to cut the cord yet, but I will keep looking (take a look at least annually), as non cable streaming services are only going to get better and better with more options.

Cutting Cable... What to get instead

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