Anyone Cancel their Cable?

[disneybound2010]

We cut our cable two years ago in favor of a roku box. It was the best decision ever! Then, in December, Comcast had a deal that would give us cable and internet for a year for a much lower price than just paying for the internet. We took it, but at the end of the year, if the rate jumps again, we have no problem cutting out the cable again! Honestly, we rarely watch anything and when we do, we'd rather have on Netflix LOL

 

[GigglyFigment]

TNT cancelled Leverage and I cancelled our cable tv before the start of the following pay period. I also cancelled Costco and BJ's and pay for Amazon Prime instead.

We have a Roku, but I prefer my PS3 because there is a youtube channel as well. I can use Amazon Prime and Netflix with both. I tried HuluPlus, but I didn't like the idea of paying for commercials. We have an antenna, but mostly just watch stuff from Netflix, Amazon, and Youtube.

 

[joybeth]

If you're in Michigan, there is absolutely no way to watch the Tigers on any sort of regular basis without cable. The MLB packages all have a blackout for your local market team (and they define "local" VERY broadly... some areas are blacked out for 2 or 3 different teams).

That right there is the entire reason we still pay for cable/satellite. We lived without it before the Tigers moved to FSD but we're both big fans and aren't willing to settle for the handful of games that are available on broadcast TV. Heck, last year even the first couple playoff series were only televised on cable!

Agree, Colleen! There is no way we could go without the Tigers (or Michigan Football when it is on Big 10 Network). If there was a way to get live Sports here in the D, I would cut the cord.

jb

 

[Colleen27]

Colleen, do you know if we subscribe to Mlbtv premium do they still blackout the Tigers? That is about the ONLY thing we care to watch. So giving up cable may not be an option, we are Big baseball fans in this house

Yes, they do. It is in the terms of the television contracts that any and all alternative viewing options be blacked out in a team's home area. There is absolutely no way to get a home MLB team's games in real time without subscribing to a provider that carries Fox Sports Detroit.

 

[sweetdana]

Yep. Over three years ago now, no regrets. I just used Hulu (not plus) for awhile then added amazon prime. We cancelled that after a year and switched the Netflix and purchase the occasional show from amazon The ipad also has a pbs app and the disney jr app. Netflix has been adding a lot of Disney programming which makes me happy. I try not to buy DVDs anymore bc they are messy. no regrets. I think these options will only become more and more popular and more people will cancel cable and satellite.

This is us
2+ yrs and I thought no way could we... Missed nothing. We also had n eventually cancelled Hulu plus. They just never added new stuff. We use amazon prime n Netflix.

I about once every other month order a used DVD from amazon. Just arrived today was corps bride. 5$ or so for the blue ray. We do not rent movies from amazon prime/ anyone else on demand. I usually just order the DVD or wait for it on Netflix.

I do not know anyone yet who regrets it.

Side note.... I pulled the plug on a home phone at the same time use ooma now 12$ a month inc vm/called I'd n sends my messages to email. 0 regrets there 2. Saves me nearly 100$ for both.

If cable were reasonable 20$ or something a month I'd hop back on, but for 40 or 50 ....nope. Or the 59 they raised my bill too iust b4 walking away...I don't think I'd pay a Nickel more for a land line.

 

[darnheather]

Haven't had cable for many many years. I watch baseball online or listen on the radio.

 

[ArielSparrow]

Have you thought about going to a sports bar for the games?

 

[tvguy]

While the number of over the air channels has gone up, my problem is, cable or a dish is the only way some of the things we watch are available.

What I'm working to get rid of is my cell phone. I figure that will be the first thing to go when I retire. I may end up being the last person in America with a Dish and a Landline.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We cut cable this week, but will turn it back on in the fall when football starts. Nothing we really want to see this summer on live TV, and it saves us $110/month.

 

[Colleen27]

Have you thought about going to a sports bar for the games?

With 5-6 games a week from April to October, even catching half or a third of them would easily add up to more $$ than just keeping basic cable to watch at home!

 

[leagirl12]

We cut it back in March and have not missed it at all. We already had Netflix and Amazon Prime (for free shipping and kindle library) so we only added the monthly cost of Hulu Plus. Well worth it. We have not missed it at all!!!!

Another thing we got and that I would recommend is PlayOn. It was a one time fee like $65 I think. But it allows us to stream current shows and is great for getting the ones not on Hulu....mostly shows from cable channels like A&E. Basically if a channel puts their content on their website then we can stream it through the Xbox using PlayOn as opposed to having to hook our laptop up to the TV.

 

[DawnM]

We cut satellite 2 years ago. We have a rooftop antenna.

The only thing I really missed was the ability to record live TV and pause live TV.

I finally broke down this year and bought myself a Tivo with a lifetime subscription. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it and hope that the new Tivo coming out in the Fall will have the Tivo Minis that will work with over the air programming so I can have more than one.

Dawn

 

[ArielSparrow]

With 5-6 games a week from April to October, even catching half or a third of them would easily add up to more $$ than just keeping basic cable to watch at home!

I heard cable is expensive and I'm sure there are bars without cover charge. And just spend only what you'd spend on snacks or drinks at home. At least around here that's easy, maybe not your town.

 

[cseca]

...

Another thing we got and that I would recommend is PlayOn. It was a one time fee like $65 I think. But it allows us to stream current shows and is great for getting the ones not on Hulu....mostly shows from cable channels like A&E. Basically if a channel puts their content on their website then we can stream it through the Xbox using PlayOn as opposed to having to hook our laptop up to the TV.

Question on PlayOn, does it play HD shows?
I read some reviews that they are really bad with HD shows on big TVs.
I don't want to sign up if the pictures end up being crappy

 

[ArielSparrow]

Another thing we got and that I would recommend is PlayOn. It was a one time fee like $65 I think. But it allows us to stream current shows and is great for getting the ones not on Hulu....mostly shows from cable channels like A&E. Basically if a channel puts their content on their website then we can stream it through the Xbox using PlayOn as opposed to having to hook our laptop up to the TV.

We have this too. Our computer is in the same room now and hooked up directly but it was very useful before. I think the pro version had sports packages, but probably not the local stuff because of contracts.

 

[wvjules]

I'm another that can't/won't cut cable because of baseball. lol And what sucks even worse is that our local sports channels, MASN and MASN2, are on the third level of channels. I can't even go with the most basic package!

 

[worm761]

I'm another that can't/won't cut cable because of baseball. lol

I have to laugh at those that say this. One of the things the girl tried to convince DH to keep cable with was football. The problem is we are in Florida and he is a Bills fan. They never show his team anyway.

 

[Colleen27]

I heard cable is expensive and I'm sure there are bars without cover charge. And just spend only what you'd spend on snacks or drinks at home. At least around here that's easy, maybe not your town.

I suppose it depends on your provider, your snack budget, and your bars. We don't really spend on snacks for games, it is just something we put on after dinner. Sitting at a bar for 2-3 hours, we'd at least want a couple drinks so probably a minimum of $10/game... and we watch 3-4 games a week on average. Besides, we'd need a sitter to watch at the bar.

Our cable package costs us $70/mo because the sports channels aren't part of the cheapest/most basic package. Its not cheap, but it wouldn't take many sports bar outings to add up to that.

I have to laugh at those that say this. One of the things the girl tried to convince DH to keep cable with was football. The problem is we are in Florida and he is a Bills fan. They never show his team anyway.

We'd be better off if we were out of our home market. A Tigers' fan in FL can subscribe to the MLB streaming service and watch all the games (well, except away games at Miami or Tampa Bay), but one in Detroit can only watch on cable.

 

[oliverklu]

I was thinking to download or record some movies from Netflix if possible. I have look a little bit for a Netflix Video Downloader but unfortunately didn't find any which could really capture streaming Netflix. Do you have by chance any idea about how to record some videos from Netflix?

 

[kajs22]

I looked into doing this at the beginning of the year because it is so expensive! We have Roku, Apple Tv etc, but, having internet alone is nearly $100. If I could find a less expensive internet option I would do it in a second. The only shows I watch is Game of Thrones, Homeland, Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy. Kids like to watch Netflix.