Cutting Cable... What to get instead

[disneydeal]

Here in KC I have access to Google Fiber. Currently have TWC.. Both options are $125+ per month.

We have 5 TV's and I'm thinking of canceling cable, buying rabbit ears for 3 TV's then maybe use my Chromecast to stream Hula and or Sling to the other 2 TV's and/or buy a Roku3
Thoughts?

 

[Disneyliscious]

I haven't had cable/satellite (or anything other than free tv) in over 20 years. Thats $12000 or more I never paid for tv so I'm all for your decision. In fact, I could easily say that not paying for tv has paid for 3 of my Disney trips over the past 20 years. Not a bad trade off.

I do have internet and surf the web a lot. Just not a tv kind of person really so its something I never missed. Cut the cable and enjoy it!

 

[crisi]

We have Rokus, Chromecast, Smart TVs and the XBox all being used to deliver content. Each has advantages and disadvantages. I like the Roku best myself, although the Chromecast is nice as well.

Do understand that sports on this model are still difficult - not impossible. And that if you go whole hog on subscriptions or buying individual episodes or add on channels you can end up not saving money at all.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't had cable/satellite (or anything other than free tv) in over 20 years. Thats $12000 or more I never paid for tv so I'm all for your decision. In fact, I could easily say that not paying for tv has paid for 3 of my Disney trips over the past 20 years. Not a bad trade off.

I do have internet and surf the web a lot. Just not a tv kind of person really so its something I never missed. Cut the cable and enjoy it!

Sacramento didn't even get cable until 29 years ago, so it's still new here compared to other cities. My issue is that few of the things I want to watch are available other than on cable or satellite.

 

[cedricandsophie]

There is a lot of stuff available via Netflix or Amazon prime. Netflix is maybe 6 or 8 a month while Amazon prime is about 100 a year. Also for sports there is yahoo sports app which allows you to watch highlights. And for football there is the nfl network app which gives you access to full games and highlights. I pay about 100 a year for that. But we're kind of tv junkies so we have full cable too. Can't miss Outlander on Starz or House of Lies on Showtime. We pay about 200 a month for cable here in Chicago for five tvs, three of which are HD and all have DVrs for recording.

 

[niffer5150]

we cut cable a year ago and don't miss it at all. we have amazon prime, netflix, and hulu. there's very little we can't watch watch. one tv is a smart tv, one is hooked up to the wifi via blueray player, and one is hooked up using the nintendo wii. the smart tv is the worst option because it takes forever to connect.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I love my roku, and the box comes with plenty of other channels as well. I usually just use the t.v. for noise.

 

[Princess Minnie321]

We cut cable almost a year ago and do not miss it at all. We are saving $100 per month. We have a roku 2 for each TV and a digital antenna for our family room tv. We have Netflix, cbs all access, Hulu plus, and Amazon prime. I do not watch much on prime so I would not let this unless you wanting the free shipping. Every show I watched on cable, I can watch on cbs all access and Hulu plus. We have had Netflix for years and there are a couple of their shows that I really like.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Love our Hulu, especially the ad-free version. Current network shows (not all though) a day after they air. Excellent quality on our Samsung Smart TV.

 

[davper]

Do any of you use universal remotes?
The only thing preventing me from cutting cable is my wife can't navigate the different devices. So I was thinking about a programmable remote that has clearly marked buttons to start the proper devices.

 

[olliesmom]

We don't have cable either! We have an Apple TV, and pay about $16 per month for our subscriptions to Netflix and Crave TV (Canadian streaming service).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Here in KC I have access to Google Fiber. Currently have TWC.. Both options are $125+ per month.

We have 5 TV's and I'm thinking of canceling cable, buying rabbit ears for 3 TV's then maybe use my Chromecast to stream Hula and or Sling to the other 2 TV's and/or buy a Roku3
Thoughts?

Have you thought about trading down your cable on the way to eliminating it? If you get just tv/internet with 70 channels, you can start weaning your way off cable (and keeping most sports), and come in under $100/month (even with taxes and equipment for 1/2 tvs - I wouldn't have equipment for 5 - I would get rabbit ears for 3 b/c I bet you don't use all 5 equally)...

 

[disneydeal]

Have you thought about trading down your cable on the way to eliminating it? If you get just tv/internet with 70 channels, you can start weaning your way off cable (and keeping most sports), and come in under $100/month (even with taxes and equipment for 1/2 tvs - I wouldn't have equipment for 5 - I would get rabbit ears for 3 b/c I bet you don't use all 5 equally)...

I'm thinking rabbit ears for 3 bedroom TVs, Roku3 for living room, use Wii for Hulu in basement and use my Chromecast here and there thru phone mirroring

 

[DawnM]

We had direct TV for years. IT was around $60 when we started with 2 TVs and two tivos. Then it went up, and up, and finally got over $100/mo and we said enough.

We got a nice rooftop antenna and had all of our TVs hooked up to that. We also got Roku boxes and Netflix and Hulu.

The one thing I missed was the ability to pause and record live TV, so I found out that I could get Tivo boxes with lifetime service on Ebay.

Then DH started working from home and said he needed faster speed internet. His work would cover $40 or so per month for the added cost. Well, TWC told me that with the increased speed internet cost, we could pay around $35/mo more and get cable TV. Since I knew the Tivo boxes would work with cable also, I did that, so we now have cable TV again.

This is my long way of giving you options:

1. Find out how much more TV is actually costing you.

If you still want to get rid of it:

2. Netflix and Hulu would work.

3. Get a good quality antenna unless you happen to live in the city and don't need a good one.

4. Tivo Boxes may be a great option AND they will stream net flix and Hulu as well.

 

[kdisser]

I hate cable and find it a waste... Instead we use the "rabbit ears" (ours is more of a plate type rectangle) I absolutely love it! And fun fact move it around the house, try a bit of foil on the top, VOILA more channels.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Do any of you use universal remotes?
The only thing preventing me from cutting cable is my wife can't navigate the different devices. So I was thinking about a programmable remote that has clearly marked buttons to start the proper devices.

I use a Logitech Harmony 650 for my TV, Apple TV, Blu-Ray player, and cable box (my roommate pays for cable because she watches sports; if it were up to me we wouldn't have it). It took some getting used to, and the input switching doesn't always happen the way it's meant to, but it's not hard to navigate.

 

[docsoliday1]

I got rid of satellite over 2 years ago. I got an HD antenna for the roof so we get local channels (mostly for the few network shows we like). Signed up for netflix and hulu for $8 each/month and immediately saved over $80/month (not to mention the additional directv was wanting to charge me to replace THEIR defective equipment). I also have Amazon prime and between those 3, it's way more than I can ever watch in a couple of lifetimes. The real advantage is when you find a show you like, you don't have to wait a week for the next episode and for netflix and amazon, no commercials! I'm about ready to ditch hulu because they still have way too many commercials given the fact I'm paying them...figure it out hulu!

I'm glad I switched...I get to watch what I want when I want to watch it vs. if it just happens to be on when I can watch AND saving a bunch of money each month.

 

[supersnoop]

Do any of you use universal remotes?
The only thing preventing me from cutting cable is my wife can't navigate the different devices. So I was thinking about a programmable remote that has clearly marked buttons to start the proper devices.

I've found it easier to simply use one device. We've got a TiVo with an antenna, and it has options for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon that are all as easy as choosing a recorded show. I have a TiVo remote with a slide-out keyboard to make searching easy.

I use a Logitech Harmony remote in my media room where I have lots of different devices; VCR, DVD, game systems, A/V receiver and projector. That makes it easy to start an "activity," but I don't think it would be any easier to navigate streaming options.

 

[RainSW6]

We haven't had cable in over 5 years and it's not been missed. We don't have a universal remote, we just use the regular remote that came with our smart tv to watch YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon. We used to have Hulu as well, but actually cancelled that about a year ago. We hardly ever used it, and had more than enough stuff to watch on the other streaming services.

The only downside is that my kids have zero patience for commercials when we watch tv at someone else's house lol.

 

[jmmess]

I'm interested in cutting the cable bill too, but here are my questions...

1. Do you have to watch everything in real time? (Commercials? Exactly at the time the show airs?)
2. Can you record shows?
3. Can you watch live sports (mainly football for DH)?
4. What's the difference between Roku, Chromecast, Apple, Sling,...?

I've been trying to read up, but just feel more and more confused. TIA!