Saving $ by getting rid of cable/satellite

[marcyinPA]

We have the cheapest DISH plan available. It's the family plan...we pay $26 something a month and get all the local channels. We don't get Disney or TLC (which was a tough adjustment for me, as I loved TLC) but we do get every NICK known to mankind, and FoodNetwork and DIY which is what I mostly watch.

It's cheaper than cable for us...we couldn't go without anything!

 

[muscarello4]

We are pulling in HDTV over the air. We bought a $60 amplified antenna from Best Buy. It is as small as a DVD player and sits on top of the TV. It pulls in NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, Qubo, and FOX (all in HD.) Can't beat the FREE bill every month.

We do the 1 at a time Netflix for $9 ish per month.

We are very happy with the decision. We were paying $70-80 per month for Dish. Ugh!

 

[tapplebapple]

I have been in the exact same boat as you lately. I need Disney, Cartoon Network and Nick. I have been looking into AppleTV as a solution for getting these stations. You can buy a season pass for almost all of the shows on these channels. If you look on iTunes (the shows are all here) you can price out the shows your kids watch. Be aware that the price they initially show is the price for the HD Season Pass, if you click on the side for the SD Season Pass you will find it costs half as much. I definitely don't think my daughter will know the difference between HD and SD at this point in her life. I calculated that it would cost about $300 per year on the very generous side to get a season pass for all the shows she remotely likes. They release the newest shows 24 hours after they were released on TV and they download automatically if you have the AppleTV. You need a computer and iTunes account to do this, but it does not need to be an Apple computer, PC's work too. Then for the local channels for me, I will probably try to see what I can get over the air first, but if that doesn't work, I can get the most basic Comcast package which is local channels only for about $12/month.

I haven't decided what to do yet, I guess I am holding out hope that Santa may bring me an AppleTV and help me make up my mind

 

[DVCBELLE]

So many ideas to consider!!!!

My parents are getting us a blu-ray for Christmas so I made sure that it has the netflix option! This will give me a chance to try out the netflix option and see what I want.

I want a DVR b/c I want to pull my local channels for free and watch them. I want to make sure my shows are recorded and available as soon as I want them and not have to wait. If I have time to watch a show as it airs - I want to do that with the DVR option.

Maybe I will buy an Apple TV and a Tivo HD and be set - so much to think about. The cost outlay might be high at first but in the end it will end up saving me a ton! I like the idea of buying the Tivo and recording shows for a month. I think we could get just about everything if we do that! And then only have to get the new ones as they come along!