Suggestions for cutting the Cable TV cord?

[sam_gordon]

My wife is a huge fan of our three local PBS stations, along with their Create TV channel. Haven't found a good way to incorporate them into our alternate options. Thoughts anyone?

Over the air (OTA) broadcast. Put up an antenna and watch that way.

 

[Farro]

Every time one of these threads gets posted, I read through all the comments and add to my research. I think I have our potential channel line up figured out, but I'm curious what you do for your Internet provider? If we cut our cable cord (Fios) we pay nearly as much for simple Internet services.

I don't mean to thread hijack, it's just part of the cord cutting discussion I don't often see brought up.

We use AT&T Fiber and it is most excellent!!! If offered in your area, we highly recommend.

 

[Deb]

My wife is a huge fan of our three local PBS stations, along with their Create TV channel. Haven't found a good way to incorporate them into our alternate options. Thoughts anyone?

I'm in the Charlotte area and get 3 PBS stations with YoutubeTV. Sorry I've not heard of Create TV

 

[firefly_ris]

I use an antenna (free...minus initial cost of antenna -- I use a rooftop ChannelMaster), and am subscribed to the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle (12.99/month). We also use PlutoTV (free) And the last part, a bit shady, I use my BIL's login for ESPN. We don't watch too much so I don't have anything else.

 

[supernova]

Over the air (OTA) broadcast. Put up an antenna and watch that way.

Tried that, actually. Was AWFUL in my area for some reason. Couldn't get anything to come in. So odd....

 

[sam_gordon]

Tried that, actually. Was AWFUL in my area for some reason. Couldn't get anything to come in. So odd....

Not really odd. Here are some of the factors that go into reliable OTA reception:
1) Selection of receiving antenna
a) UHF/VHF/combo
b) "range" of antenna
c) amplification of antenna
2) Placement of receiving antenna
3) Aiming of receiving antenna
4) Quality of cable between receiving antenna and receiver
5) Topography between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
6) Distance between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
7) Power from transmitting antenna

 

[kdonnel]

Not really odd. Here are some of the factors that go into reliable OTA reception:
1) Selection of receiving antenna
a) UHF/VHF/combo
b) "range" of antenna
c) amplification of antenna
2) Placement of receiving antenna
3) Aiming of receiving antenna
4) Quality of cable between receiving antenna and receiver
5) Topography between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
6) Distance between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
7) Power from transmitting antenna

You left out leaves!

At my last house I could get CBS fine except during the time when the leaves were falling or coming in. Once they were all gone or all back I was golden.

 

[sam_gordon]

You left out leaves!

At my last house I could get CBS fine except during the time when the leaves were falling or coming in.

I did say it's SOME of the factors.

 

[belle032]

We have Hulu Live and are very happy with it. Bundled with Disney+ it's about $65 a month. I turn Netflix on and off depending on what show I'm into. And Amazon Prime video is included with our prime membership.

 

[RamblingMad]

Not really odd. Here are some of the factors that go into reliable OTA reception:
1) Selection of receiving antenna
a) UHF/VHF/combo
b) "range" of antenna
c) amplification of antenna
2) Placement of receiving antenna
3) Aiming of receiving antenna
4) Quality of cable between receiving antenna and receiver
5) Topography between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
6) Distance between receiving antenna and transmitting antenna
7) Power from transmitting antenna

I like Grit and Antenna TV. Lots of oldies OTA that are fun to watch. Heroes is also a good station.

 

[mrodgers]

Every time one of these threads gets posted, I read through all the comments and add to my research. I think I have our potential channel line up figured out, but I'm curious what you do for your Internet provider? If we cut our cable cord (Fios) we pay nearly as much for simple Internet services.

I don't mean to thread hijack, it's just part of the cord cutting discussion I don't often see brought up.

I divorced and got away from Direct right before they sold out to AT&T, or it was shortly after.

I lived rural so internet was through the phone company and TV was satellite. I had an $85 phone bill whether I had DirecTV or not and a landline phone or not.

The savings is much less when you have it all together. Cable seems to be around $130ish around me where all I have is $78 for internet. In comparison when I was out rural, DirecTV was $160, phone and internet $85, and cell phone would have been separate. I had prepaid phones I paid $10/month each phone for text only and $0.10/minute for calling.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Another vote here for YouTubeTV. We have FireSticks, and lots of apps, but we missed our local news. Putting up an antenna did not work for us. YouTubeTV gives you lots of channels and your local feeds for network TV. I also pay for Disney+ on my own. Honestly, getting rid of DirecTV was the best thing we ever did.

 

[mrs. magoo]

Every time one of these threads gets posted, I read through all the comments and add to my research. I think I have our potential channel line up figured out, but I'm curious what you do for your Internet provider? If we cut our cable cord (Fios) we pay nearly as much for simple Internet services.

I don't mean to thread hijack, it's just part of the cord cutting discussion I don't often see brought up.

We are lucky enough to have green light in my area. We went from paying over $250 a month to about $125 a month. Green light has been great for us during the pandemic. When we have issues it is because of the old house not green light.

 

[b2k1121]

Youtube TV is the best of the streaming options due to price and UI but if you want to keep the regional sports network (Fox Sports Florida) to watch the Marlins the only option left is ATT TV Now @ $85/month. YouTube TV dropped all the regional sports networks recently and so did Hulu. The only places to find them now are ATT Now and traditional cable/satellite. I am going to make the switch to ATT Now as soon as the NBA tips off if Youtube TV doesn't get them back by then.

 

[KatMac]

I recommend getting Sling or sone other service like it and each month, get two or three of the various other services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Starz or any of the dozens of others. Watch what interests you on, say HBO and Hulu, them drop it for a few months while you temporarily subscribe to Netflix and Starz. Then drop them and chose a couple others. Eventually go back to HBO and Hulu. This way you don’t end up paying the same as cable to subscribe to dozens of streaming services.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Every time one of these threads gets posted, I read through all the comments and add to my research. I think I have our potential channel line up figured out, but I'm curious what you do for your Internet provider? If we cut our cable cord (Fios) we pay nearly as much for simple Internet services.

I don't mean to thread hijack, it's just part of the cord cutting discussion I don't often see brought up.

We switched from Comcast bundle to
Sonic (Internet)
Hulu Live
Disney +
Amazon prime (well had this already)
Netflix
HBOMax

and still pay $60 less a month than we were before.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Over the air (OTA) broadcast. Put up an antenna and watch that way.

Assume over the air viewing positions.

 

[aprilchem]

We just switched from Hulu to YouTube TV. Both are more expensive than cable TV in my area, but since we have two homes (our regular home and a vacation home) we were looking for something we could subscribe to and use for both places. FWIW, Hulu TV doesn't work for that purpose, but YouTube TV seems to work just fine.

 

[Momof3fromTN]

We dropped Directv 3 years ago and no regrets.We have ATT internet $50 a month by itself. Use a $10 antenna for local channels. Use Philo for cable channels $20 a month. Plus basic hulu, netflix, and disney +. We pay $45 a month total for streaming, so $95 a month for all tv with internet.

 

[sam_gordon]

Anyone wanting to try OTA reception:

Go to antennaweb.org or tvfool.com. Put in your address. What direction are the broadcast towers? How far away are they? Do you need a directional antenna? How strong of one? Are there terrain (hills/mountains) between you and the towers? How tall are they? Are there a lot of trees between you and the towers?