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Old 03-01-2014, 06:20 PM   #41
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Originally Posted by happy2bretired View Post
I tried Hulu once and didn't like it because of the ads, but for the $$, I might be willing to try it again if I ever decide to get rid of cable.
The worst thing about hulu+ is the ads are all the same. It is bad enough there are ads, but seeing the same commercial over and over again is painful. Having been spoiled by a DVR, I find it is tough to go back to commercials again.
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Old 03-01-2014, 06:34 PM   #42
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The worst thing about hulu+ is the ads are all the same. It is bad enough there are ads, but seeing the same commercial over and over again is painful. Having been spoiled by a DVR, I find it is tough to go back to commercials again.
+1

We did the free one week trial of Hulu+ and were totally turned off by the commercials. We ended up with subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video (already had it). Between those two and OTA broadcasts (many captured on our DVR) we're never at a loss for something we want to watch.
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Old 03-01-2014, 08:13 PM   #43
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Cut the cable cord 8 months ago at the start of ER. Used to pay $129/month for Charter Internet/TV; now paying $45. We go with OTA and Netflix streaming thru the Apple TV. Also lowered phone bill for 2 ATT iPhones from $95 to $40/month. By my calculations that's $1668/year in savings from pre-ER costs.
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Old 03-02-2014, 06:23 AM   #44
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I haven't compared costs recently, but in the past I checked about dropping to just internet service with Comcast, and found that our internet cost would go up on a monthly basis. That may or may not be true.

What we did is drop down to the lowest TV package with internet -- about $78 per month. That is $14 for TV, $62 for internet (which includes $8 for the modem).

We had been able to take advantage of various promotions by calling every six months or so, and getting them to drop our total cost to $100-110 per month. At same point (maybe when they started building luxury office tower in Phila.) they would not drop the cost at all. So we are saving $20-100 per month, depending on how you want to calculate savings.

We added Netflix at $12-14 per month, and looking forward to the day when there will be true competition in this business.
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Old 03-02-2014, 07:01 AM   #45
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When my bandwidth isn't constipated, this works well enough. The problem is that my DSL service (no real alternatives here) AND I have to extend the network from the church office to here because they aren't accepting new customers (which slows it down), and it often gets constipated to the point where this is unusable for a while. If that ever resolves itself here, I'll be a dish-ditcher too and get an outdoor OTA antenna thrown up somewhere.
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Old 03-02-2014, 08:05 AM   #46
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I am/was paying near $200 per month. Internet, phone and TV.

I am making the same transition. I could give up my landline quite yet, so I went to Magic Jack. Internet goes up, and phone price goes down. Savings is $13 per month.

Now it's onto the TV. I bought a Roku box. I am putting up an outdoor digital TV antenna, and replace my analog antenna that has not been used in many years. It will run on my cable that is already routed. I plan on subscribing to Hulu+ and Amazon (next time I order something)

I should have a better subscription, and save over $100 per month. There are a new new/business channels I will miss, but the savings will be worth it. I can watch the clips on the internet anyway.
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Old 03-02-2014, 08:25 AM   #47
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Would love to dump cable TV. unfortunatrly DW is addicted to several SciFi channels. And cooking shows, and.... oh well.
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Old 03-02-2014, 08:48 AM   #48
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We are paying $205.00 per month for internet, tv and phone through Comcast. Our 2 yr contract is up in August of this year and I will be making some changes. I am really hoping that I can get DH on board.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:11 AM   #49
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I cut the cord 5 years ago. I'm using an attic mounted antenna connected to a TivoHD. The Tivo service charge is $10.75/month when I prepay for a year. I also have Netflix streaming and Comcast internet service. I don't pay a cable modem charge, as I bought my cable modem when I joined for $90 - it paid for itself in 11 months.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:33 AM   #50
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We are paying $205.00 per month for internet, tv and phone through Comcast. Our 2 yr contract is up in August of this year and I will be making some changes. I am really hoping that I can get DH on board.
For most people, I think it comes down to how much do you like sports. Pretty much everything else can be obtained over the air or through some streaming service for a much lower price. The cable companies have a lock on sports.

Once you start streaming you do discover shows that are not available on your cable. Of course just like cable, there is a lot of crap to wade through. Just depends on what you like. If you don't need to see the shows the second they originally air, then you might love streaming. For example, I have never seen an episode of Breaking Bad. But it is available on Netflix. I intend to stream the entire series this April. When Breaking Bad was originally airing, I had cable that included AMC. I could have easily watched it or had one of the tivo boxes grab it. But by waiting, I get reviews from other people and can binge watch it when I have the time. Some shows watch better when you don't have to wait weeks or months between episodes.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:34 AM   #51
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I am putting up an outdoor digital TV antenna, and replace my analog antenna that has not been used in many years.
I'd recommend trying to use the old antenna before buying a new one, unless it's broken. There is no difference between a "digital" antenna and an "analog" antenna, it's a marketing ploy. I hooked up the old antenna (circa 1963) on the chimney and changed out all the coax because it was frayed and broken in several spots. This setup works much better than the old antenna that was in the attic since the signal has to pass thru walls. I've even made the home made wire hanger antenna's and they definitely work pulling in digital stations as well and I made this thing back when it was only analog.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:38 AM   #52
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[QUOTE=target2019;1422092]I haven't compared costs recently, but in the past I checked about dropping to just internet service with Comcast, and found that our internet cost would go up on a monthly basis. That may or may not be true.

What we did is drop down to the lowest TV package with internet -- about $78 per month. That is $14 for TV, $62 for internet (which includes $8 for the modem).
[/QUOTE

Comcast told me the same thing.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:43 AM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by target2019 View Post
I haven't compared costs recently, but in the past I checked about dropping to just internet service with Comcast, and found that our internet cost would go up on a monthly basis. That may or may not be true.

What we did is drop down to the lowest TV package with internet -- about $78 per month. That is $14 for TV, $62 for internet (which includes $8 for the modem).
Comcast told me the same thing.
TWC told me the same thing. I mentioned that a new FIOS solution was just introduced to the area and the flyer I received advertised an intro price. They almost instantly matched it.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:45 AM   #54
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What we did is drop down to the lowest TV package with internet -- about $78 per month. That is $14 for TV, $62 for internet (which includes $8 for the modem).
I bet you could buy that modem on Amazon for around $30.00 and own it outright, and then reduce your bill by an additional $8.00/month.
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:50 AM   #55
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So Mike Rowe had this plastic glove on up to his shoulder and was doing something terrible to a cow. I looked over at my wife and said, "you realize we are paying to watch this."
Good one!
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Old 03-02-2014, 09:57 AM   #56
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I'd do it in a minute, but DW refuses. More and more are doing it, the cable bills are just outrageous. Ours is $160 a month for phone, cable, and internet.
Why not try it for a couple of months? You can always subscribe again but DW may be pleasantly surprised. Not only that but if you do re-subscribe, you may get a better deal if they are offering specials.
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Old 03-02-2014, 10:07 AM   #57
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I just subscribed to Netflix last month and am disappointed with how few recent movies they have available. On-demand has way more of that content...at a high price of course.
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Old 03-02-2014, 10:12 AM   #58
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I just subscribed to Netflix last month and am disappointed with how few recent movies they have available.
You understand the movies they have available via streaming change every month?

New to Netflix Instant Streaming March 2014
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Old 03-02-2014, 10:17 AM   #59
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I called Comcast yesterday, chatted online with someone from sales, and asked if I cancel, how long before I can come back and qualify for the new customer rates?

That prompted them to offer, in writing via the transcript chat, the Blast Plus package, 45 channels plus Internet at "up to" 55 mps download, for $45 a month. No contract and one year rate guarantee.

I am buying my own modem from Amazon with my Christmas gift card money so that will save the $8 a month modem fee.

We replaced the landline with Ooma last year so that is only about $3 a month in random taxes or fees for phone service.

I guess we will have cable at least one more year. I don't think I can get a lower rate than that for Internet alone for that speed.
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Old 03-02-2014, 10:23 AM   #60
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I don't know why people get basic cable when they could just get an antenna and have perfectly clear HDTV for the basic channels. I don't even need a roof antenna, rabbit ears work fine. All the new TVs have built in tuners, all that is needed is an antenna.
Except for a PBS channel, we are too far away from the other broadcast stations even with a roof antenna. But the low property taxes make up for it.
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