Life without cable TV

[statsman]

What's holding you back from 'cutting cord'?

As mentioned earlier, DW. I also looked at what it would take to replace the channels she would want. Some channels are not readily available with most streaming services. By the time we cobble together 3+ streaming services, the cost savings starts to disappear, while the ease of use for DW also disappears. I get that most here don't see why everyone can't handle multiple streaming services. Most people are not my DW.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Handling multiple streaming services is a PIA.

 

[Cobra9777]

I don't know what all the angst is about "multiple streaming services." The classic cord cutter just uses an antenna and Netflix. Ultra simple with a total cost around $13/mo. If you want to add some popular "cable" channels, Philo is a great option for $20/mo (no sports).

If you can't get OTA or don't want to mess with an antenna, then get YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV for $50-55/mo. These are both great services with all the locals plus 60-70 "cable" channels, tons of sports, on-demand, cloud DVR, traditional guide, the works.

Run it all on Roku or Fire TV. These platforms bring all the streaming services together in one easy-to-use home page, plus lots of additional free content. The devices are cheap, fast, responsive, and updated continually with new functionality. One simple remote. No changing inputs. Great search functionality.

DMIL is 86 and adapted fine with 10-15 minutes of practice after I did a quick demo. She had been paying $225/mo for a cable triple play.

 

[W2R]

Another option that works for some of us, is to cut the cord and instead of instantly signing up for streaming services, think of other things to do.

OK, I *do* have a homemade indoor antenna but I probably don't watch my TV more than two or three hours a year. Frank hooked up my TV to his Netflix account but it has probably been a couple of years since I watched anything that way either.

Once I put the effort into looking for them, I found the world is full of so many interesting and mentally stimulating things to do, that I actually prefer to TV. This may not work for everybody but it does for me. Granted I don't have a spouse or live in SO to placate. It's just me here.

 

[razztazz]

When we got home from our snowbirding and renewed the Cable-internet-phone bundle, we were once again taken aback by a 23% increase in the bill.

First call: I get two channels I didn't know I had removed (HBO and Showtime) and my bill goes back to what it was. I was skeptical, but accepted.

Bill comes...still the price of last statement...

2nd call: Oh..well...no...she was wrong.....So I say, cancel the Cable...I'll keep internet, but of course she can't to that, I have to be sent to another person...

This person offers me another tier of special discounts. This person is called a "retention specialist" and because he is so high up in the chain of bullshite he can offer me a deal that is incomprehensible to me as to what exactly it is, but it's a little cheaper than what I had...I say "NOPE",,,so he puts me on hold and comes back with even better deal...no more understandable to me though, so now I'm getting pissed and giving him some sh!t, like "what is it with you guys, you keep pulling new deals out, and I don't want them!!! Why don't you treat your customers better to begin with and you wouldn't have to go through this ****" ....but then, he wouldn't have a job... eventually he gives up and lets me go...
So, without sports on TV I don't miss it a bit...my wife doesn't miss putting up with my sports, and I don't miss the constant HGTV...

we do have Netflix and Amazon Prime, and occasionally watch it, but mostly the house is peaceful and quiet. Long summer days, no problem.

I suspect I may miss it come football season, if there is football to be watched.

I told them I was being recalled to active duty and sent to Afghanistan. Then they let me cancel.

 

[John Galt III]

I don't know what all the angst is about "multiple streaming services." The classic cord cutter just uses an antenna and Netflix. Ultra simple with a total cost around $13/mo.

Don't you need an internet connection to get Netflix?

 

[aja8888]

Don't you need an internet connection to get Netflix?

Netflix will still mail you DVD's. My SIL in northern Wisconsin gets them as their internet is not fast enough for streaming.

 

[John Galt III]

Netflix will still mail you DVD's. My SIL in northern Wisconsin gets them as their internet is not fast enough for streaming.

Thanks.

 

[aja8888]

Thanks.

It's hard to believe they still do that, but they do.

 

[JustVisitingThisPlanet]

Handling multiple streaming services is a PIA.

I don't find it difficult at all. I rotate over a dozen services, with maybe 2-3 active at any one time. Then put active on pause/cancel a month or two later than activate another. Very easy to do if you use a browser that stores the login/password. And most services will keep favorites/history for anywhere from 9-12 months, maybe longer. Not a bigee to rotate.

You get the content of over a dozen services over a year for the price of just 2-3. And when you go back to a service, it feels new again as it's likely refreshed with content.

 

[Boho]

I just got so sick of Altice/Optimum's lack of customer service, even with my BBB complaint, that I chose to ditch TV, even while they still have time to respond to the complaint (they emailed me to say that couldn't call me and requested I call them but I want communication through the BBB at this point). I tried switching to Verizon for phone and internet without TV, but I'll have to call Verizon during business hours because after I entered my CC number, picked a date for a technician, etc, three of their confirmation emails didn't work.

 

[Bamaman]

I cut the cord after we moved. Despite being close to local tv towers, the pictures were not good.

Went back to Dish TV, Netflix, Roku and Amazon Prime on television. We're home all the time since we're retired.

 

[Ronstar]

I cut the cord in my workshop a couple of months ago. Couldn’t return my cable box to xfinity because xfinity store was closed for coronavirus. Now it’s boarded up.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Never paid for cable in my life. It came free with an apartment I rented once back in the 1980s. Life without cable has been most excellent. Of course, I haven't seen any of those shows that people and the media discuss, but so what?

Back in the early 1980s I had cable TV because I lived in a deep valley that was in a reception shadow for OTA TV. I paid $8 a month. That was before cable TV deregulation legislation in 1984.

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

YTTV tried to whoo me back with a 14 day free trail. Honestly it showed me how useless cable is. $50 a month for just a few channels that are interesting, the rest i get OTA, and I'm not into sports.

I get Internet from a 4GLTE hotspot @ $135 a year, special deal for low income people.

If one is able to get OTA tv signals, then it's a lot easier to live without cable tv today. I can remember when OTA tv was terrible. TV reception was bad and one would be lucky to get 10, maybe 15 channels worth watching. Today with the digital TV signals, if one can get them, it is a dream situation compared to years past.

 

[Chuckanut]

It's hard to believe they still do that, but they do.

There is a lot of good stuff on DVD that never made it to streaming.

 

[Wincherr]

YouTube TV

As an alternative to totally cutting cable, I cannot recommend YouTube TV strong enough. I pay $50 a month plus a few dollars in tax. This includes unlimited DVR. The system is really slick and you get local channels as well. You can use it on multiple TVs.

 

[2cheap2eat]

I had ATT (DirecTv), switched to Spectrum. Both are terrible billing and price-wise. Now I just pay the inflated Spectrum internet only prices and use YouTube TV for most, along with Netflix and Hulu (free from my Sprint phone plan).

 

[airbornesapper]

I love Pluto, I watch that more than any other free service, really enjoy the British channel on demand.

The ad supported NBC Peacock Free service begins July15th as well which I'm looking forward to. I have no problem with ads on a free service, that's the time to run upstairs to get something, hit the restroom or catch up on texts.

I’m a Brit TV fan.... mainly because I’m a Brit (although the better half watches more UK than I)...After years of trying every internet/streaming method going to get free UK TV... improving incrementally, to now near faultless full HD. We have live UK TV (all channels), IPlayer access (All main channels)- although the cost is off-putting.... works out at 8 Cents Canadian a month.... fixed for 3 years (just renewed). Netflix and Prime same method as others.

If any Brit TV fans want to know how I do this I’ll share by PM...

 

[SojoMojo]

I recently got a ROKU and I love it. There's lots of free content, but I have also discovered that there are a lot of bad movies. So far, I'm not paying for any premium TV channels (HBO, Showtime, Apple TV, etc.), but I've been thinking of getting Netflix since they have some interesting shows that I'd like to see.

 

[Rex]

We cut the cord 3 years ago....Love it and never going back.

$80 for internet + $55 for YouTubeTV......

We share YouTube TV with DS and in exchange we use his Netflix and Amazon Prime.

 

[imnontrad]

I had cable for a short while a few years ago. then I tallied up the hours per month that I watched any cable (not available with antenna) show. After seeing the "cost per hour" for the shows, I cancelled.
Yes, every once in a while I enjoy being at a hotel and seeing the cable shows - but not enough to resubscribe.

 

[2177V]

I live near San Francisco so I put up a digital antenna which receives about 15 HD local channels and another 20 standard definition local channels for free. I recently purchased a 82 inch high end samsung Q80 smart TV which has free internet apps to amazon prime, youtube and taped news channels. I used to have youtube TV for sports channels but the virus suspended sports so I cancelled my $40 a month subscription. I current pay nothing until baseball, basketball and football open up from the virus shutdown.

 

[CowgirlUp]

We have no cable or internet hooked up in our house. We do have an antenna, but rarely watch TV anyhow. We also have phones with unlimited internet services. The only service we are paying for are the phones. It’s quiet here

 

[JJpop]

For people who enjoy tv,sports,movies whatever, it is the best entertainment value.
Go out to dinner,a play,a sporting event or a concert and tell me how “expensive” Netflix is. Like always you choose what you pay for. I always get a kick out of the bogleheads forum when some person who regularly posts about investing and has a 7 figure portfolio cancels Netflix because they raised it a dollar or something.