Dropped Cable TV Today

[aja8888]

They have to. As part of the Comcast NBC deal they had to promise to provide reasonably priced high speed internet alone with no requirement to order TV or other services.


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Are you sure the words highlighted be me above were part of that deal?

 

[Chuckanut]

The actual word should be affordable, not reasonable. Furthermore, they were required to make it easy for people to select.

http://bgr.com/2012/06/29/comcast-fine-fcc-broadband-2012/

 

[easysurfer]

Does Comcast let you have high speed internet without having some basic level of TV service?

That's what I have, just internet with Comcast.

As for the price, I have the service for 19.99/month for 12 years, after that price goes up to 39.99 a month. That's the slowest internet speed they offer.

Overall, I am quite happy with the connection compared to what I had before (different provider).

Surprisingly, when I ordered there wasn't a hard sell to add TV services . This could be because I ordered online and not by phone.

But yes, I needed some digging around to see the internet only offer.

 

[steelyman]

Well! That was easy!

It arrived a day early, Amazon must be searching the woods for The Fugitive and threw it on the deck on their way by.

Last night I only used the TV with HDMI input. There is an older one I also like, but it has the three RCA-type jacks. I suppose I would need a converter - I am using a Roku 3. Any tips on those welcome.

Great advice and extra eyes here - thanks!

 

[Cobra9777]

Well! That was easy!

It arrived a day early, Amazon must be searching the woods for The Fugitive and threw it on the deck on their way by.

Last night I only used the TV with HDMI input. There is an older one I also like, but it has the three RCA-type jacks. I suppose I would need a converter - I am using a Roku 3. Any tips on those welcome.

Great advice and extra eyes here - thanks!

Roku 3 is HDMI only. Roku 2 and prior supported both HDMI and analog RCA output. You could have saved about $50 with the Roku 2 as well. I suppose you could buy a digital-to-analog converter box, but that seems like a waste. I'd be more inclined to upgrade the older TV, or buy a second Roku 2 just for that older TV.

 

[DallasGuy]

I bought a Channel Master DVR+ (over the air DVR) in Dec. 2014. This week at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, Channel Master announced that they will be doing a software upgrade to their DVR+ in March that will now stream additional channels (Linear TV) from the internet...another source of "free" content. This was an unexpected benefit of the Channel Master DVR+.

Channel Master LinearTV Makes TV Internet Easy

 

[tuixiu]

Last night I only used the TV with HDMI input. There is an older one I also like, but it has the three RCA-type jacks. I suppose I would need a converter - I am using a Roku 3. Any tips on those welcome.

Great advice and extra eyes here - thanks!

I've seen HDMI to RCA converters for about $20, but I agree with Cobra you might as well just spend $60 and get a Roku2 that is compatible with your older TV. Having two would be really nice not to have to fiddle with cables and plugs every time you wanted to switch TVs.

 

[DUFUS]

Been in this house for 25 years now and have never had cable TV. Big ol' antenna and rotor on a tower/mast straight out of the 60's. I get ~50 channels, up to 60 miles away. Of course, a lot of those are duplicates from different cities. PBS is about all I need anyway.
After ER'ing about two years ago I finally bought a BluRay player and wireless router (and simple as it may have been, I paid for BestBuy Geeks to get it working) and learned me about Netflix and Pandora. That's more than I need.
I'm not even sure I understand what Roku is.

 

[nun]

I dropped cable TV about a year and just kept an internet connection. My bill went from $110/month to $49.99/month.

I have a digital antenna that gets me 24 channels on my TV including 5 PBS channels, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox and local movie channels, oldies network etc.

You can watch a lot on youtube for free, lots of international sport is free on the internet (I watch soccer and cycling) and if you are interested in foreign TV using a proxy server works well

 

[ziggy29]

It's my understanding that live streams on WatchESPN are only available if you get ESPN as part of a cable or satellite TV subscription. Internet-only subscribers get access to ESPN3 only. I believe that is true for all providers. Here's a link to their explanation. So I'm curious how you were able to watch the College Football Playoffs.

Yes, WatchESPN is a streaming service for people already subscribing to cable or satellite providers with arrangements and agreements with the ESPN empire. ESPN3, on the other hand, provides additional programming online for anyone with an ISP that offers it. We have AT&T DSL at home and they do offer ESPN3, even when we cut the cord, which should be within the next month or so as we line up all our ducks and learn to full our holes.

As for ESPN there will be the new Sling service mentioned above with ESPN (and a few other channels) for $20 a month and it will be on Roku and others. That could be good for a sports junkie who would otherwise cut the cable, but it *only* shows live feeds (no DVR, no archived content) which would make it a showstopper for me.

 

[INTJ10]

This thread inspired me. We had a phone/internet/cable package from TWC. We bought a $12 antenna, put it in the attic and found we get about 30 channels over the air. We didn't want to give up our phone # so we signed up for Vonage Basictalk ($12/mth). Switched internet to Earthlink so we get the same internet speed. We are saving about $80/mth.


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[W2R]

This thread inspired me. We had a phone/internet/cable package from TWC. We bought a $12 antenna, put it in the attic and found we get about 30 channels over the air. We didn't want to give up our phone # so we signed up for Vonage Basictalk ($12/mth). Switched internet to Earthlink so we get the same internet speed. We are saving about $80/mth.

Congratulations! It's amazing how much fun it is to have $80/month extra to spend on other things.

I don't miss cable TV a bit, and in fact I wonder why I even tolerated it before. In my case I am saving $110/month. I have a homemade OTA antenna and Amazon Prime, and that is enough TV for me.

 

[shasta]

We will be trying to live with just the internet (cable 50Mb/s). Streaming video programs through a Roku 2 when we want. Subscribing to Netflix as the only paid service right now.

Eliminated HBO and streaming Xfinity as well. Cut our cable bill from about $149/month to about $65/month.

Comcast gets a lot of negative publicity but in this matter we found them easy and efficient to deal with.

Are there any other paid streaming services you think are worth it? We're not sports fans....More ER fans. Planning to get there in 2 years, so preparing now. Hence the cable cutting.....

I have been all streaming services since the early 200X years but recently just added cable.

Out of my experience with Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, Playstation Network, iTunes store, XBOX video etc....

I say Amazon Prime is the best value.

The Amazon prime video selection is now as good as Netflix streaming / rotating library and you get that plus all of the other Amazon prime benefits for $100 / year vs Netflix $96 / year for just streaming.

I personally pay for

- Basic package cable TV + Broadband internet
- Amazon prime
- ala carte movies from iTunes store, XBOX video etc... before they hit Netflix / Amazon Prime video.
- Annual XBOXlive membership for digital content.

This is all I need.

 

[steelyman]

Last night I only used the TV with HDMI input. There is an older one I also like, but it has the three RCA-type jacks. I suppose I would need a converter - I am using a Roku 3. Any tips on those welcome.

My "problem" has been solved by taking the suggestions to add a Roku 2 to the mix. The HDMI-challenged hardware is now happy (w/new RCA-type composite cables included in the box!).

 

[Bamaman]

Every 6 months, I complain to Comcast and they cut my bills $30ish per month. We love their office personnel in our town, but they're quick to tell you they have limited authority to offer compromise deals. They say talk to the telephone people (from India and The Phillipines) to get better programs.

I'm hung on their fast internet service. But don't think it's unlimited internet. My daughter got into Netflix too much, and we got hit with $20 one month in excess data charges. You cannot look at internet television all day long or you'll experience very expensive surcharges.

As a young retiree, we have too much time to watch television. We still get our money's worth. I am considering installing a roof mount amplified antennae to see if our 60 mile away television signals are receivable.

 

[hesperus]

Cut the cord couple of years ago, but I am now seeing the cable company price creep on their internet only package. Charter just bumped their pricing by 10% to 60 bucks a month. These cable companies see the writing on the wall, and are now trying to protect their control in the broadband market. We need more competition and more choice for ISP's.

 

[Chuckanut]

These cable companies see the writing on the wall, and are now trying to monopolize the broadband market to protect their ridiculous pricing schemes.

I am shocked! Shocked!

We need a healthy dose of free market capitalism and competition in this area.

 

[hesperus]

I am shocked! Shocked!

We need a healthy dose of free market capitalism and competition in this area.

You appear to be easily shocked

 

[fritz]

We've been using OTA (attic antenna) TV for a few years now and don't miss cable. Use Tivo for DVR and OTA programming as well as streaming music (free with subscription). Tried Netflix and Hulu, but found them lacking in current stuff we like. Might try Amazon one of these days, but get aro. 80 channels of free TV in the Chgo area OTA (several are movie channels).

Always get reminded how bad cable really is when we go south for the winter and rely on cable (no DVR here or streaming in rental). Have been finding this year that the allotted advertising time by cable channels is as long as regular programming. Timed it just the other night and it was 5~6 min of ads and around 5 min. of programming - pretty consistent. The local business ads are the worst (those inserted over the national ads). Don't see how people put up with it.

 

[NoiseBoy]

That is exactly what I did with Comcast. I called and asked for basic cable which is about 20 channels - all the local ones, plus some shopping and weather channels. The difference from their non-HD digital starter package to basic cable (also non-HD) was a 60% reduction in the monthly cost. I don't use Comcast for internet access.

I agree that, if you don't need/want HD, Comcast offers an affordable basic TV option. Unfortunately, I really enjoy the video quality of live sports in HD, so I'm stuck paying for their digital starter tier to get it. I'm paying ~$45/month for cable and I don't get ESPN, WGN, TBS, ESPN2, FX, etc. Frustrating. More antenna experiments to follow.

 

[Corporate ORphan]

We got rid of cable about the time we retired 6 years ago. Now we use an attenna and DVDs from the library. (Much cheaper than cable!!)


I am looking for an internet supplier in St Louis other than AT&T and CHarter. Currently we have AT&T and every 6 months I have to complain because our rates go up. We had cable from Charter years ago and had issues with them not crediting our account with our payment but taking the $$$. ANy suggestions? WE still have a landline with AT&T.

 

[hesperus]

We got rid of cable about the time we retired 6 years ago. Now we use an attenna and DVDs from the library. (Much cheaper than cable!!)


I am looking for an internet supplier in St Louis other than AT&T and CHarter. Currently we have AT&T and every 6 months I have to complain because our rates go up. We had cable from Charter years ago and had issues with them not crediting our account with our payment but taking the $$$. ANy suggestions? WE still have a landline with AT&T.

I'm not sure about St Louis, but many communities, especially larger cities, do have broadband alternatives to the the larger cable companies . However, these are often wireless or DSL connections, which typically are not as fast as cable connections. For streaming, they may not compare favorably to high speed cable. However, you don't know what they offer until you contact them. Google your zipcode or do a search in the yellow pages for 'broadband' or 'internet service providers'. You may be surprised with a few local providers.

 

[John Galt III]

We've been using OTA (attic antenna) TV for a few years now and don't miss cable. Use Tivo for DVR and OTA programming as well as streaming music (free with subscription). Tried Netflix and Hulu, but found them lacking in current stuff we like. Might try Amazon one of these days, but get aro. 80 channels of free TV in the Chgo area OTA (several are movie channels).

Always get reminded how bad cable really is when we go south for the winter and rely on cable (no DVR here or streaming in rental). Have been finding this year that the allotted advertising time by cable channels is as long as regular programming. Timed it just the other night and it was 5~6 min of ads and around 5 min. of programming - pretty consistent. The local business ads are the worst (those inserted over the national ads). Don't see how people put up with it.

Agree about the commercials. This is the death spiral for some segment of TV. More annoying commercials, therefore more cancellations of overpriced cable, therefore more cable price increases, and on and on. Sometimes I think I am the only person left who is not avoiding the commercials. I pay $93 per month for expanded basic. All I watch is college football in the Fall, but the gf watches a lot of game shows on the game show channel, Jeopardy, and lots of cop shows. My internet setup is from the Mesozoic era of computers: don't want to upgrade which I would have to do, to get all the newfangled stuff, to avoid cable tv. Plus the gf has to have her game shows. I get about 8 free channels OTA, but even with that, there are only a couple things worth watching, usually on PBS. We enjoy going out to good movies, for $8 each for senior tickets. Well worth it for the "night out" experience. But there aren't many movies worth seeing , only about 2 per month. As another poster mentioned, DVD's from library are a great idea. I'm currently watching Breaking Bad on a free DVD from the lib, and the lack of commercials is just sooooooooooooo delicious!

 

[davismills]

We're getting ready to drop DISH. The dreaded price increases every year are frustrating. Rokus on every TV, Netflix streaming, OTA antenna in the attic. Don't forget to sign up for coupons at Redbox. I usually only pay 54 cents for a blue ray disc with the coupons.

 

[Hyper]

Netflix -$8 mth. Nothing else. That way I don't have to watch the news and my blood pressure stays lower, plus we don't watch a whole lot of tv anyway. Too much life to live!!!!!!