I discovered that there are a ton of documentaries available on you tube. The history channel, bbc, discovery channel, national geographic channel, biography channel, and many more are there for your watching and listening pleasure.
These are often the only things really worthwhile to see on TV anyway, and what I would miss if I had no access to cable.
Want to learn about the Tibetan book of the dead, Buddhism, the US constitution, the history of Ancient Greece? Super easy to do while you are cooking, relaxing, or even walking. I like the narration more than the visuals so I listen while I walk, which I do instead of using the car. A real treasure trove.