preparing to cut the cable cord

[southern granny]

I am intending to ditch the satellite in March (right after University of Ky wins the NCAA championship).  So I am preparing now.  I just bought chromecast at Best Buy for $29.99.  The set up was very easy.  My internet is not as fast as it was recommended, but we are watching a free show from hulu right now and it is working fine.  My husband built an over the air antenna from scrap wire and wood (we found the instructions on the web) and it is working fine also.  Actually I found a site that streams the UK games, but I will probably still wait until March to disconnect.  But it looks like I am ready.  Bye Bye Dish network. 

[AlanStache]

No Netflix??!?!?!111?!?!?1   :-)

Cable free is easier than you would think, takes a few weeks but becomes normal very quickly (provided sports are resolved).

congrats on cutting the Dish!

[Unionville]

I've never had cable and I'm still a functioning human being.  Most people don't even realize you can still get TV through the air (if you need local news, etc).

[gluskap]

We just cut the cable too!  So happy.  I wish we had done it earlier but hubby fought me on it but eventually I was able to convince him.

[MNM]

FWIW, CBS streamed March Madness last year. I was able to watch a lot of basketball online.

[Davids]

Congrats, trust me, it is not bad once you do it.

[pdxvandal]

Dish's Sling TV will be a game-changer, forcing other cable/satellite companies to follow suit. This is just the beginning of a la carte TV, albeit many years late. I have DirecTV and will be phasing it out once my contract ends in June.

[frugledoc]

I've taken the first step and cancelled movies

[cuethebrew]

I want to do it so bad. But I'm a sports junkie. I haven't found a reasonable workaround. I'll spend twice as much going to the bar. Sling TV seems like a step in the right direction..

[TheThirstyStag]

FWIW, CBS streamed March Madness last year. I was able to watch a lot of basketball online.

Great info.  I agree.  Between the over-the-air games and streamed ones, I was able to access most of them.  The only ones I had issues with were the TruTV and TBS games. 

OP, congrats on cutting the cord.  Love the home-made antenna.  Never look back.

[Booritocat]

We just cut out Direct TV. Took about 20 minutes on the phone with them explaining that we weren't interested in any of their deals and just wanted it gone.  We have a cheap antenna for the local channels and Netflix.  We will miss being able to pause live TV and possibly some sports programming but are up for the challenge. 

[alleykat]

I dropped my cable before Christmas but I have to say I miss it at times. I dont know why really. I guess when I am beat I could just veg out and watch the tube. But I remind myself I did it for a reason.  I watch entirely too much and needed to break the habit. Now, if only I can step away from the computer, I would be cooking with gas.

Good luck.

[OutBy40]

I am intending to ditch the satellite in March (right after University of Ky wins the NCAA championship).  So I am preparing now.  I just bought chromecast at Best Buy for $29.99.  The set up was very easy.  My internet is not as fast as it was recommended, but we are watching a free show from hulu right now and it is working fine.  My husband built an over the air antenna from scrap wire and wood (we found the instructions on the web) and it is working fine also.  Actually I found a site that streams the UK games, but I will probably still wait until March to disconnect.  But it looks like I am ready.  Bye Bye Dish network.

Good for you!  Ditching cable or satellite television is one of the easiest luxury costs to scrap from your list of monthly costs.  And the DIY antenna...I bet your husband gets a little little sense of satisfaction every time you guys watch something on TV.

[OneDogGP]

I cut the cable late last year and for the most part I don't miss it... until I go home and spend time with Mom during the holidays and see some of the cable shows I used to watch.  Then I have to come home and detox once again.

On a good note, I watch more news and feel informed.  On a bad note, I watch more news and shake my head at what's going on in the world.

But I do love not having an $85 a month cable bill.  No doubt there.  And no Hulu, no Netflix, no Prime either!

OneDogGP

[greenshade]

We haven't had cable in 3+ years and I don't miss it at all. We don't pay for Netflix or any other service like that either. We have a digital antennae and the only thing we miss is sports. We listen to NHL and MLB games on the radio sometimes (it's fun!), and most NFL games we want to see are broadcast anyway. We get 3 PBS channels with our antennae, including one that shows home improvement/cooking shows almost exclusive. MeTV airs Batman and Star Trek reruns and all of the networks come in fine, you don't need cable or Netflix in my opinion. We also use the library for DVDs and have been able to rent Game of Thrones and other recent shows with inter library loan.

[Bardo]

Although I have broadcast TV available I stick with Netflix and occasional Hulu; never broadcast TV.  The big problem with broadcast television is that it is still larded with commercials and junk programming.  Netflix is $8/month and lets you choose what you watch and when you watch it, all without commercials.  There's no way I would go back to either cable or broadcast TV.

[BMEPhDinCO]

Why not cut right now?  We watched UK win last year on our regular tv over the air.... we also watched several games on our phones (just google "uk live basketball game").  We've watched the superbowl, world cup, olympics, etc... we haven't had cable since Sept. 2009.

The internet usually opens up all worlds of watching alternatively. 

[HipGnosis]

Although I have broadcast TV available I stick with Netflix and occasional Hulu; never broadcast TV.  The big problem with broadcast television is that it is still larded with commercials and junk programming.  Netflix is $8/month and lets you choose what you watch and when you watch it, all without commercials.  There's no way I would go back to either cable or broadcast TV.

I dropped DI$H (w/ a DVR) a few months ago.  I replaced it with a Channel Master DVR+ (that's the brand and model) OTA DVR.   It cost $250 and a USB HD, but those are one time costs.  It has free (for-life) channel guide - which is rare in the market.  And the Co. has done 2 upgrades (over WiFi) already.  I'm money ahead this month!!
I was surprised at how many OTA channels I get (I am on the edge of a pretty big city) - but about half of them don't interest me at all.   LOTS of classic, old movies!
I have 2 channels that don't always come in clear, unless I 'adjust' the antenna, which makes other channels not be clear... I will be looking for those antenna instructions!

I also got a Roku Stick - I already have Amazon prime. Haven't watched much on there...  mostly just to see what's available (pro-tip; google 'free roku channels').
My internet isn't as fast as they recommend, but it works just fine.
If I were to re-do it, I wouldn't get a Roku Stick simply because the remote isn't IR which means I can't control it with my universal remote.  But there is a web-site that I can control it thru, so I might spend some of my savings on a tablet...

Pro-tip 2;  from my research on the OTA DVRs, I learned that most 'digital' antennas are flat like a magazine and white or black.  You can make them virtually disappear with contact paper.  I used that tip on my DVR.

[StubbledCPA]

I also cut cable back a year or so ago and it has been wonderful.  I still have Netflix and Crunchyroll (yea, I watch some anime from time to time), but that covers most all of my needs.

A couple of wonderful things I have found:
1) streaming a Chrome tab to your Chromecast really opens up your world of streaming :) This lets me essentially get the benefit of Hulu Plus (other than the most recent TV seasons) without paying for the monthly costs.  Just open, stream, and enjoy.  Even better when you install the Mute Hulu Ads app so you don't have to listen to the commercials.  If you really want to laugh at such things, you can even take turns with whoever you are watching with and invent what the actors are saying, lol.
2) If you want to enjoy continuous opportunities for learning, the entire library of TED Talks are also available for you to stream to your Chromecast as well!  I've been taking advantage of this a lot lately.

[MsPeacock]

Congrats! I am waiting on my VOIP set-up to arrive in the mail and then I am cutting FIOS back to internet only. We don't even watch the TV any more, since we can see just about anything we want on Netflix or online. I may get around to a TV antenna at some point, but due to being in a valley I have to have a high powered directional one, likely roof mounted, and it is all more than I wish to deal with. Meh to TV anyhow. YAY to no cable!

[gimp]

Never had TV service in the first place. My friends and I were considering it when we go our first off-campus apartment... seems like an age ago. We realized that parties with a TV end up with a circle of people watching TV silently; parties without a TV are all about cards and talking and having fun.

I'm sure it's saved quite a bit of cash too :) Internet 4 lyfe!

[libertarian4321]

I dropped cable a couple of years back.

I thought I'd miss it.

I don't.

I used to spend hours watching the cable news political bickering shows (Fox News, MSNBC, etc).

Haven't seen them in years, and don't miss them at all, plus, I'm quite sure not watching those shows has helped my blood pressure stay down.  :)

Now I read a lot more, and that's got to be better than watching TV.

[gimp]

I used to spend hours watching the cable news political bickering shows (Fox News, MSNBC, etc).

Haven't seen them in years, and don't miss them at all, plus, I'm quite sure not watching those shows has helped my blood pressure stay down.  :)

THIS WEEK ON CONSTANTLY-ON NEWS

ARE LIBERAL COMMUNIST TERRORISTS POSING AS REPUBLICAN FASCIST POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN EXCHANGE FOR COCAINE?

FIND OUT AT TEN!

[OSUBearCub]

I cut the cable with the help of a Roku box and over-the-air antenna.  Roku has so many free apps to access all sorts of streaming media.  Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to drop either Netflix or Hulu.  Not so much for the financial benefit but more for the "you cut the cable to read more, now quit figuring out new and exciting ways to watch more tv" reason. Ha ha.

[I'm a red panda]

I don't miss cable at all. I used to watch a lot of junk that I really don't miss.

I do follow a sport, that I get on an internet site  for a reasonable yearly fee. Occasionally that site is blacked out and it is aired on NBC instead. NBC is the one channel I can't always pick up on my antenna, so I make arrangements to watch at a neighbor's once or twice a year. The cost of a bottle of wine to thank them is way less than the cost of cable, so it all works fine. 

[eyePod]

Doesn't CBS stream all of the games in the tourney for free?

Just remember, you don't actually need HD and your life quality doesn't degrade when you don't have it. Marketing on it really worked though.

[SpicyMcHaggus]

I don't miss cable at all.
I love the extra time it gives me.
Instead of sitting on the couch waiting for bed time, I am cleaning, cooking, managing my money, or walking the dog.

[rocksinmyhead]

I cut the cable with the help of a Roku box and over-the-air antenna.  Roku has so many free apps to access all sorts of streaming media.  Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to drop either Netflix or Hulu.  Not so much for the financial benefit but more for the "you cut the cable to read more, now quit figuring out new and exciting ways to watch more tv" reason. Ha ha.

OMG it's so true. We've never had cable but we got a Roku with Hulu and Amazon Prime a year ago (plus we use our friend's HBO GO password), and it's way too much!!! I've turned into a standard American couch potato and I need to take a step back. LOL.

I don't miss cable at all.
I love the extra time it gives me.
Instead of sitting on the couch waiting for bed time, I am cleaning, cooking, managing my money, or walking the dog.

yeah, THIS is what I need to get back to :)

[I'm a red panda]

Doesn't CBS stream all of the games in the tourney for free?

Just remember, you don't actually need HD and your life quality doesn't degrade when you don't have it. Marketing on it really worked though.

We get HD over the air on our antenna.  No need to pay for it.

[AvisJinx]

I dropped cable almost three years ago for Roku. I think I probably get 19 to 20 regular broadcast channels using an antenna, but I rarely watch any of them because I just can't deal with all the commercials.

[mydogismyheart]

This post inspired me to look closer at Google Chromecast. I've struggled because I have a roku box, but nowhere can I get CBS, no one has it, no hulu, nothing.  I have too many shows I like to watch on CBS.  So I went out last night and looked at the Chromecast. $35 but came with $20 in free movies from Google Play so that was nice.  I like that it can "cast" an image from your computer to your TV, essentially turning it into a smart TV (something I wasn't willing to pay for, I have a perfectly good TV). I am going to try it for 30 days (return period) and see how it goes. If all goes well I'll cancel my cable for good at the end of the 30 days.  :)

[StubbledCPA]

This post inspired me to look closer at Google Chromecast. I've struggled because I have a roku box, but nowhere can I get CBS, no one has it, no hulu, nothing.  I have too many shows I like to watch on CBS.  So I went out last night and looked at the Chromecast. $35 but came with $20 in free movies from Google Play so that was nice.  I like that it can "cast" an image from your computer to your TV, essentially turning it into a smart TV (something I wasn't willing to pay for, I have a perfectly good TV). I am going to try it for 30 days (return period) and see how it goes. If all goes well I'll cancel my cable for good at the end of the 30 days.  :)

As I said above, it worked amazingly for me.  I hope you enjoy it as well!  Let us know how it goes.

[Brawndo TQ]

My wife lasted a year before she made us switch back.

[eyePod]

Doesn't CBS stream all of the games in the tourney for free?

Just remember, you don't actually need HD and your life quality doesn't degrade when you don't have it. Marketing on it really worked though.

We get HD over the air on our antenna.  No need to pay for it.

We get 3 PBS channels. That's it. Moving from Philly where we had 50+ OTA channels, this was a real bummer. We manage though. Doesn't keep us up at night!

[rocksinmyhead]

Doesn't CBS stream all of the games in the tourney for free?

Just remember, you don't actually need HD and your life quality doesn't degrade when you don't have it. Marketing on it really worked though.

We get HD over the air on our antenna.  No need to pay for it.

We get 3 PBS channels. That's it. Moving from Philly where we had 50+ OTA channels, this was a real bummer. We manage though. Doesn't keep us up at night!

yeah, literally, I wouldn't stay up as late if I had fewer TV options ;)

[AlanStache]

My wife lasted a year before she made us switch back.

How on Earth do you go back after a year?  Could she just not forget how great XYZ show was and NEEEEEDED to see it when it first aired? 

[I'm a red panda]

I can't imagine going back to having cable.

I like going to stay at hotels and watch an hour or two of HGTV, but after that amount I'm all tapped out on it. They seem to just have 1 month of programming that they put on repeat for 10 years.  Food, Travel, TLC, Discover have all gone similarly downhill on programming.

[HipGnosis]

This post inspired me to look closer at Google Chromecast. I've struggled because I have a roku box, but nowhere can I get CBS, no one has it, no hulu, nothing.  I have too many shows I like to watch on CBS.  So I went out last night and looked at the Chromecast. $35 but came with $20 in free movies from Google Play so that was nice.  I like that it can "cast" an image from your computer to your TV, essentially turning it into a smart TV (something I wasn't willing to pay for, I have a perfectly good TV). I am going to try it for 30 days (return period) and see how it goes. If all goes well I'll cancel my cable for good at the end of the 30 days.  :)

According to this article; http://www.tomsguide.com/us/roku-smartphone-pc-screen-mirroring,news-19674.html   Roku* can do PC 'mirroring' (aka 'casting').
* - Some Rokus can (might?)

[Bardo]

It's hard to see going back.  Don't forget that in addition to the financial benefits, getting rid of cable and/or broadcast television has significant other benefits in promoting a low information diet by eliminating exposure to TV "news", and also by reducing exposure to commercials (there are still some if you switch to Hulu).  Me, I can't bear having programming interrupted by sales pitches every five minutes. 

[LiveLean]

I am intending to ditch the satellite in March (right after University of Ky wins the NCAA championship).  So I am preparing now.  I just bought chromecast at Best Buy for $29.99.  The set up was very easy.  My internet is not as fast as it was recommended, but we are watching a free show from hulu right now and it is working fine.  My husband built an over the air antenna from scrap wire and wood (we found the instructions on the web) and it is working fine also.  Actually I found a site that streams the UK games, but I will probably still wait until March to disconnect.  But it looks like I am ready.  Bye Bye Dish network.

I'm looking to make this move as college basketball, specifically University of Virginia games, are literally the only thing I watch. You can have my TV from April 5 through mid-November. But since I live in Florida, no Virginia games appear on over-the-air TV. (Most on ESPN2 or ESPNU or I pick them up on ESPN3 online as part of my cable package). I'd love to cut the cord. Do I have any options at this point?

[gluskap]

We just canceled our cable too and loving the extra in savings.  We have Netflix and Amazon Prime so way too much to watch.  I second how awesome Chromecast is.