Read today that Nickelodeon is going to launch a subscription streaming service as well. For those of us with kidlets at home it may be worth looking into, but I haven't seen any real details other than the intent to launch a service.
Need some insight into cutting my cable
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My mother in law's new 'smart' TV has a Netflix app. That's pretty much it. You can't add amazon, Hulu... Anything. If they decide to add those later, they'll be available via firmware update. I refuse to pay extra for built in 'smart' tech that's less capable than yesterday's add ons.
Then again, I'm almost tech savvy. Pretty sure I'm not the target market.
My gf bought her dad a roku and he loves it. He doesn't know much about technology but he certainly likes functionality. Smart Tvs are cool but I think they're just a fad. Those tiny Android boxes that plug in to your hdmi port are better.
I haven't seen it mentioned here yet, nut I own a media center PC with over 6TB of movies, music, and photos.
I also have 2 WDTV media boxes connected to my network and TVs in the LR & BR! The one thing that swayed me is that the WDTV boxes play damn near every format of video and audio files out there, and I have an extensive collection of FLAC audio and I've ripped all my DVD collection in .VOB format. Most media boxes out there wont play either, WDTV does!!!
It also has Netflix and many other streaming apps, with several updates each year they just keep adding apps!
HERE: WD TV | Media Player
Here are all the web services to date: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1270
We got rid of our Comcast cable TV in December 2011, and just kept the internet. Then we got a Roku. My wife is mainly the one who watches it. She has Amazon Prime Video and Hulu Plus and Netflix, and there are dozens of other channels on it we haven't even checked out yet.
How this came about was, they had just switched to digital cable, and gave us a box that brought in over 400 channels. After awhile, we realized that we were only watching three of them, sometimes a fourth. None of them were local stations or the major networks. The most basic cable package didn't include the channels we watched, and to get the one with them included, we'd have to get a crapload more channels we'd never even look at. We were paying well over $100/month for internet and three TV stations. Now, we watch what we want to watch if and when we want to watch it, and through various offers to quit Comcast entirely, we've got the price down to about $40/month.
How this came about was, they had just switched to digital cable, and gave us a box that brought in over 400 channels. After awhile, we realized that we were only watching three of them, sometimes a fourth. None of them were local stations or the major networks. The most basic cable package didn't include the channels we watched, and to get the one with them included, we'd have to get a crapload more channels we'd never even look at. We were paying well over $100/month for internet and three TV stations. Now, we watch what we want to watch if and when we want to watch it, and through various offers to quit Comcast entirely, we've got the price down to about $40/month.
I have an older LG box that plays anything through the USB port, has Netflix app on it. and a Chromecast, which we use to stream tv shows, movies and Netflix to the teevee from a laptop. We download from torrents mostly. Chromecast is fiddly to setup to do everything but is very nice to have for the cheap price. And even though they don't support it, chromecast works from Linux pc without much fuss.
I have "some cable" channels here that come in off the same line as the internet from the cable co.... although they are deleting channels to force people to pay for the digital box. I don't pay for those channels so can't complain...I won't be buying the service at any point though.
There is enough entertainment for streaming or downloading that you don't "need" cable... but I will miss Nascar when they delete those channels.
do a search for popcorn time.
I have "some cable" channels here that come in off the same line as the internet from the cable co.... although they are deleting channels to force people to pay for the digital box. I don't pay for those channels so can't complain...I won't be buying the service at any point though.
There is enough entertainment for streaming or downloading that you don't "need" cable... but I will miss Nascar when they delete those channels.
do a search for popcorn time.
Thanks for the input. I've got and HD antenna on the way which will keep mah wife happy with her local news and the kids are really flexible it turns out. We'll see what the 'retention department' will do for us next week!
I'm hip to the internet channels and I do a bunch of stealth movie watching...thanks for the popcorn tip!
Yep, cut the cable over a year ago, now we stream Netflix and Hulu and use a digital antenna for the local stuff. It took a little getting used too, especially for my seven year old. Just have to find different stuff to watch. No biggie for me - I just read more now and that's not a bad thing.
A lot going on here and IMHO, it depends on what and how much you watch tv. What do you "need".
Be careful playing the "cancel my service" game expecting an offer of a discounted rate. I've heard of subs trying that and bingo, their service was shut off and it would cost a hook-up fee to get it back on.
I've never done it myself, but there has been a lot of talk about playing the "change your service" game. Contact DirecTv as a new sub and lock in the first year at $30 a month. Yes, the contract is for two years, the second at regular price, but average the two years out and it comes up to around $60 a month (based on $30 the first year and $90 the second year. Rates may vary depending on service). After two years, do the same thing going to Dish with similar results. Now after 4 years of reasonably priced service, see which one wants you back bad enough or will then again consider you a "new" customer. Worst case is you bought yourself 2 to 4 years to see where the whole television system settles into by then.
Then again, if network television suits your purpose, looks like you are good to go with the antennae.
Be careful playing the "cancel my service" game expecting an offer of a discounted rate. I've heard of subs trying that and bingo, their service was shut off and it would cost a hook-up fee to get it back on.
I've never done it myself, but there has been a lot of talk about playing the "change your service" game. Contact DirecTv as a new sub and lock in the first year at $30 a month. Yes, the contract is for two years, the second at regular price, but average the two years out and it comes up to around $60 a month (based on $30 the first year and $90 the second year. Rates may vary depending on service). After two years, do the same thing going to Dish with similar results. Now after 4 years of reasonably priced service, see which one wants you back bad enough or will then again consider you a "new" customer. Worst case is you bought yourself 2 to 4 years to see where the whole television system settles into by then.
Then again, if network television suits your purpose, looks like you are good to go with the antennae.
I haven't had cable for at least 7 years I use a combination but both do more less the same
this is the cheapest way
chromecast $25 and use my phone to cast netflix ($10/mo) but also love the free stuff (I love clones also) check out showbox and tv portal apps for android there you can stream everything, tv shows and the latest movies.
for the kids (it has a remote control so they don't need my phone)
I use a sony google TV but there are newer versions and I use the same apps to stream as my chromecast
this is the cheapest way
chromecast $25 and use my phone to cast netflix ($10/mo) but also love the free stuff (I love clones also) check out showbox and tv portal apps for android there you can stream everything, tv shows and the latest movies.
for the kids (it has a remote control so they don't need my phone)
I use a sony google TV but there are newer versions and I use the same apps to stream as my chromecast
My dad has an older computer hooked up to his TV that he streams Prime (that we share, as a student I get 50% off prime!) among other things. He is fed up with Charter TV and has decided to pretty much give it up if they can get the shows they want elsewhere. I feel like if they added Netflix and Hulu Plus, they would be good to drop cable. I know mom likes older shows such as WKRP, Fraisier (believe this show is on Prime), and others. Anyone aware of a service that has these shows?
I know everyone mentioned Netflix but it is just an essential to me and their kid selection is decent
My husband convinced me to part from cable and that was hard at first because I grew up on it. However, it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. We put more money into making our internet faster through our provider and between Netflix and Torrenting (I haven't decided whether none of you torrent or if you don't want to mention you torrent because of all the *Ahem* questionable legality of torrenting) -- I'm able to seriously watch everything I did before and you'd be amazed at how many programs will "unlock" online a week after they air for free streaming. I'm up to date on every show. The only show I can't keep up with is Dr. Phil and somehow I've learned to live without it. (I know, it was a real loss . . ).
The best thing too is an HDMI cable so you can hook your laptop up to your tv. You can still gather the family around and enjoy watching something together and it's a nice break from staring at your laptop or tablet screen.
You don't realize how many tv commercials you watch until people ask if you've seen the newest one and when I go to my parents house now and watch how often they just mindlessly flip through the channels, I am so glad we got rid of it. I've discovered new shows and the best part is, I tend to only watch stuff now if it interests me. No more watching a pointless "filler" program until the one I like comes on.
My husband convinced me to part from cable and that was hard at first because I grew up on it. However, it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. We put more money into making our internet faster through our provider and between Netflix and Torrenting (I haven't decided whether none of you torrent or if you don't want to mention you torrent because of all the *Ahem* questionable legality of torrenting) -- I'm able to seriously watch everything I did before and you'd be amazed at how many programs will "unlock" online a week after they air for free streaming. I'm up to date on every show. The only show I can't keep up with is Dr. Phil and somehow I've learned to live without it. (I know, it was a real loss . . ).
The best thing too is an HDMI cable so you can hook your laptop up to your tv. You can still gather the family around and enjoy watching something together and it's a nice break from staring at your laptop or tablet screen.
You don't realize how many tv commercials you watch until people ask if you've seen the newest one and when I go to my parents house now and watch how often they just mindlessly flip through the channels, I am so glad we got rid of it. I've discovered new shows and the best part is, I tend to only watch stuff now if it interests me. No more watching a pointless "filler" program until the one I like comes on.
Thanks for this Great post Sonata! I'm now about halfway to completely disconnecting ('cept for the broadband internet part). Just need to get mah Modem in and Comcast can kiss mah you know what!
You have Comcast .. . ?
Ooooh yeah, you will be sooo much happier to get rid of them, lol.
Ooooh yeah, you will be sooo much happier to get rid of them, lol.
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