Have you cancelled your Cable / Satellite TV service?

[Micky Do]

Don't even own a TV

I grew up without TV; left home within a couple of months of my folks getting one to watch a choice reasonable quality programs on two monochrome channels.... in New Zealand in the early '70s.

Now I do have a mobile phone based internet connection; mobile broadband, I think they call it. I'm lucky to get more than a few hundred Kb/s service..... not enough to stream anything more than internet radio. My apartment has no cable or even a phone line.

I moved into an apartment once, where they had a dozen or so cable channels, and thought it might be the way to relax after work. Trying to chose what mediocre show to watch proved more stressful than it was worth. I unplugged it and stuck it in a cupboard.

Now on the odd occasion I stay in a hotel I have discovered they have dozens channels..... and it is even more difficult to find anything worth watching.

The only thing I want to watch on TV is the occasional bit of sport. I can do that at a pub with a few mates.

 

[jwjsr]

I haven't cut yet but I sure think about it a lot

 

[B.A.T]

I cut the cord 2.5 years ago which means I have saved $2600

 

[alent1234]

cut the cord a year ago but thinking about getting it back. time warner cable can be had for $90 now for internet and TV

 

[mddharma]

Cut in April ...

first few weeks missed the news channels - Fox, CNN, etc.. Now I am glad they are gone. I use my apple tv for Hulu plus, netflix and get some shows from iTunes. I use a Roku 3 for Amazon prime and what some news clips on occasion on there as well. Frankly with this setup I have more than I could ever hope to watch and pay my internet provider $59 per month.

 

[xxbrankxx]

I've only had cable for the past 3 years so I'm not a longtime user. But I'm thinking about dropping the tv and home phone and just sticking with the internet. I wanna get a Mohu Leaf OTA antenna and a Magnavox MDR537h/f7 DVR and just record OTA shows. I'll also probably add Netflix for some tv series. I have a large iTunes library already so I'm pretty set when it comes movies + whatever is currently on Netflix. I guess I can also get the Beamer app and stream from my iMac to my AppleTV also.

 

[mike693]

I cut the cord in 2007. We used a variety of video sources which all worked well: OTA HD with TiVo (and iTiVo on the Mac), OTA HD with EyeTV, Netflix, iTunes, and Redbox. Over time we watched less and less. Today, we don't really watch TV at all; we talk and listen to music, read, and do other things instead. I now find TV to be just too passive and time-consuming.

 

[Lornaevo]

I currently have TWC Signature Package, but I think I'm close to convincing my wife to drop the cable. I thinking I'm getting a eyetv and a cable card. Does eyetv work with encrypted channels?

 

[mike693]

I currently have TWC Signature Package, but I think I'm close to convincing my wife to drop the cable. I thinking I'm getting a eyetv and a cable card. Does eyetv work with encrypted channels?

If you drop cable service, your cable card will stop working.

 

[Lornaevo]

If you drop cable service, your cable card will stop working.

I will keep my cable service. I will drop their equipment and dvr service. I want to use the eyetv hd for my dvr.

 

[mike693]

I will keep my cable service. I will drop their equipment and dvr service. I want to use the eyetv hd for my dvr.

I believe you at least need a basic receiver.

There do not appear to be cable card slots on the EyeTV HD. If you have to use an IR blaster to control the receiver, it may not be 100% reliable (ymmv).
http://www.elgato.com/eyetv/eyetv-hd

(I was using OTA Clear QAM, so I did not have to decrypt.)

 

[Lord Hamsa]

You'd have to get something like the HomeRun Pro (with CableCard slot) for anything other than the QAM-clear (typically just the locals and stuff like QVC) to decrypt the signal, then feed the output to the EyeTV software (or use Myth, et. al.).

Personally, I'm waiting for the announced-but-unreleased HomeRun devices that are not only going to be 4-tuner, but also do on-board conversion to H.264.

My biggest issue with complete cord-cutting is sports. If I could get ESPN and NBC Sports Network as standalone subscriptions, that would be a lot nicer. (The missus also wants her Food Network.) I'm considering going with one of the FIOS bundles with a HomeRun Pro as my "set top box" as an alternative -- or more appropriately, an interim step -- to complete cord-cutting from the $100+/mo. I'm paying for DirecTV with no premium channels. It won't cost that much more than just the FIOS internet we're currently paying for, and saves the expense and hassle of getting an external antenna installed in the near term.

 

[Ubele]

I've only had cable for the past 3 years so I'm not a longtime user. But I'm thinking about dropping the tv and home phone and just sticking with the internet. I wanna get a Mohu Leaf OTA antenna and a Magnavox MDR537h/f7 DVR and just record OTA shows. I'll also probably add Netflix for some tv series. I have a large iTunes library already so I'm pretty set when it comes movies + whatever is currently on Netflix. I guess I can also get the Beamer app and stream from my iMac to my AppleTV also.

My wife and I just got a Mohu Leaf, and it works great. We live in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, about 7 miles from the hilltop where most of the broadcast antennas are clustered. We get all those stations, as well as others, including a few duplicates that are broadcast from other antennas farther away. The HD channels are crystal clear.

We wanted to try the Mohu Leaf before cutting the cable. The next step will be to get a SiliconDust Homerun, as soon as the new model comes out, which is supposed to be soon. We'll use that with EyeTV software on a Mac mini, which will function as a media server. We also have an Apple TV. Although we'll lose a lot of convenience as well as access to some content, we'll also save almost $2,000 per year by dropping our Comcast Triple Play and two HD DVR converter boxes, and switching to just broadband Internet. We don't watch sports. We mainly watch movies on demand (so we'll get Netflix), local news, and PBS. Much of our unwinding-before-bedtime viewing has switched from mindless channel surfing on TV to mindless web surfing on our iPads.

 

[mlody]

As much as I would like to keep the Comcast services, plus DVR to just watch F1 and some stuff for kids, I realized it didn't make much sense.

Over the weekend, I cut the cord and we are much happier. Kids all of sudden started to play with toys and read books instead of starring all day long into a damn TV (kids TV got donated to friends) and we also freed ourselves from being DVR slaves.

I ended up with OTA antenna with 11 HD local channels and another 10+ in SD (receiving almost double that but they are mostly junk channels) set as Favorites. I also signed up for Netflix and my brother hooked me up with HBOGO on my Apple TV - also have a Redbox within a walking distance.
I honestly think I already got too much content to watch. The family is happy with the setup so I do not complain as all of this costs me 8 bucks a month vs. $100+

I no longer have Comcast cable boxes that not only cost an arm and leg to lease, but also suck energy like there was no tomorrow. Not seeing a bill for TV is another relief - will still get hit for the internet, but that is like electricity -cant no longer live without out it, but the good thing is, after I killed all the splitters and cable boxes my internet speeds went up too - 58/12 now vs 55/10 before

 

[blanka]

Wow, the rates in the US amaze me as the Apple products go 1:1 $:€ on average. I never had cable since DVB-T came out here, but 3 years ago I even dropped the paid plan. I only have 4 free to air channels now, still have to make a bigger antenna as Belgian channels should be available here too.
Here internet is 20€/month, and that covers enough nowadays. Many stations have free internet streams. I pay 10€ extra for a landline over IP with unlimited calls and TV would be another 10€. Cable is not expensive here. You mostly pay for high speed connections. I have 20/2, but the 50-120Mb ones go to 80€/month total package maximum.

 

[gugy]

I would love to cut my Directv but live sports and kids make me keep it place.

 

[JAT]

a little while. But local news and some sindicated shows are holding me back........

Any other needs for media in TV, I supply them with another means....

This is a strange comment. Local news should be available via an antenna for free. And syndicated shows are probably on Netflix for far less than cable.

 

[MarcelV]

cut the cord a year ago but thinking about getting it back. time warner cable can be had for $90 now for internet and TV

I cut the cord 2 years ago, but reconnected a little over a month back. There is only so much content available on the alternatives. The kids went through pretty much the Netflix content they are interested in, and OTA not always providing what I like to watch. Until a-la-cart or a good IPTV alternative, I am back to cable. I didn't do it out of principle of hating cable though, just wanted to see if I could get by with it. And for awhile I could.

 

[iMerik]

I cut the cord about 11 months ago and haven't once missed it. I still get a plethora of channels OTA (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CW, and nine PBS channels--three from three states). I have multiple devices and SmartTVs that can take advantage of online streaming services in addition to using Plex for home streaming. Roku and Plex have a lot of good, free channels too. I pay for extremely fast home Internet ($46/month | $552/year), Netflix ($8.47/month | $101.64/year), and Amazon Prime ($79/year). Of course there is an occasional RedBox rental (usually with a coupon of some kind) or rare movie theater visit.

Here's a picture of my Winegard HD 7694P in-attic OTA antenna install that gets distributed throughout my house. Every channel and every TV gets a signal of 85% to 100% strength. The picture quality of HD channels is better than cable and satellite.

 

[Scarpad]

I Cut Comcast for around 6 months , but I took Dish up on its offer of all cannels $89 a month for a year, then I got the Hopper and 3 other rooms hooked up, for the Hopper I got the OTA module for the channels that Dish does not have, everything works great, the hopper is a much better system than the older Comcast boxes, I Love Chiller and Epix Drive In channels. The DVR works great too, a much better deal than I was getting with Comcast

 

[phoenixsan]

Strange as sounds....

This is a strange comment. Local news should be available via an antenna for free. And syndicated shows are probably on Netflix for far less than cable.

I have a real and perfect explanation. But to do it, I have to disclose some info I dont want....

 

[3rd Rock]

Live in an apartment...

Wish I could, but I am a Cable News Fanatic, and watch CNN, FOX Cable, FOX Business, NCIS, History channel, Discovery, Science Channel mostly, so until someone can figure one out for me, I stay with cable.

 

[fhall1]

I cut the cord about 11 months ago and haven't once missed it. I still get a plethora of channels OTA (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CW, and nine PBS channels--three from three states). I have multiple devices and SmartTVs that can take advantage of online streaming services in addition to using Plex for home streaming. Roku and Plex have a lot of good, free channels too. I pay for extremely fast home Internet ($46/month | $552/year), Netflix ($8.47/month | $101.64/year), and Amazon Prime ($79/year). Of course there is an occasional RedBox rental (usually with a coupon of some kind) or rare movie theater visit.

Here's a picture of my Winegard HD 7694P in-attic OTA antenna install that gets distributed throughout my house. Every channel and every TV gets a signal of 85% to 100% strength. The picture quality of HD channels is better than cable and satellite.

Image

How far away are the broadcast towers for your OTA channels? I'd like to do an attic setup, but most of my OTA channels have towers about 50 miles away.

 

[H00513R]

I can't cut the cord yet on cable. We don't watch a ton of shows, but the ones we do watch plus live sporting events have necessitated keeping cable for a bit longer. Every year we reevaluate though as the options get better and better.

 

[excommie]

I got rid of Dish, but only after I got a Roku player (in addition to Apple TV). Without Roku, it would be difficult to get rid of cable.
Things that I can do with Roku (not apple tv):

- Amazon prime video - this was critical to get on the big screen in order to get rid of cable. In fact, if Apple TV had amazon prime, I would not be getting ROKU
- Plex - use a lot of channels (CNN through plex is great). Stream anything from the Mac
- I use HBO GO and Netflix on ROKU. Interface is way faster than Apple TV. I found Netflix on Aple TV to be buggy.
- Pandora is just great on ROKU
- Tune in Radio app is great. iTunes Radio on Apple TV doesn't come close.

Apple TV has one big advantage over Roku - streaming photos from the Mac in a nice slideshows.