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Friday, September 9, 2011

A Year Without Cable TV

My name is Mike, and I am a recovering Cable TV Subscriber.

Just over a year ago I cancelled my subscription to cable television, put an antenna on my roof, ran a few cables through the house, and bought a Blu-Ray player so I could watch Netflix Streams.
I haven't missed cable TV yet.
When I took a look at my "viewing habits", I realized that nearly all the shows I am really hooked on are all on ABC, CBS, or NBC. Why was I paying the cable company to watch shows that are broadcast for free?
Then I took a look at the stuff I *did* watch on cable channels, and realized that I wouldn't miss any of it, with the exception of just a few shows - and eventually those shows will be on the channels' websites, so I could still see them if I waited.
The cost of the Blu-Ray player was offset the first month I didn't have to send $100+ to the cable company.
The HD pictures received over-the-air are far superior to the HD transmitted via cable (or satellite).
I eventually got a TIVO box so I can record stuff.
Even with the Netflix and TIVO fees, I am still saving nearly $100 a month by not paying for several hundred cable channels I never watched anyway. Out of all the stations available to me through my cable subscription, I think I regularly tuned in to MAYBE a dozen of them, and even most of those stations had repeats on much of the time.

So, as I said, I don't miss cable TV at all. In fact, I enjoy watching TV more now, since I only watch things I WANT to, instead of just tuning into any old thing I happen to come across.


Television Boredom

The Fall TV Season needs to start.