How many here watch CABLE??????

[stat]

I cut my cable tv sub about 2 years ago. Used to be 120$ a month for 10mb Internet, a couple of dvrs and basic + expanded channels (Nat Geo, etc). I got tired of paying 80/m just to watch 2 channels and having to watch commercials. Then they implemented a 250gb data cap that I blew past in 15 days.

So I dropped the tv sub and increased the internet to 50mb so it's still 120/m but I have a 350gb cap. Then I just ran an hdmi cable from the home server to the tv and use a vnc app to control it from my phone/pc/tablet/whatever is nearest to me so I don't have to get off my lazy butt.

Also for anyone interested in being really lazy google sickbeard

 

[schmoe]

We ditched cable but still get the local channels through the cable line. No longer in HD. We just pick shows on Netflix and watch those. Have a laptop for Hulu but looking at getting a Roku box.

 

[Revvy]

Years ago I dated a woman who worked for WOW (Wide Open West) cable. She said that every now and then her company flirts with the idea of "Ala Cart" Cable TV, where you would pay 50 cents (local network channels for example) or 1.00 dollar a month for JUST the channels you want, kinda like buying an I-tune. If you wanted multiple hundred channels, you'd pay premium dollars, but if you're like me, and would be happy with 10-20 channels you'd pay less. Premium channels like hbo would be higher of course.

She said unfortunately as much as tons of customers would jump on it, that noone would be the first company to go that route. And besides, they make too much money with the high monthly package.

But she said, that now that cable's digital, the technology to actually do that is here.

I'd be totally happy to pay 30 bucks a month for 20-25 cable channels like History, Discovery, Food Network, Cnn, Scifi and a select few others along with my local networks.

 

[schmoe]

Ala cart would be great since there are only about 5 non-local channels that I even watch anymore. Without hockey that went down to 3.

 

[earwig]

Years ago I dated a woman who worked for WOW (Wide Open West) cable. She said that every now and then her company flirts with the idea of "Ala Cart" Cable TV, where you would pay 50 cents (local network channels for example) or 1.00 dollar a month for JUST the channels you want, kinda like buying an I-tune. If you wanted multiple hundred channels, you'd pay premium dollars, but if you're like me, and would be happy with 10-20 channels you'd pay less. Premium channels like hbo would be higher of course.

She said unfortunately as much as tons of customers would jump on it, that noone would be the first company to go that route. And besides, they make too much money with the high monthly package.

But she said, that now that cable's digital, the technology to actually do that is here.

I'd be totally happy to pay 30 bucks a month for 20-25 cable channels like History, Discovery, Food Network, Cnn, Scifi and a select few others along with my local networks.

That's interesting. I bet that some companies will eventually go this route as more people cut the cord. Sort of a, "some money is better than none" way of thinking.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I would actually prefer a more expansive VODDVR type service across the board. Have a series you like? Prepay and schedule the download to the VODDVR it and watch it when you want. The world of TV needs to get back to the simplistic age of VHS where you could record everything and watch at your leisure. That is when TV was truely entertaining.

At least until the machine ate the tape.

Furthermore, such a system would truely level the playing field for networks. Real time data on interest instead of a few boxes in a few houses that have no representation of what "I" want to see.

 

[Darwin18]

I have cable (Time Warner) and while I'm not impressed with it, I'm not going to be getting rid of it any time soon. Frankly, I'm far less impressed with Netflix and considering dropping that entirely - most of the movies on there are either dated or crap. Most of my cable channels are unwatchable garbage, but I do enjoy Travel Channel, History Channel, Discovery, and Nat Geo. The History/Discovery/Nat Geo channels have been moving more and more towards reality TV and I've ended up doing more reading than watching TV lately. I also like being able to watch some NFL games (CBS/Fox/ESPN).

 

[cheezydemon3]

I have cable (Time Warner) and while I'm not impressed with it, I'm not going to be getting rid of it any time soon. Frankly, I'm far less impressed with Netflix and considering dropping that entirely - most of the movies on there are either dated or crap. Most of my cable channels are unwatchable garbage, but I do enjoy Travel Channel, History Channel, Discovery, and Nat Geo. The History/Discovery/Nat Geo channels have been moving more and more towards reality TV and I've ended up doing more reading than watching TV lately. I also like being able to watch some NFL games (CBS/Fox/ESPN).

To each their own, but by "crap" I am hearing "It doesn't have the latest Ben Aflec or Nicholas Cage flick"

There are more good movies on Netflix streaming than I could watch in 1 lifetime. If by "good" you actually mean quality, not the latest hollywood whatever, then you are wrong.

"Dated" ? The THING is from 1983 and is one of the best movies you can watch, period.

If you are only interested in Hollywood's latest, then go with my blessing. Netflix isn't for you.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

"Dated" ? The THING is from 1983 and is one of the best movies you can watch, period.

If you are only interested in Hollywood's latest, then go with my blessing. Netflix isn't for you.

The first line is, IMO, the only good part of Netflix (outside of a very good anime/cartoons cataloge). If you are one that is willing to turn on a old movie you've never seen the the Netflix catalogue is good for that. I am consistently surprised by some older films that I passed up when they weren't "dated". One example is "Girl with Dragon tattoo". I had no interest in this film when it was "new". Watched it a while ago and found it to be pretty interesting.

As for the second line, ayup. Not gonna see many box office hits until it's already made it's way through BetaMax sales.

 

[landshark]

I had Dish, which is really just Cable's almost as evil twin. 250 Channels. $80 month. I watched History, History 2 (Once History just pushed repeat on Pawn Stars and some lumberjack shows), and sometimes CNN and FX. Wife watched Cooking, Travel, and AMC. For the last year have just streamed Netflix and now Hulu+ via the PS3. Took me 20 minutes to politely tell the ladies at Dish I did not want their service anymore and why I was canceling. Seemed they couldn't understand how their $20 package had NOTHING I wanted to watch, and the H2 and AMC was only available on the premium $80+ packages.

This past weekend hooked up the bunny ears to get the local shows again. Really it is just so we can watch a football game if we ever need too. And after I got them working, watched PBS.... I'm lame.

 

[landshark]

The first line is, IMO, the only good part of Netflix (outside of a very good anime/cartoons cataloge). If you are one that is willing to turn on a old movie you've never seen the the Netflix catalogue is good for that. I am consistently surprised by some older films that I passed up when they weren't "dated". One example is "Girl with Dragon tattoo". I had no interest in this film when it was "new". Watched it a while ago and found it to be pretty interesting.

As for the second line, ayup. Not gonna see many box office hits until it's already made it's way through BetaMax sales.

They been pushing the OG Girl w/ whatever series pretty heavily lately.

I've seen several big movies from the past few years though. Some of the HUGE hits though are missing, which sucks.

 

[GarageDweller]

have cable, will trade for cabin in the mountains.

otherwise i have to buy 500 channels so i can get the one g'dam soccer channel they offer.
the world spins backwards...

 

[landshark]

have cable, will trade for cabin in the mountains.

otherwise i have to buy 500 channels so i can get the one g'dam soccer channel they offer.
the world spins backwards...

Probably cheaper and less hassle to buy tickets and a plane ride to all the games.

 

[IffyG]

I attempted to go without cable for a few months, but between the lack of sporting events and the fact that I can only pick up ABC and Fox reliably over the air (and even those went in and out whenever a helicopter flew over my house), I'm stuck with cable.

 

[cheezydemon3]

I attempted to go without cable for a few months, but between the lack of sporting events and the fact that I can only pick up ABC and Fox reliably over the air (and even those went in and out whenever a helicopter flew over my house), I'm stuck with cable.

*pardon me a moment*

DID I MENTION THAT GOD DAMNED ESPN3 REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE A CABLE SUBSCRIPTION????????????

Talk about spinning backwards.

Dude.....F()CK ESPN.

*thanks, sorry if I got a little carried away*

 

[IffyG]

ESPN isn't in the business of giving away their product. It makes sense that they require you to have a cable package that includes ESPN to have access to ESPN3...

 

[bleme]

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, there is no reason ESPN3 can't be offered al a cart. Of course, it is the cable provider, not ESPN, that is the problem.

 

[cheezydemon3]

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, there is no reason ESPN3 can't be offered al a cart. Of course, it is the cable provider, not ESPN, that is the problem.

ESPN3 is a website.

don't they have advertisements???? maybe not. If that is the case they are still assbackwards.

You might be right though. Maybe they offered it for "free" and cable providers howled.

So we are back to "Screw cable".

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Dumped cable years ago. Had over 100 channels to choose from & STILL couldn't find anything worth watching. I'll admit there are times I miss it, but those times are few & far between. I also watch a few things via computer, but again those are few & far between. I spend more time in the garden or on the trail than in front of the TV.
Regards, GF.

 

[cheezydemon3]

A pretty savvy buddy told me that the NEW wii streams basically like a ROKU.

I know that the old wii would handle PLAYON with a PC. Anyone know the difference. Can't seem to find much.

 

[justintime75]

Dumped cable a year ago. Now I stream Netflix to the tv or watch movies. Much less expensive and no commercials.

 

[david_42]

My fiancée works for the cable company so we get every channel for free

I worked for Group W cable back in the '80s. Been there for 2 years before I found out that they had cable in Fullerton. Funny part was I was talking to a woman at a company party and found out she was the manager for that city. Still didn't bother getting (cable) hooked up.

 

[Kahler]

No cable, Antenna for local, roku box for web content, and whatever I can't stream via Roku to the tv set, I watch on laptop.

This is exactly what wife and i do, but we have netflix and i have our laptop hooked up to the tv.

dumping cable was the best thing we ever did.

 

[pm5k00]

We have cable, thought about getting rid of it and doing the Hulu/Netflix thing, but we would have a hard time getting live sports,and all our AMC shows. Plus we are about to have 3 kids, and as much as I hate to say it, every now and then I need the kid channels to be on for awhile, not stream one show then need user input again.

I have heard commercials where the cable/satellite companies say they can't sell channels ala cart, which is BS since they already do that with movie channels. However when the day comes that I can pick and choose only the channels I want, that will be great to get the 20 I want instead of the 480 I don't.

 

[bleme]

FYI, Netflix now automatically plays the next show in a series by default.

 

[alpha224]

FYI, Netflix now automatically plays the next show in a series by default.

(At least on the 360) it gives you a prompt for the next episode.

 

[bleme]

Ah... On the PC it has been going to the next episode (about 30 seconds before the current episode is over) automatically for about a month now. As often as they change things at Netflix, who knows what it will be like tomorrow?

 

[cheezydemon3]

On the wii, if you exit an episode in the last few minutes, it loads up the next episode and with 1 click the next episode is up and playing within 5 or 6 seconds of exiting the last one.