I turned off Cable TV

[kyratshooter]

A couple of weeks ago I decided to live without cable TV feeling I was wasting money on a useless luxury.

I have changed my mind and I will have my cable back in operation ASAP.

In the past few years, while I was watching cable, network TV has hit rock bottom. Unless one is a devout communist, or under the age of ten, there is nothing there for your education or enjoyment.

Of the 23 channels I have access too only three of them have any connection to the 21st century. Standard network fare punctuated by some of the most unprofessional local talent I have ever endured, including a news reader that announces on open broadcast that she needs to finish the report because she has to pee!

Seven more are labeled PBS and are committed to making me a progressive socialist. An eighth PBS station is intent on teaching me to be a french chief at the instruction of a convicted felon.

The other 12 channels are part of a time warp which I can not understand. I have a 1950 era cowboy network. I have a 1960 era science fiction channel, two channels dedicated to 1970-1980 African American movies and one channel apparently dedicated to Three's Company reruns. The rest are a constant barrage of 1970-1980 C grade movies and network sitcom reruns.

And then right in the middle of prime time viewing they have a 15 minute infomercial trying to sell me a skillet or convince me I am responsible for feeding every homeless and starving child in the world.

As I type right here and now I am listening to a Perry Como Christmas special in which almost all the cameo stars have been dead of old age for two or three decades.

i would kill for a good Hitler documentary right now, or a Nat-geo elephant special!

[M118LR]

Try the History Chanel, you can find Hitler past, present and future.

[hunter63]

Try the History Chanel, you can find Hitler past, present and future.

That's on cable, dish(s) or Netflix.....

Yeah...I hear ya...
Just called last week and shut down my Dish at "The Place"...till March 1st or when I call....at $3 bucks a month...

We were listening to one of three local FM stations....with the farm repost at noon....and "Country Twang".
DW says..."I tired of this....lets get Dish"....and so it came to pass...the wish is the command.
Called a local guy...he said "About a week'...
Told him, "That ain't happening....I was thinking this afternoon per DW"....and so it also came to pass...."

Did drop cable....in town as the doubled the rate as a bundle...Phone T and interweb
Went with another "Dish, cell phones ( no land line....but kept the land line number) and Version Wi-Fi modem, that works in the city and "The Place" or most any where.

Life is too short to sweat the petty stuff, ....just don't pet the sweaty stuff.

[M118LR]

Like anything else, you pay what they ask if your interested. If the cost determines your interest, earn more or due without. It's an either or discussion. Unless "She who must be obeyed" pays the cable bill. Then your voice goes unheard. JMHO.

[Phaedrus]

I last had cable maybe 15 or 20 years ago. Really not much of a TV guy I guess. I do have Netflix and HBO now but really they're probably a waste of my money. I watch a couple shows on Netflix religiously, one or two more when I remember them (which is an episode every other month) and a movie every three months. I watch two shows on HBO that I never miss but both are done for the season. If my Roku broke I might not even realize it Daredevil comes back in 2017 sometime.

[M118LR]

https://www.udtsealstore.org/product...d-sammy-tshirt
Que Sera, Sera.

[finallyME]

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube. Why do I need cable? My kids watch Netflix almost non-stop. My parents are like you, KYRS, can't give up the cable. My generation is different. And, the next generation is even more different. Cable won't last the way it is for much longer. If you can't watch it on-demand, it won't get watched. Netflix and Amazon are really doing a great job of giving the cable companies a run for the money. Plus, they are making their own content now, and it is getting better and better.

[alaskabushman]

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube. Why do I need cable? My kids watch Netflix almost non-stop. My parents are like you, KYRS, can't give up the cable. My generation is different. And, the next generation is even more different. Cable won't last the way it is for much longer. If you can't watch it on-demand, it won't get watched. Netflix and Amazon are really doing a great job of giving the cable companies a run for the money. Plus, they are making their own content now, and it is getting better and better.

I agree 100%. I've never had cable or any TV service. Anytime I do watch TV at someones house I'm like "you pay $70 a month for this? and its like 60% commercials? WHY?" Sure you can get commercials online too, but most are skippable and most are short. Almost always there's a premium version that is ad free. Like FME said, my generation is actually moving away from paid cable services, and networks are struggling to try and bring in new customers but having a difficult time succeeding.
Until just a few weeks I didn't even have internet at my house. Now Netflix and Amazon Instant are actually options for me. After 10 PM anyway.

[pete lynch]

No cable since April 2015. Just Netflix and amazon prime video. Costs pennies compared to cable. Don't miss it at all.
Kept land line but that's going soon. Have 2 cel phones for work and play.
Got a high-def window antenna to watch local news/weather/football. That's free except for the electric used.

[Rick]

You generation? Hmmmpf. I cut the cable TV cord a while ago. I have ROKU and Netflix is about the only thing I watch. I have a digital antenna in the attic that does give me 12 or 13 local channels but I seldom watch it except to watch the Colts.

[Old GI]

You generation? Hmmmpf. I cut the cable TV cord a while ago. I have ROKU and Netflix is about the only thing I watch. I have a digital antenna in the attic that does give me 12 or 13 local channels but I seldom watch it except to watch the Colts.

Why would anyone from Indiana watch the Baltimore Colts? Oh, never mind. I also cut the satellite and use an antenna for football, etc and NETFLIX for shows and movies. And don't forget YOUTUBE and a massive volume of DVDs.

[finallyME]

You generation?

Well, there is always an exception to every rule. When my grandfather died around 6 years ago, in his late 80's, he had a computer that was better than mine. He used it all the time, and was an early adopter. Most in his age group completely refused to touch the thing. Some people are just "contrary". Don't worry Rick, if you ever drown in a river, we will be sure to find your body up stream.

[alaskabushman]

You generation? Hmmmpf. I cut the cable TV cord a while ago.

I applaud you! The internet is the greatest invention of...well probably ever, of course the whippersnappers and geezers alike can take advantage of that! I was just stating a well known trend in the market, younger people in general just don't care about cable.

And here I thought all this time that all you watched was UP!

[WolfVanZandt]

When they switched all TV from analog to digital, I let my TV go. At that time, the quality of the programming was in the toilet so I had the options of watching brain candy or to start watching documentaries and I knew that, if I did that, that's all I'd ever do.

The option I chose was to watch my computer. On weekends, I treat myself to classic movies. During the week, I let the computer read me books (I'm dyslexic so I take the faster, less frustrating route) and I watch chosen (good!) documentaries (mostly from the local library), and lecture series (mostly from The Teaching Company, Gresham College, and OpenCourseWare). I haven't regretted the choice.

Some of the life-long learning I do supplements my hikes. This year, I'm doing survey hikes in the Denver area - seeing what's there, and many of the things I watch on the computer is about, museums, libraries, and finding and evaluating resources. Next year I'm going to be focusing on the psychology, philosophy and "parapsychology" of the trails in the area and much of the stuff I'll be watching on the computer will be about psychology, philosophy, and parapsychology. I'm working on articles for my website, blogs about the trails around here, and videos of science demonstrations to bring out next year. Frankly, I'm having a ball.

[hayshaker]

t's all breads and ciruses anyway mush the mind mind with useless gibberish.

[Rick]

What he said.....I think. Currently, I'm working on useful gibberish.

[hunter63]

I like "Days of Out Lives" and Football.....(for napping)

[WolfVanZandt]

LOL. When I worked on the lay barges, the guys were crazy about the soap operas! I was walking through the TV room one day and they were showing something about an evil genius' plot to freeze the world and it turned out to be General Hospital. As much as I hate soap operas, I got stuck on that one. GH got weird for a while (might still be for all I know.)