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With Hulu+, Roku, Amazon Prime and Netflix (total cost per month would be about $20, Prime is $99 per year but it gives you so much more value for your money than the tv shows)
Thanks all. I'm really seriously considering trying to do away with paying for the outrageous pricing and contracts with Satellite or Cable services. I'm really fed up with it, but I've gotten used to the convenience of all the cable and network programming. Has anyone just recently given it up and learned to appreciate NOT watching some of their favorite shows that may not be available by other means (e.g. Roku, Hulu, etc.)? Also, if I do purchase one of those "fancier" antennas (rather than me rigging one up myself), and I can't get the quality or number of channels I want, do they typically accept refunds?
Thanks all. I'm really seriously considering trying to do away with paying for the outrageous pricing and contracts with Satellite or Cable services. I'm really fed up with it, but I've gotten used to the convenience of all the cable and network programming. Has anyone just recently given it up and learned to appreciate NOT watching some of their favorite shows that may not be available by other means (e.g. Roku, Hulu, etc.)? Also, if I do purchase one of those "fancier" antennas (rather than me rigging one up myself), and I can't get the quality or number of channels I want, do they typically accept refunds?
Thanks in advance for all the helpful advice.
Not recently. Gave it up about 3 years ago. It was an adjustment first couple of months. My biggest losers were Bill Maher Real Time on HBO and MSNBC News. I can get parts of shows of Real Time on YouTube, and can get one day old MSNBC online. I survived.
I actually enjoy watching certain TV shows and other shows on Netflix, Amazon where there is a continuing story line. Much more enjoyable watching this way instead of having to wait a week for the next episode, by which time you have half forgotten what happened the week before. I guess it is referred to binge watching.
Depending on where you purchased your antenna, they usually accept returns. See how far your broadcasting towers are from you on TVFool.com, and see if they broadcast in both UHF and VHF, which many areas do. Then you know you need an antenna that will pull in both UHF and VHF, then check how long a distance towers are from your house. Then look at comments on Amazon. You can get a pretty good antenna for roof or attic or patio for around $50 unless you are far, far, away from towers.
This is one I purchased for $49.99. My towers were about 25 miles away. Very easy to put up and is very popular. It looks big but it is no more than 3 ft long.
And many of the shows on the internet do not have all the commercials. For examples, the Food Network's "Chopped" program has five 4-minute commercial period. The online version fund under 40 minutes.
I had been talking about doing this for a few months, the ever increasing costs were just stupid: $5/day just for the boob toob? (well the internet is in there too). A new $8/mo modem rental fee + a new unrelated $300/mo expense gave me the push I needed. I had pretty much set up alternatives (roku, antenna, computer to tv) but I had a hard time actually doing the deed. It was as if I had to set up a colonoscopy & dawdled & stalled.
I realized that I have had cable for 30 years & my pattern in the evenings always revolved around certain shows or movies. Bringing that box back was like breaking up a LTR. Its gone now... I watched some youtube & CBSN after dinner. I think it's going to be ok.
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