Comments on: Want Free Cable TV? Why Not try Cheap Alternatives to Cable?

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:18:43 +0000

My wife and I recently dropped our premium cable channels and kept basic cable and internet service. We are saving $100 a month and not missing a thing! Between PBS and Netflix the kids can watch their favorite shows and I still get ESPN through my Xbox 360. I wonder why more people don’t do this?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:54:37 +0000

K.C. That’s a great way to save money, especially if you aren’t much of a TV watcher. I don’t personally watch much TV, but the shows my wife and I watch tend to be on cable – often the Travel Channel, Food Network, Discover, History, ESPN, and The Disney Channel for our little one. That said, I don’t think we would be heartbroken to cut the cord and go without – just as long as I can keep my fast internet connection!

By: K.C.

K.C. — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:24:44 +0000

We haven’t had cable for over twenty-five years. When we travel, we channel surf cable in the motel. Despite the number of channels, we rarely find anything that really grabs our attention.

We bought the adapter boxes for our old analog TV’s and watch broadcast digital. Our favorite channel is Retro TV. They broadcast old TV series (we’re old, too). Some good stuff. We have been disappointed in the quality of broadcast digital, however. The picture is constantly breaking up. We get “No Signal” way too often. Maybe it’s the cheap adapter or cheap antenna. Anyway, “not as advertised” by the government. The quality and reliability of broadcast analog was much better.

We supplement our entertainment with old movies on VHS tapes we buy at Goodwill for a buck a piece.

By: Kimberly @ Card Hub

Kimberly @ Card Hub — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:13:30 +0000

Hulu is the way to go! I hardly ever watch TV shows on TV anymore, too many commercials. Even if I want to watch a network show I wait until the next day to watch it on their website – the quality is good and they only run a 30 second commercial during the breaks, versus the typical 20 minutes of commercials during an hour long program.

By: Hank

Hank — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:27:46 +0000

I’m a big fan of the instant tv shows and movies that are available on Netflix. I recently bought a Roku box so I can watch those instantly on my TV. You can also do the same with an Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii, etc. This is a great free option if you already use Netflix and have an internet connection.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:48:15 +0000

BMT, many of the networks are actually raising the prices they charge cable companies because their revenues are down. It is having he opposite affect of your prediction, and many basic cable plans are becoming more expensive. The competition between the major providers is the only thing currently keeping pricing in check. We still have our cable for the time being, but I wouldn’t be opposed to dropping cable at some point – we rarely watch much TV. Unfortunately, the channels we watch most often are cable only channels!

By: basicmoneytips

basicmoneytips — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:13:47 +0000

Interesting article. I think in some ways that cable may go the route the land phones. However, there is so much advertising money I do not think it will continue to be free. However, I think you will see lower costs in the next 5 years as cable and dish networks compete for internet business.

I travel some internationally for work, and I know I catch up with a lot of TV that I like over the internet now, provided I can get a decent internet connection.

It will certainly impact TV down the road, that is for sure.