Is cable TV worth keeping?

[PrettySquareGal]

Once again Time Warner is raising their fees. I love TCM and some of the other cable channels, but I am wondering if it's worth what I'm paying.

What about you? Have you given up cable TV or are you considering it? How did you fill in the gaps- watch shows online? Netflix etc?

By the way, I still have tube TVs.

 

[rue]

I got rid of our cable in Ohio when our contract was up, because Time Warner kept threatening to get rid of certain channels that I watched because they wouldn't pay higher prices and I was sick of paying for a bunch of channels I didn't want, but was forced to have because of their two year contract. I was fine when it was gone, because I rarely watched TV anyway, although I did miss TCM and the History Channel.

I have cable again, because when we moved it was a different company that we didn't have to sign a two year contract with (and my daughter wanted it back), but I've gotten so used to not having it, that I forget I do.

I fill the gab by watching old movies on youtube and I read the paper for news.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I wonder this about my dish, too. I don't watch that much Television. I could easily get Netflix for my Xbox and get Live and come out ahead in the long run. Then, many shows that I watch would be available to me whenever I want. I still can get over-the-air stations, so I could catch the local news and Lawrence Welk on PBS. I was channel surfing last night. All those channels and nothing I wanted to watch. It leaves you thinking "Is this really what I'm paying for?"

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I got rid of broadcast cable and just kept the internet connection.

 

[HeyMoe]

Haven't had cable or sattelite tv for the last 7 years and I don't miss it at all.

 

[Rathdown]

Generally I feel cable is worth the cost even though I am, at best, an occasional viewer. I actually like the choice that cable provides (sometimes one really is in the mood for a Mexican horror film about wrestling Aztec mummies, honest), just as I prefer going to a book store rather than down loading to my kindle (which I don't have). Being spoiled for choice causes, I believe, one to become more discriminating in their tastes, rather than using "the box" as some sort of soporific to fill in the time between dinner (way too early in the USA) and bed time.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I don't watch the news on TV- the Internet and radio are just fine. Maybe I can do a test run and not watch cable for a week and put aside the amount of money I spent for that time in a piggy bank to see how I feel.

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

About 4 years ago, I was rearranging my living room, and moved the TV; it didn't work. At first I thought I had done the wiring wrong, but after checking realized the outlet was dead. I could've called maintenance, but I just never got around to it. After three months I realized I just didn't miss it that much. So I called and cancelled it. It was kind of fun telling the customer rep that I wasn't changing companies, but was completely ditching cable. That money pays for my sushi dinners now, among other things.

There are a couple of channels I miss- the History Channel and Mythbusters being at the top of the list. But I figure it this way. I have more time for reading and other hobbies. The internet and Youtube have plenty of things (like this forum) to entertain me. And the approximately $800-900 I save a year can purchase DVD's of series I might enjoy watching- which I can lend around to friends. I can also also go to a sports bar and have a meal with drinks for games I want to see- and other people to watch the game with! It also helps that if I NEED the money for something important, I have one more place I can economize. I am tempted by Netflix, but their recent kurfluffle has me skittish.

There is a big element of "what do I really want" in this. There are so many things to spend money on, that I think selectivity is required. I love my Nook, but I want nothing to do with Ipad. I'd love it, but I refuse to add one more ongoing monthly bill for it. I'm sure everyone's list varies.

 

[LizzieMaine]

For me, it's only worth keeping for the fun of telling the upgrade-salestalkers I don't need their bundled phone service doodads, I'm perfectly happy with my rotary dials. And for the look on the face of the service technician when he sees my TV.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I was having issues with my receiver for my dish and had the repairman look at it. As I am walking him through the place to the TV, he says "Judging by the looks of the place, I'm guessing you have one of those old Consoles" Once around the corner, his jaw dropped and he laughed. He says "Well, I guess I hit that nail on the head."

For me, it's only worth keeping for the fun of telling the upgrade-salestalkers I don't need their bundled phone service doodads, I'm perfectly happy with my rotary dials. And for the look on the face of the service technician when he sees my TV.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The Time Warner guy looked at my set and said "Wow, that must be from, what, Civil War times?"

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I think he's off by a few decades. Quite a few decades!

The Time Warner guy looked at my set and said "Wow, that must be from, what, Civil War times?"

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I must say I am very happy with cable phone service because it does save me money compared to landline plus it works with my rotaries! True when power goes out so does phone service, even with a dependable no power needed rotary.

 

[scottyrocks]

We have cable here. I watch maybe 4 or 5 channels with any sort of regularity, and I could get along without any of them. But no one else in the house would stand for broadcast TV only.

 

[scotrace]

When I moved a couple of years ago, I dropped TV watching altogether. I miss being able to watch Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, TCM. But are those things worth the $80/mo? Nope. So no TV and I won't get it again unless I get a roommate who can't live without it.

 

[Angus Forbes]

We have basic satellite TV service but find its value to be marginal, at best. It's likely to be the next thing dropped from our budget. OTOH, we use and enjoy Netflix a lot. They have a pretty good selection of old movies and TV programs on DVD.

 

[C-dot]

My parents gave up cable a good 9 years ago, and I didn't get it for myself when I moved out. Like others have said, the only reason I would want cable would be to have TCM, but I have a very large collection of those movies myself and can easily obtain more (besides, my aunt has cable, so if there is something good on TCM I can watch it at her place).

As for TV shows, broadcast channels like the CBC come in on the bunny ears, so I can still catch the news, Jeopardy, some choice documentaries and Judge Judy. The only network show I watch is Mad Men, and I get it off the internet before buying the season when it comes out. All the other shows I like were made over 40 years ago, so again, I get those on DVD or off the internet.

Saves me money - I can get TV and internet, and only pay for one.

 

[sheeplady]

I've never had cable in my adult life, although my parents had cable when I was in high school (before that, we basically had no television). I only watch the news (5am), PBS mostly, and one other show. We get 4 (yes, count them, 4) PBS stations via broadcast. They have an entire channel here that half the time is old movies. If you have an older TV, you can get a digital/ analog converter, and they work wonderfully well if you are in range of a transmitter (ask a neighbor).

We do have broadband cable internet ($50 a month) and local telephone service ($20 a month). The local telephone service allows us to accept long distance calls, and we can make local calls for 10 cents a call. We just can't call long distance (we use a cell phone for that) but ask that people who call us frequently do so to the landline number because it is better quality.

 

[HadleyH]

When I watch TV I only watch cable.

Free to air, sadly is rubbish.[huh]

 

[Old Rogue]

Since I've paid for satellite TV for many years now I guess the answer for me is yes, it is worth keeping. Like many others in here I love all of the History/Discovery/TCM/news type channels. I also don't mind all the sports channels .