Thinking about cancelling cable

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vherub

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And still watch hd tv, since the cable bill keeps getting higher.
Anyone with some experience on this?
Netflix/hulu plus seem the way to go, along with an hd ota tuner
But I also see Roku, Tversity, Playon, apple tv as options
I have a ps3, and would be looking for an easy to use solution (so my gf isn't frustrated), ideally tying up as few machines as possible in the process
 
I called up my cable provider with every intent on canceling. I seriously didn't want their service anymore. Surprisingly the lady I talked to was very helpful, she actually listened to me. I then named my own price saying, "Bottomline I will only keep you if I my bill is $xx.xx amount and you credit me for some bad service I recived." Sure as shit she came back on after talking to her manager and approved everything I requested. I've called them before complaining about service with very poor service and no solution to my problem so it was surprising to be catered to.

Point is call up your provider planning to cancel. If they really want to keep you as a customer they will pull strings.
 
I've been contemplating canceling my cable ever since I started streaming netflix a couple years ago. I have a device on every TV in the house doing it - roku in living room, xbox/ps3 in loft/mancave, wii in master bedroom (non hdtv)... 90% of what my wife and I watch are streamed from netflix or content streamed from my PC to ps3 or 360.. I just can't convince my wife to cancel, if it where up to me we would :whistle2:]
 
We've been living without cable for about a year now, and we haven't missed too much. We use an HD OTA to get the local channels, and we even get a bunch of other channels to boot, although most of them are in Spanish.:) We stream Netflix and Hulu using a PS3 and a WD TV live box with a program called Playon that runs on my pc. It has worked out pretty well so far.
 
Although I agree, cable is one of those things that no one really needs but just has for the sake of having. But I am always confused at how people spend so much on their bill. My HD cable and cable internet combo package has always been around 70 bucks a month.

I dont know if that is considered expensive but I lived in several different states and never paid over that. Are you guys negotiating prices when first setting up service or do you just pay what is advertised?
 
We have DirectTV, but I barely watch it at all and my Dad only watches C-SPAN and Sports.

We'd get rid of it, but we just had them send us a new box, so we're locked in for another two years.

When I finally get my own place, I'm just going to go with Netflix and OTA TV. I watch a lot of CBS, so that's fine with me.
 
Since you have a ps3, I would stream content off of tv duck (google it).

After I found that I could watch most cable content via the PS3 web browser, my time spent on the PS3 increased dramatically.

If you like sports, try channel surfing (yep, google it).
 
Cancel it. It took several months to convince my wife to that cancelling our Direct TV was in our best interest. If you are already considering cancelling it, then you should go through with it. Hulu/Netflix offer a very inexpensive alternative to keep visually entertained when not playing video games. Besides, if all else fails and you want your service back, most competetor's introductory offers will be better than what you are currently paying your provider (of course this isn't absolutely true, but it can be a silver lining if you decide to go back to paying for cable/satellite).
 
If you're not big into sports, there isn't much reason to pay for TV IMO. Just to pricey when you can just do Netflix and Hulu/the network sites to watch all the shows.

I'm huge in to sports so I keep my DirecTV, but that's the only reason.
 
thanks for the comments.
I do like sports, but mostly football and don't care for the local teams anyway.
Where I am in Manhattan, Time Warner Cable is the only cable/internet option. RCN is not available, and Verizon is nonfios, so the d/l speeds are anemic. The monthly bill for roadrunner, and basic cable w/1 dvr is $130. Have tried negotiating a rate reduction, but timewarner hasn't been receptive (probably the lack of competition).
Going highspeed online would be $50/month. Not a huge amount saved, but worth it if low hassle.

How is roku? Is it as easy to access content as hulu?
the cancel, restart is a possibility, but timewarner has an installation charge. Again, not much, but it's a kick in the nuts fee.
 
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[quote name='Rodimus']I called up my cable provider with every intent on canceling. I seriously didn't want their service anymore. Surprisingly the lady I talked to was very helpful, she actually listened to me. I then named my own price saying, "Bottomline I will only keep you if I my bill is $xx.xx amount and you credit me for some bad service I recived." Sure as shit she came back on after talking to her manager and approved everything I requested. I've called them before complaining about service with very poor service and no solution to my problem so it was surprising to be catered to.

Point is call up your provider planning to cancel. If they really want to keep you as a customer they will pull strings.[/QUOTE]

Almost exactly what I did last month.

I had been on a two-year plan with my cable/Internet provider; $70 a month for HD Cable service and Internet.

Well, the first month after the two-year contract was over our new bill was going to be $148 or some crap. I immediately called with intent to cancel. I explained that I didn't want their service unless I was going to receive the service for the same $70 price. They agreed, and set us up with another year.
 
I've been without cable TV for over a year. At first it was kind of hard not being able to watch a few of the shows I'd watch when bored, but with the internet you can find anything at any given time.

Netflix helps fill the void, and with Hulu coming to Xbox 360 soon that will easily trounce anything cable TV has to offer me.
 
i cant belive people pay full price for cable..

im getting high speed internet for 19.99 (Normal price 42.95) they give me a promo for 6 months.. at the end of every 6 months i call them up and say i will cancel and they toss me another 6 months at 19.99

Cable we were under free showtime and starz for a year.. year expired on 12/15 called them up and said going to cancel. they go here have another year for free

right now

cable with full digital channels (around 200)
FREE HD channles
FREE DVR
FREE HBO (10 channels)
FREE SHOWTIME (8 channels)
FREE CINamax (10 channels
FREE STARZ (6 channels)

paying 54.99 a month where basic cable is 52.99 what my uncle is paying cause he is too lazy to call in to get a promo)


cable makes its money off people who are too lazy to call in to request better prices
 
[quote name='Rig']
Well, the first month after the two-year contract was over our new bill was going to be $148 or some crap. I immediately called with intent to cancel. I explained that I didn't want their service unless I was going to receive the service for the same $70 price. They agreed, and set us up with another year.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I always had luck getting promos extended with Comcast with calling and threatening to switch to satellite when my promos were up.

I have DirecTV now since I get 10MPBS internet provided through my condo fees--before I stuck with Cable since cable internet costs so much if you don't also have a TV package with it (and DSL sucked where I lived before).
 
[quote name='slidecage']i cant belive people pay full price for cable..

im getting high speed internet for 19.99 (Normal price 42.95) they give me a promo for 6 months.. at the end of every 6 months i call them up and say i will cancel and they toss me another 6 months at 19.99

Cable we were under free showtime and starz for a year.. year expired on 12/15 called them up and said going to cancel. they go here have another year for free

right now

cable with full digital channels (around 200)
FREE HD channles
FREE DVR
FREE HBO (10 channels)
FREE SHOWTIME (8 channels)
FREE CINamax (10 channels
FREE STARZ (6 channels)

paying 54.99 a month where basic cable is 52.99 what my uncle is paying cause he is too lazy to call in to get a promo)


cable makes its money off people who are too lazy to call in to request better prices[/QUOTE]

what cable company do you have?
 
I pay $61.50 a month for 20Mbps internet and around 20 or so channels. Luckily Cox has this ghetto package where you get news, WGBH, public programming, Spanish channels, BET, MTV, CW, VH1, Bravo, HGTV, and TV Guide channel for ridiculously cheap. Aside from Lifetime, those are the only channels I watch anyway.
 
Yeah, if your canceling because your cable bill is to big, call them up. Say that your thinking of canceling because its to expensive in these "tough times" etc, and they should lower your bill, or give you some promos to even it out. Direct TV has bended over for me big time for the past 5 years with my service.

If your canceling because cable is to much for your viewing interest, then yeah, hulu/netflix and even online streams, (like veetle) can be a great alternative.
 
[quote name='slidecage']im getting high speed internet for 19.99 (Normal price 42.95) they give me a promo for 6 months.. at the end of every 6 months i call them up and say i will cancel and they toss me another 6 months at 19.99[/QUOTE]

I starting doing this too. Works everytime.
 
[quote name='davo1224']I pay $61.50 a month for 20Mbps internet and around 20 or so channels. Luckily Cox has this ghetto package where you get news, WGBH, public programming, Spanish channels, BET, MTV, CW, VH1, Bravo, HGTV, and TV Guide channel for ridiculously cheap. Aside from Lifetime, those are the only channels I watch anyway.[/QUOTE]

Before I moved I was playing $70 a month to comcast for 12MBPS internet, with full digital cable with HD, DVR and HBO after all taxes etc.

Was just a 1 year promo I got when I moved down to ATL. Now internet is included in the condo fees and my DirecTV bill is around $50 (2nd tier package with HD-DVR and the sports pack). Will go up $20 or 30 bucks when the promo is up after a year though.
 
If I could get ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and NBA Network OTA, I'd cancel cable in a heartbeat. Sadly, if you're really into sports, cable/satellite kind of has you by the balls.
 
Been thinking of cancelling my cable for awhile but never had the balls to pull the string. I do like tv but I usually end up listening to dumb shows while I surf the web or just for noise around the house when i'm up to whatever.

I liked all the new suggestions in this thread. I can watch most everything i'm into streaming or torrents plus my net provider does give ESPN3 for free. This month was my first non-promo rate bill from when I moved in and YIKES all the extras added up. I'll save $85 a month just having 20mbps internet and dumping cable plus I already have Netflix on my PS3.

Maybe I should try dumping cable this month and then calling next month about cancelling internet and see if they call my bluff. If nothing else maybe they'll up me to a promo trial or 50mb internet. It's $50 extra a month to go from 20 to 50! lol
 
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I've been thinking about this forever too. If my internet were better (most shows online with NBC/CBS/etc... are a little choppy and I'm not sure I want to invest $10 a month for Hulu if it isn't as good as broadcast) and the only thing I'd miss is local hockey games.
 
i did it and dont miss it, between hulu plus and netflix theres only 3 shows i cant watch Raw, Smallville, and Dexter, and to me those arent worth $60+ a month
 
Yep, and you can always rent seasons of those kind of shows via discs from Netflix (as long as you don't have the streaming only plan anyway).
 
HD Cable and Ondemand thru cable kill anything Netflix has too offer. I signed up for Netflix just for the instant streaming on the 360 and canceled it before the free month was off. Their instant stream lineup is HORRIBLE. With Ondemand I get HD movies from all my movie channels and complete HD seasons of shows that are actually current shows.
 
I dropped cable and got the highest tier of internet my provider offered for streaming to multiple devices. OTA tv is pretty good in my area, though, so YMMV.
 
[quote name='pimpster4183']HD Cable and Ondemand thru cable kill anything Netflix has too offer. I signed up for Netflix just for the instant streaming on the 360 and canceled it before the free month was off. Their instant stream lineup is HORRIBLE. With Ondemand I get HD movies from all my movie channels and complete HD seasons of shows that are actually current shows.[/QUOTE]

Well, if you're someone who wants to watch current shows--at least the premium channel ones--as they air, then yeah, cable is the way to go.

I love Netflix's streaming, but mainly use it for movies as I'm a big movie buff and don't watch all that much in terms of TV series. Selection of movies and documentaries is great. Not new releases, but that's what the disc rentals are for. Plenty of TV shows on there as well if you don't care about watching current seasons.
 
[quote name='SEH']If I could get ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and NBA Network OTA, I'd cancel cable in a heartbeat. Sadly, if you're really into sports, cable/satellite kind of has you by the balls.[/QUOTE]

This. Its even worse when your cable provider wants extra for channels such as Fox Soccer Channel yet absolutely refuse to add the HD feed. Bastages.
 
[quote name='SEH']If I could get ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and NBA Network OTA, I'd cancel cable in a heartbeat. Sadly, if you're really into sports, cable/satellite kind of has you by the balls.[/QUOTE]

Pretty much, if it wasn't for sports channels I could live without cable for the most part. Unfortunately there's just not another way for me to watch the Sharks game in HD tonight.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']Pretty much, if it wasn't for sports channels I could live without cable for the most part. Unfortunately there's just not another way for me to watch the Sharks game in HD tonight.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I tried going without for a bit a few years back, but I couldn't do it and ended up spending more money at sports bars watching my team's games than I do on cable. So I just resigned myself to needing cable.

Direct TV is even better for me (or Dish Network) as I can get MASN through their sports packs and see pretty much all my college teams football and basketball games that aren't on national TV for a good bit cheaper than buying the Gameplay/Full Court packages.
 
Depending on how ghetto people are willing to go, Sports can be viewed online for free at sites like atdhe.net.

There is even a new site that does HD streams!
 
yeah luckily the shows I watch are generally freely available after they air. Comedy Central is good for that.

OTA antenna covers big games and local stations.
 
[quote name='help1']Depending on how ghetto people are willing to go, Sports can be viewed online for free at sites like atdhe.net.

There is even a new site that does HD streams![/QUOTE]

ive used atdhe plenty of times before. the streaming quality just isnt up to par with HD. its useful to use in a pinch but i wouldnt want to rely on it for a full NFL or NHL season.
 
I would cancel cable in a heartbeat and go to Netflix and basic free tv, but the other half will not be happy if we lose her shows on TLC, HLN, CNN, Food Network, and (God help me) the new Oprah network.

Anyone know if it's possible to get these channels major shows over Hulu or some other similar service?
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']Pretty much, if it wasn't for sports channels I could live without cable for the most part. Unfortunately there's just not another way for me to watch the Sharks game in HD tonight.[/QUOTE]

I try to find streams online if there's a game I want to watch via MyP2P.eu. Also signed up for MLB.TV last year which I think was worth it to have access to all games through my PS3. And the free ESPN on the 360 helps as well.
 
It must be nice to live in area where *insert cable company name here* doesn't have a monopoly on the market.

Here if you try to haggle with them they don't care because there are plenty of other people willing to pay. My landlord doesn't allow satellite dishes so I'm basically SOL.

Currently, the only reasons we are keeping it is are as follows:
1. Espn 1 and 2 for sports.
2. Cartoon Network and Disney for my roommate's daughter. I'm pretty sure Hulu streams CN shows but does it also stream Disney channel stuff?
 
[quote name='evildeadjedi']

Here if you try to haggle with them they don't care because there are plenty of other people willing to pay. My landlord doesn't allow satellite dishes so I'm basically SOL.

[/QUOTE]

I remember in my apartment, they pulled this too, but it's illegal in MN. They can't not let you have one.

I will say one thing - if you live alone without roomates or wives/gf, you watch a lot more TV than if you lived with someone.

Although right now I watch mostly over the air TV (CBS), and spend most of my time on the Internet and gaming.
 
For the guy wanting Raw check out Veetle. It's the greatest iPhone toy ever I use it to watch all my sports at work. They always have wrestling feeds and UFC and and and. :) the website offers alot more content as well.
 
[quote name='2DMention']I remember in my apartment, they pulled this too, but it's illegal in MN. They can't not let you have one.
[/QUOTE]

Most places that's only true if:

1. You have a patio or balcony where you can set a dish.
2. You can do it with drilling no holes to mount the dish or run the cable inside.

So it makes the law a moot point in many apartment complexes as many don't have balconies or patios (law doesn't require landlords to allow putting them on roofs, the ground, exterior walls etc. as tenants aren't renting those things--just the interior and any balcony or patio attached to the unit). And even with them it's often impossible to get the cable inside without drilling anyholes unless there's a door or window that you can get the flat cable under.
 
Here's my cable-free setup that myself (and my wife) are extremely happy with.

Custom built PC Running Windows 7
With 2TB USB Drive
2x 500gb internal Media Drives
Hauppage PCI HD Tuner Card
HD Antenna
Hooked up to our 40 inch LCD via HDMI.

Windows Media Center is the main frontend, where we schedule OTA recordings for all the network shows we watch (How I met your mother, modern family, simpsons, family guy, house, bones etc)
with Boxee installed as a selectable app to switch to for streaming / general media and netflix playing, along with Hulu Desktop/XBMC. Air Video runs on the PC as well to steam all the video files to our iphones from anywhere.

Everything is controlled with our harmony remote, very easy to use and wife friendly.

Built the computer for about $430 (minus the 2tb usb drive, cause i had this before i bought the PC, along with the harmony remote and antenna)

So all in, it's probably a $650 investment, which if you are paying $60 a month for cable, you make up in less than a year.

I can't recommend setting up a HTPC enough, if you have a little bit of patience to work out the kinks, it can be really fantastic.

The only thing else we have is an original Roku hooked up to a crt tv in the bedroom for netflix only and my wife mostly uses this when i'm playing videogames or before we go to bed. She loves it.

The hole in this setup is sports. I don't watch any sports so it's not a real issue. I have fios so i get ESPN 3 on 360 and PC, but I never use it. Any sporting events that i end up watching are always on network (super bowl, world series) so it's not a concern for me, but I can see how you can get boned if you are a sports fan, although, a lot of the sports have streaming services now so that's something.
 
[quote name='SEH']If I could get ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and NBA Network OTA, I'd cancel cable in a heartbeat. Sadly, if you're really into sports, cable/satellite kind of has you by the balls.[/QUOTE]


This....This.... SO MUCH THIS!!! And when Direct TV throws NFL Sunday ticket or NBA Season pass for free, they have me by the balls so hard.:whistle2:#
 
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[quote name='slidecage']i cant belive people pay full price for cable..

im getting high speed internet for 19.99 (Normal price 42.95) they give me a promo for 6 months.. at the end of every 6 months i call them up and say i will cancel and they toss me another 6 months at 19.99

Cable we were under free showtime and starz for a year.. year expired on 12/15 called them up and said going to cancel. they go here have another year for free

right now

cable with full digital channels (around 200)
FREE HD channles
FREE DVR
FREE HBO (10 channels)
FREE SHOWTIME (8 channels)
FREE CINamax (10 channels
FREE STARZ (6 channels)

paying 54.99 a month where basic cable is 52.99 what my uncle is paying cause he is too lazy to call in to get a promo)


cable makes its money off people who are too lazy to call in to request better prices[/QUOTE]
I must agree....because I'm doing the same

Just like satelite radio. I had sirius a few years ago....every 6 months i'd call 'em up and act like i was going to cancel. and they would pull every string possible for me not to.

One time they even sent me a hat! My favorite hat....


Point is....if it's an "entertainment" bill, you got leeway
 
Sports is the kicker for a lot of people, but if you just watch your local team and major sports, OTA TV is just fine.

My Dad can't do that, because he watches the Big 10 channel and I don't think you can stream that.
 
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