Dropping cable and/or dish.

[best12bars]

Has anybody done it? What do you miss?

What are the downsides to doing this? The upsides?

My partner and I are seriously considering it now. We watch a lot of PBS, HGTV, TCM, and that's about it. The occasional awards show (like tonight's Oscars).

We watch no network TV series shows. None. No sports. We like many of the Masterpiece Classic shows on PBS (Downton Abbey, Mr. Selfridge, The Paradise).

We watch the evening news (alternating channels, mostly out of frustration). We watch Colbert and Jon Stewart.

I'm not sure how people access these (or do they just go without)? What are the best alternatives to cable and/or Dish?

[best12bars]

What do people here think of Amazon Prime? Netflicks? Hulu, etc.? YouTube streaming? Do you end up paying as much for all of these services as you would for cable, just to get the shows you want?

What are the downsides as well as the good? What programming can't you get through them?

[ArtMan]

I used to have HBO and expanded cable, but downgraded it years ago to just basic cable. Which are really just the local stations and about 15 or so others, so my cable company can justify the $25 price. I have friends who only have antennas and all swear they pick up more stations with it than I do with cable. I believe if you went the route of antenna or basic, you would still get PBS and news, but you will miss the others. The plus for me is less channel surfing and decisions to make. The negative, for some shows on HBO that I used to enjoy, I have to wait for the dvd, because I don't stream.

[Addison D.]

I cut the cord years ago. I have a Mac mini (computer), connected to the Internet (media), my stereo receiver (sound) and my TV monitor (picture).

I'm too old to have been born with the belief that I 'deserve' to watch everything free of charge, so I have only cut the Time-Warner cord--if something isn't streamed from the source--Masterpiece Classic streams from PBS.org., for example--I pay for it.

It sounds like our viewing preferences are pretty closely aligned--except that I do watch *some* network programming--and I can say without hesitation that between Amazon.com and Netflix, there is nothing that I feel I am missing.

If you are compulsive about seeing programming the moment it airs, you may find the Amazon route frustrating, in that tonight's episode of XYZ isn't available until tomorrow. Personally, I found that I quickly created my own viewing schedule--often saving up a month's worth of a half-hour program, for example, and watching 2 hours' worth at once. Once you are accustomed to it, detaching from the official schedule is quite liberating.

Given that I was paying almost $100/month for TWC and that you can subscribe to an entire season of, say, 'Modern Family' for $30 (it will likely cost you $40 as I suspect you will watch in HD), you can see that the economics are compelling.

I have friends who rave about Chromecast, but I have not looked into it.

[JerseyGirl2]

Many shows, including the Comedy Central shows you enjoy, are streaming on the network websites the following day.

[best12bars]

Thanks for this feedback! Great ideas and suggestions.

It doesn't look like TCM can be streamed without a cable provider subscription login. They say as much on their website. I have the app on my phone and can stream from their site using my current login. But if I ditch cable, that will go away. Anybody else watch TCM without cable/dish? Is it even possible? What about HGTV?

P.S. -- we are currently paying about $105 per month for a basic "Bronze" package with the HD upgrade and DVR. That's on one TV in the household. That's $1,260 per year!

[Addison D.]

Oh, right. TCM. >sad trombone....<

That IS a problem. And for you, of all people, I should have remembered to acknowledge it.

I confess that I have a cable safety-net--I watch/record TCM at my brother's house.

I'll be curious to see if someone here has a work-around for TCM.

[Jordan Catalano]

Cable is expensive. I have HBO and SHOWTIME so my bill is a little higher but the way I look at it, is that I could pay $120 for unlimited entertainment for a month or spend that same amount and get 1 ticket for a 2 hour show on Broadway.

I also call the cable company once a month and find out what specials they're running. I change my cable/internet package all the time. Just yesterday, I re-upped an unadvertised special they were running for Showtime where it's $3 a month for another year and HBO for $5 a month for a year. I also managed to get a free upgrade to turbo speed internet and my DVR for free for a year with another unadvertised special they're running. I always call and ask what I can get for cheaper. Some months there's nothing but then other months there's amazing deals that last for a year.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Apple TV has a PBS app. I use Apple TV for streaming everything (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube) but Amazon Prime, which I stream on my blu ray player, as Apple TV doesn't have an app for it. You can stream Amaazon from your iphone to the Apple Tv, but it doesn't look very good. I have Amazon Prime and Netflix, and while there is some overlap in the shows and movies they offer, my household orders enough from Amazon that it makes Prime worth it, because you get the free two-day shipping in addition to the video library.

[AC126748]

No cable for me. I use Hulu Plus ($7.99 a month) and Netflix ($15 a month for streaming and physical DVDs). I watch The Daily Show on Comedy Central's website, and occasionally some MSNBC programs I enjoy (Melissa Harris-Perry, Chris Hayes, Steve Kornacki) either on MSNBC's website or via Sirius radio. I mostly get my news the old fashioned way (a newspaper) though. But, no cable for several years now, and very happy.

[Broadway Joe]

Sports are the only thing keeping me from dropping cable. If all I watched was tv shows and movies I would have dropped cable years ago.

I have been debating it a lot more recently and if it wasn't for family members in the house hold id probably drop it. The problem with sports is the blackouts that the internet packages provide so you sometimes have to wait up to 48hrs after the game airs to watch it which is a problem when you have season tickets and are seeing the next game in person in less then those 48hrs.

There are ways around it though and there are ways to obtain free movies and tv if you want to search that out though.

[AEA AGMA SM]

I've been cable free for a few years now. I'm subscribed to Netflix and Hulu Plus, which I stream through an Apple TV. I also have a digital antenna to get the networks over the air (and in HD). Hulu Plus does have a lot of Comedy Central shows available, such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. They also have the Criterion Collection available amongst their movie offerings.

The Apple TV does also have a PBS app, as others have mentioned, as well as HBO Go. Find a friend with HBO and share their log in info, the CEO of HBO has said that the company has no problem with that practice.

[best12bars]

These are all really great suggestions (scenarios)! Thanks, everybody!

I may have to get Apple TV, but other than PBS, what are the advantages of having it?

I currently have a PS3, which includes apps for Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and a few others (not PBS).

It does have an Internet app, too, so I'm assuming I could stream Comedy Central stuff that way? (Jon Stewart, etc.)

Our big TV is in the basement, so a digital antenna isn't practical there at all. We have other TVs already using it on the first and second floors, and it works fine. The YouTube app seems to work great, too.

This is sounding really tempting.

[Gothampc]

Thanks for all the information. I too am thinking about dropping cable and trying to make the decision.

[EricMontreal22]

I do fine without it, but we get over the air the major American networks and a couple of Canadian ones. However, I download a ton of my viewing via torrents, which is not exactly legal...

[DAME]

Besty;

The rumor mill is that Apple will be releasing a new version of Apple TV in May. I would wait.

[HorseTears]

I cut the cord two years ago and rarely regret it. Between Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and network specific apps like the PBS ipad app and HBO Go, I never run out of things to watch. I have a digital adapter boxtop set to watch broadcast tv live for things like the Oscars, Superbowl etc.

You will find there are some networks which make it very difficult to enjoy their programming online without a cable/satellite subscription. For shows which I can't wait to arrive on Netflix/Amazon/Hulu (ex: Breaking Bad), I'll just buy a season pass off of iTunes or Google Play and it still ends up costing less than a cable bill.

One other reason Hulu is great - especially for someone like you who enjoys classic cinema - is that Hulu gives you access to the Criterion Collection for no additional charge. That's an incredible value.

Oh, and like a lot of people, I get HBO GO for free. HBO knows that people share their HBO GO passwords and, for now at least, doesn't care. Their CEO has said as much, multiple times. In my particular case, I'm not "sharing" per se. My parents subscribe to HBO via cable, but they're technophobes and don't watch video on tablets, phones or even on their computers, so they gladly loaned me their HBO GO log-in.

[romantico]

I wish we could buy these channels by subscription. Comcast wants me to sign up for a sports package to get TCM.I have to pay an extra $14 a month and get stuck with 36 sports channels I'll never watch.Does that make sense? If they offered the FOX Classic Movie Channel or some other Art related channels I'd probably do it but a sports package?

I have HBO but with HBOGO I watch more HBO online than I do TV. I would gladly pay a $15 a month fee to get HBO on my computer or TCM or MSNBC or CNN if they sold them as a package that I can cater to my own watch list.I will probably do what Best12Bars is doing before the end of the year but I would have to revisit this topic again then.

[AC126748]

I felt the same way as you, Romantico, which is why I ended up quitting cable all together. I will go back when the cable company lets me choose the channels I want and charges me accordingly, but until then, I'm doing fine.

[Jordan Catalano]

I don't have cable in my bedroom, only in the living room but I do watch MSNBC online from this site I found that streams it if anyone is interested...


MSNBC

[Dollypop]

I had the Dish Network for about a year. My biggest complaint was that I got a lot fo mosaic images or no image at all when the dish filled with snow or ice.

[Tom1071]

I cut the chord just before Christmas. My monthly cable bill was $155 not including my Tivo subscription package ($16) and Netflix ($7.99). I dropped down to an internet only package for $51.51 a month for Turbo internet from TWC. I already owned Apple TV so I added a subscription of HULU Plus. I just recently bought a Mohu Leaf Digital Indoor Antenna on Amazon for $40 and connected it to my television and I get HD quality reception from ABC, CBS, PBS, NBC, CW and FOX as well as few others like COZI TV and TV ONE. It works with my Tivo as well so I can still DVR my network shows. And Tivo just informed me that I can buy a lifetime subscription (for the life of my Tivo box) for a one time fee of $99 which will pay for itself in 6 months (still considering that one).

I am missing out on LOGO, TNT and Bravo but I still have so many other options that I think those are acceptable losses. No regrets here whatsoever.

[best12bars]

Great feedback and info, guys!

I need to give it more thought to figure out exactly what I want to do, but I think this is in the cards.

They keep raising the cable monthly bill and I keep paying for 15 sports channels that I never watch. I can't justify the expense anymore.

[best12bars]

Okay, LONG post coming up, but I wanted to update you (for those interested).

Well, I did it. My last cable bill suddenly went up $11 per month for no reason (other than greed and probably desperation with dwindling customers). They wanted $122 per month for a single TV with a "Bronze" level package and an HD upgrade. No premium channels, no Silver or Gold level cable package either. That's one TV.

It was the final straw for me.

After weighing many options and reading feedback here, and asking friends who have done the same thing, I decided to buy a Roku3 and subscribe to Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and Warner Archives. I also registered with Vudu (no monthly premiums, everything is a la carte).

All of that combined is less than $40 per month. So my bill just dropped $82 per month.

And I'm loving it. As far as programming, I love the choices of films and TV shows on these combined channels, and dozens of other free channels (which most have ads or aren't as good quality in either programming or audio/video presentation).

Here's my "review" after one week of cutting the cord ...

The quality of picture and sound is good. It's better than I thought it would be. The signal is solid, and I even stream it via Wifi from two floors up. It's strong enough to take a high-quality HD signal without dropping picture or sound. So how do they rate to me?

Well, first things first. None of them are as good as Blu-ray, but one comes incredibly close. What they do succeed in doing is being as good or better than my cable signal. I was surprised to discover that.

Netflix - I don't like that the movies start in a rough SD signal for the first 30 seconds or so, then "ramp up" to HD. And even when the HD kicks in, the picture and sound are compressed. I would say it looks (on my 60" screen) like 720p. I haven't watched anything on Netfilx yet that looks like 1080p. The sound can be strong with good 5.1 separation, but it's still a bit compressed even on the best (and newest) films. They have a great choice of movies and TV shows, however. It was a bit overwhelming at first when I started adding things to my watch list. It helped me to "organize" a bit, though. I'm already watching many things I probably never would have seen otherwise.

Hulu Plus has a better HD signal overall than Netflix. I'm not sure it rises above 720p either, but it's very clear picture and sound. Their TV show selection is fantastic, and the fact that they have the entire Criterion collection available on demand, with most of the films in HD, is pure heaven.

Warner Archives has even better audio and video quality. This definitely looks like 1080p to me, and seeing older films, even rare titles, come through with such clarity is pretty stunning. I was blown away by how clear these oldies looked. I watched "Andy Hardy Meets a Debutante," "Travels With My Aunt," "Thank Your Lucky Stars," and several others with first-rate picture and sound. I didn't know those films could look that good now.

The best quality by far is Vudu. This nearly rivals the quality of Blu-ray video and audio. Again, there is no monthly premium, just pay-as-you-go. The catch? It's not cheap at all. Their rentals (when available) range from $2.99 to $5.99 for their "HDX" quality. The pricing actually tiers according to quality, You can often rent the same movie in SD or "regular" HD (probably 720p) for $1 to $2 less. But their HDX is the best streaming audio/video I've seen after playing around on many channels via the Roku 3.

One nice advantage about Vudu ... they link up to Ultraviolet and allow you to load in any Ultraviolet movies you already own. I never really considered it before, but many of the newer Blu-ray Discs come with an Ultraviolet pass code. You can go on line, enter the passcode into Vudu (you have to first register with Ultraviolet, but they don't charge any up-front fees either).

I grabbed a few titles I had already, like Les Miz, Hugo, The Woman in Black, E.T., The Matrix, the last 2 Harry Potter films, The Artist, Argo, etc., and I loaded in the Ultraviolet codes. Watching these films on Vudu, since I already own them on Blu-ray, it was very hard to tell the difference. It's that good. Also Vudu has a great, simple pop-up menu that includes subtitle options, chapters, and a few of these films come with the documentaries and other added content available on separate "tabs" for the film's main menu. It's as close an experience to watching a BD or DVD as I've seen via streaming. And it's definitely a game-changer. The advantage of Ultraviolet is that you can log in to any computer or any Vudu smart TV app and watch your movies that you have in your account. They also encourage you to "buy" films and TV shows, rather than rent them. You're not actually storing any content on a server, you're basically just getting access to stream your library anytime you want (in full HDX quality).

My only thought as to "ownership" is what if they suddenly go out of business? Or what if they suddenly decide to charge you a monthly access fee or a fee to "store" your library with them? I guess that's just the old-school in me, thinking you have to actually receive something tangible as proof you bought it or "own" it, rather than just a link to someone else's file on a website. But maybe in time, I'll get over that.

In any case, it's already changed my viewing habits in just one short week. And I haven't missed cable at all. There are a few shows and channels I wish would "get with the program." HGTV and the Food Network need to offer apps for viewing, just like the History Channel and Smithsonian Channel do now. The PBS channel needs to present their content in HD. It's all SD so far, and pretty washed out and compressed. You can watch many PBS programs via Amazon Prime and others, and the HD is okay. It's actually not as good as our PBS cable signal was, but that's (so far) true of Amazon Prime and Netflix, too.

And I wish Netflix wouldn't start every program in SD for 30 seconds to a minute before the HD kicks in. It's seriously annoying.

Still, the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

[Broadway Joe]

If you don't mind me asking how much are you paying a month for internet?

That's always been a major issue with Time Warner Cable for me, once you drop the cable package they charge a lot for a decent internet speed that it makes it not even worth it to do it.

[best12bars]

I realize many people have their Internet service via cable, and that makes the switch more complicated (aka, more expensive). We didn't have that problem, because our Internet service is via AT&T U-verse. We have a land line (because my partner insists on it, not because I particularly want it), so we have 250 long-distance phone minutes (we both have cell phones, too), plus U-verse Internet, which is strong enough to stream those HDX movies via WiFi that I described above. It's about $40 per month for that package.

We had that anyway, in addition to our pricey cable TV subscription, and we were waiting to see if the U-verse Television would be available in our area, but it stops just a few blocks from us with their fiberoptic lines, and they haven't expanded it in four years now. We gave up waiting on the hope that we could bundle all three for a good rate.

So killing cable came with no strings attached for us.