So after True Blood ends I'm cutting off the cable TV.

[LynneSin]

I'm just amazed at how out of control my cable bill is getting. I remember about 5-6 years ago I didn't need a cable box and some reason I got 1 channel of HBO for free. I would love to go back to that but unfortunately if I want HBO (because I like their TV series and movies) then I have to pay thru the roof to have the channel.

Recently I just bought an AppleTV which includes Netflix - I figured for $15 a month I can have my movies along with movie streaming. And I just found out this past weekend that I can get HuluPlus thru my Wii so for $10 a month I can get most current non-pay cable TV shows. I'm switching my home phone to a Magic Jack which means I would end up paying just for my internet. I'm thinking I can get my monthly Phone/TV/Internet bill from $150 a month down to $60 a month.

Anyhow, I would like some other suggestions and ideas on how to cut down this bill. Anyone here have good luck with any of the dish networks? I was thinking if I did want to add TV back in (for season 6 of TB) then I could go with a different system other than comcast.

Suggestions?

[RiffRandell]

1. I have a love/hate relationship with directv.

We have the full package (all the movie channels) and I can always (usually) find something on. We pay for the football package which is outrageous but we are from NE and can't miss the Pats. PM me and I can tell you how we reduce our bill.

We pay a tad over $100 bucks, but have additional charges with charter (who completely sucks) for internet/cable/phone.

All in all, we pay about $230.00 a month for all of the above. Screwsville.

Don't do it...Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie...so many good shows.

[LynneSin]

2. After True Blood I vowed to not commit to any Pay-Cable TV shows

There are actually very few TV shows I watch on a regular basis and most of them are available on Hulu the next day (like 30 Rock). I realize the only reason I've kept HBO was for True Blood, so when that series is ended then I'm finished watching any TV show on pay-cable unless I rent the DVD when they are released.

I've attempted to watch some of HBO's new series - I tried 'Game of Thrones' but I was never into that Medievil stuff. I wasn't much into the ganster dramas like Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire. I attempted to watch Girls but that show is just beyond awful and unwatchable. It was funny - the lead character made a funny to her doctor after the doctor said 'You couldn't pay me to be 24 again'. The girl was like 'I'm 24 and nobody is paying me'. Well guess what - you couldn't pay ME to watch a show about 24 year olds, that's for sure.

I probably could like the Julia Louis Dryfus show 'Veep' but I'm thinking that's one of those shows I'll save for when it's out on rental. That's what I do with 'Weeds' and it's worked the last few seasons.

[RiffRandell]

3. I hate Girls.

I have shopped at thrift stores, but Hannah's wardrobe is beyond poor. I could get even meaner, but then I'd have a bunch of people here on my ass which I'm not up to since I'm babysitting 3 first graders. But if you must, go for it!

[LynneSin]

6. I catch bits and pieces here and there and it's just beyond awful

I guess HBO has been searching forever with a replacement for 'Sex and the City' and frankly this 'Girls' show isn't even close. What's ironic is each of the girls on 'Girls' kinda mirrors one of the 'SATC' girls including a Charlotte wannabe who even admits she is a Charlotte. Talk about lack of originality.

And you're right about the lead's wardrobe. I do like that the girl is normal size - kudos for doing something right. But you are right about her wardrobe. I also think that guy she is sleeping with defines the word 'Douchebag'. That guy kinda is like a young Mr. Big (from SATC) where he plays the emotionality unavailable guy that the girl probably would be best to dump but just quite can't do it but the kid that plays the sorta boyfriend is just hideous yucky. With Carrie and Big - we knew Big was a jerk but we still rooted for those 2 to finally make it (in the end they did). With Hanna and that douchebag she's sleeping with you just root for her to get a clue and ditch the asshole.

[RiffRandell]

13. Exactly.

I'm glad the girl is not the typical Hollywood waif as well...I just wish she would put on a little makeup. I'm no Tammy Faye Baker but I do love my lipstick and mascara...she just looks so washed out to me. Marnie (played by Allison Williams) is not a good actress imo. Don't even get me started on the "like oh my god!" virgin.

Unlike Adam, Big was never a weirdo, just a commitment phobe. And way hotter!

[LynneSin]

14. I keep screaming to have Adam put a damn shirt on

Adam is just creepy and not even worthy to shine the shoes of Mr. Big.

[OriginalGeek]

5. I only caught the end of Veep

the other night because it was on before Game of Thrones (I do love all that medieval shit lol - every silly magic sword of it)
and I laughed my ass off for about 4 minutes - JLD came out of the restroom at an elementary school holding a cup of pee becasue she was going to take a pregnancy test but she managed to spill it on her hand some and then went and immediately shook hands with someone I gather she didn't like...

I guess ya had to be there...but it was funny....and I don't even like JLD all that much..I don't hate her, she was fine in Seinfeld, but I didn't like that show she had on a couple years back...she's not someone I would watch because it's her - but I'd watch if her show was well done. And Veep looks like it might be...but I guess I've already missed a season of it...

Anyway - yeah, we only keep HBO for True Blood and GoT now - when their seasons are over we dump it - and then get it back for the new season...I think I would have liked to see the Steve Buscemi show though - he IS someone I would watch just because it's him.

[Submariner]

15. Are you sure you need the football package?

I'm on the Cape and have had DirecTV for 2 years now, and have been able to watch ALL the Pats games without the football package. The Pats games may bounce around the networks and cable sport channels, but have always been broadcasted without any blackouts.

[RiffRandell]

18. Yes because we live in GA.

We moved here from New England 16 years ago and have to watch our Pats. Baseball package we can do without....one year I bought it and the Sox immediately tanked. Not surprising.

[Bolo Boffin]

4. I cut cable a couple of months ago.

I have a friend who still has it. We watch all the same shows, so I go over on Sunday nights and we fire up the DVR.

I tried using the wifi capabilities of my cellphone service, but it was ludicrous for streaming or surfing. So I went with a decent Internet plan from Time Warner (I'd had U-Verse before). I had no service issues with U-Verse at all. But for everything I wanted in cable, it cost right below $200 a month. Now I'm paying down my credit card with that.

[LynneSin]

7. That's what I'm thinking - the extra $100 a month I could do alot of things with it

Why should I pay $100 a month so I could sit on my ass and watch endless movies and bad TV?

[avebury]

8. You would be surprised at how many of the tv shows

on non-premium channels that you can watch on the internet. You can just link your computer to your TV and stream them from the internet. If you look to see what you can stream from your computer to your TV you might find out that you don't really need to pay for HuluPlus.

I got rid of my DVR a few weeks ago and it has helped me to re-evaluate my TV viewing habits. I have dropped shows that I used to watch and find that I don't really miss them. Also, if I see articles reporting that a show is doing poorly in the ratings and is likely to be cancelled I go ahead and stop watching it. I do like Netflix and might join again because I love being able to watch a lot of British TV shows.

[hunter]

9. Satellite and cable are dead to me.

My life is better without them.

My inexpensive unlimited internet connection is too slow for broadcast quality video but plenty fast enough for books, music, web browsing, and Democratic Underground.

I'd rather read a book than watch television anyways. There are more free books than anyone could read in a lifetime easily found on the internet:

http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Free_eBooks

I bought an older model Kobo for less than a month's typical cable or satellite bill and I love it.

I'm especially fond of gutenberg.org and feedbooks.com

Occasionally I'll turn on the television in a motel or some other place I'm staying but it's always 57 channels and nothing on.

Yep, I can watch youtube too.

We have a good selection of broadcast channels in our city, all the big English and Spanish language networks including PBS, so if I just want to turn on a television and see what's on, I can still do that.

[Myrina]

10. I'm doing the same after Game of Thrones season finale

[woo me with science]

11. Your deal probably won't last long, though.

We have done this, too, but I don't expect it to work for much longer. We have a Wii and Hulu, plus a Playon membership (although we are using Playon less and less, as much of the free content is now disappearing).

Cable companies are about to start charging by how much you stream and download from online. I've seen several stories about it recently.

They don't like anyone cutting into their profits.

[LynneSin]

12. But even with the streaming i don't do that much

So limit me away.

Plus I think I'll get the amplified indoor antenna - so I should be able to get some local TV too.

[GermanDem]

16. We dished the dish (direct tv) last year,

and never looked back! We have Netflix (streaming plus 1 DVD), and Hulu plus, and this is more than enough for us! My husband also downloads tons of shows from German tv stations (we are German). Usually works great! I also bought an antenna ($50, but you can get decent ones already for under $20, depending how close you live to a big city), that gets us a few local channels in HD for free! I love not having to watch tons of commercials, and we can watch current tv shows, like the Daily Show, Colbert Report, Glee, Modern Family, etc. a day later on our own schedule. This saves us about $100 a month! Quitting cable was well worth it!

[Bucky]

17. Is that cheaper than waiting a few months for the DVD set to come out?