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fishwax

(29,346 posts)

157. I still have cable -- no immediate plans to drop it

Reply to ProgressiveEconomist (Original post)

Thu Nov 22, 2012, 12:41 PM

Nov 2012

Though I might eventually. We lived without it for a long time (even before there was as much available online as there is now), so it isn't as though we couldn't. But I like cable and feel I get a lot out of it.

Sports is part of it. If I did drop cable it would have to be after the football season, since I like watching a lot of football games on ESPN and a few other channels that aren't easily available online. And with cable I get access to a lot more sports content online as well, including teams (and sports) I enjoy but often can't easily get in my local area.

I also like a lot of the ondemand movies and programming. I know it doesn't have as much available as Netflix streaming does, but my cable has a bunch of old/current shows and old/fairly current movies that I can watch for free. I think they started making those things available to compete with hulu, netflix, etc. (I had netflix years ago but dropped it because I've got access to a convenient, inexpensive, and outstanding independent DVD rental store.)

Those are a few of the reasons I still have cable. But the months to come might bring various changes (hardware upgrades, new location, etc.) that might change the equation.

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Have you "cut the cord" on EXPENSIVE cable TV? Why or why not? A PBS guide [View all] ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 OP

Years ago... bluerum Nov 2012 #1

I'm about ready to. Connie_Corleone Nov 2012 #2

Thanks. I'm looking at moving off cable. Bookmarked. pinto Nov 2012 #3

me too! panAmerican Nov 2012 #42

me three! chalky Nov 2012 #86

Yes. Roku Streaming and Broadcast TV only now. Skip Intro Nov 2012 #4

Is there a delay in watching MSNBC shows such as Rachel Maddow? How long ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #8

I don't watch any cable news shows anymore. Skip Intro Nov 2012 #12

The Maddow program is usually available at 8pm PST. Change has come Nov 2012 #19

It's not the show in entirety. MSNBC offers only clips of its shows. You can only get whole shows Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #95

Not so. You can watch the entire show same day underthematrix Nov 2012 #154

i watch rachel in the morning barbtries Nov 2012 #45

On yur tv or computer? nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #97

sorry, on my computer barbtries Nov 2012 #138

Here is the MSNBC live stream link Ruby the Liberal Nov 2012 #84

Stupid question: How do you get that on your tv? It's a computer link. nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #99

Try this: Le Taz Hot Nov 2012 #125

If you have cable, underthematrix Nov 2012 #153

Question--do you have to have a separate antenna for broadcast TV? KatyaR Nov 2012 #89

Get an antenna and a digital to analog converter box. Skip Intro Nov 2012 #109

I use an antenna now. KatyaR Nov 2012 #148

Hey. Skip Intro Nov 2012 #160

How fast is your internet? I pay $35/mo. but it's not really fast enuf for streaming. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #96

I have 6 MB DSL from ATT. Skip Intro Nov 2012 #110

Thanks! I thought you had to subscribe to Time Warner to get the internet.... Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #117

No, I know many that have Dish for cable and Time Warner for Internet. nt Live and Learn Nov 2012 #135

How do you get broadcast tv? Broadcast tv is now digital. Outside digital antenna? ???nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #98

Check post 109. nt Skip Intro Nov 2012 #112

last year did it. Johonny Nov 2012 #5

no TV but I do miss the 4 PBS stations I used to get using rabbit ears.... msongs Nov 2012 #6

I went to Netflix for $7.99 a month earlier this year. Kaleva Nov 2012 #7

So your phone is digital, right? It's voice over internet protocol, and not an Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #100

I have two seperate lines coming into the house. One for the phone and the other for internet. Kaleva Nov 2012 #102

Hmmm. Interesting. I can only get AT&T for landline. I checked into their bundle for phone Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #118

I should add that I get a discount on my phone for being low income. Kaleva Nov 2012 #142

instantwatcher.com is a pretty great site. zonkers Nov 2012 #114

I'll have to check that out. Kaleva Nov 2012 #143

I am desperate to do so..Thanks for the link... Tikki Nov 2012 #9

Savings won't last long. Cable/internet corps are already on it, woo me with science Nov 2012 #10

We need to vote out the FCC. They need to be on the chopping block as far as getting rid of those loudsue Nov 2012 #54

Wouldn't it be nice if we could count on that... woo me with science Nov 2012 #76

the FCC isn't an elected body and the President can't "clean house" onenote Nov 2012 #123

It's 3+ years now, and... MarianJack Nov 2012 #11

I haven't had cable since 2000 or so. I don't miss it. Common Sense Party Nov 2012 #13

same here! ginnyinWI Nov 2012 #129

Yes- we now just have high speed internet Marrah_G Nov 2012 #14

How fast is your high speed? I've read mine is not fast enuf for reliable streaming. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #101

50- Xfinity performance Marrah_G Nov 2012 #161

No tv for almost 3 years now. dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #15

We dumped the dish four years ago. Neutrino_603 Nov 2012 #16

Sure did... Earth_First Nov 2012 #17

I never attached the cable Berlum Nov 2012 #18

Haven't had cable or dish for several years IDemo Nov 2012 #20

great streaming link green for victory Nov 2012 #21

Interesting - one question liberal N proud Nov 2012 #32

yup green for victory Nov 2012 #105

I would need a new PC for this liberal N proud Nov 2012 #144

Here are a couple links I love: snappyturtle Nov 2012 #60

Another one you will like wilsonbooks Nov 2012 #71

Thanks! snappyturtle Nov 2012 #78

Wow, those are great links. Thanks! nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #107

About four years ago jsmirman Nov 2012 #22

Three issues...HD, cross-device accessibility, and HBO. Xithras Nov 2012 #23

You can hook a laptop to the TV gravity Nov 2012 #29

Or, for $300 and up, get an Internet TV with a keyboard remote ans well as ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #37

Needing a keyboard to watch TV seems like a bit of a headache. Xithras Nov 2012 #53

"You can't access ANY of HBO's content online unless you have a subscription to them via a regular ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #35

Yep, pretty much. Xithras Nov 2012 #56

I heard you can subscribe to HBOgo.com (like netflix) for like $35 month Turn CO Blue Nov 2012 #81

No, that's incorrect. You must have cable or sat to use it. Xithras Nov 2012 #82

I checked into that, too. The main reason HBO doesn't offer it.... Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #121

They are also available. wilsonbooks Nov 2012 #69

http://www.dailytvtorrents.org/ green for victory Nov 2012 #111

hope you have good proxy server pstokely Nov 2012 #119

You can get most of these sweetroxie Nov 2012 #113

LOL! That's what they want you to believe. Bill Maher is the only thing that I know of on HBO that I Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #163

Why use an Xbox rather than a Roku box? See the PBS link in the OP-- ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #40

Because they already own an XBox and don't own a Roku. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2012 #47

Hardware costs are small in comparison to monthly content costs ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #49

There's little point to a Roku if you own an XBox 360. They do the same thing. Xithras Nov 2012 #62

Cable TV? What Cable TV? Panasonic Nov 2012 #24

I've tried but went back gravity Nov 2012 #25

Year and a half ago ThoughtCriminal Nov 2012 #26

Roku, blu-ray, and antenna gets me all I want except perhaps espn and nfl network. Ed Suspicious Nov 2012 #27

I have cable, internet and telephone through a local cable company who has been in the area for underoath Nov 2012 #28

10 years or so. Cobalt Violet Nov 2012 #30

Where I live 2naSalit Nov 2012 #90

2010 leftlibdem420 Nov 2012 #31

Yes. liberalmuse Nov 2012 #33

Yes, literally. GoCubsGo Nov 2012 #34

No cable, no dish. hunter Nov 2012 #36

"DSL internet ... is not quite fast enough for Netflix" Thanks for that CRUCIAL ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #41

I think it depends on the wiring. hunter Nov 2012 #67

Yep, this is very wiring dependent. Xithras Nov 2012 #70

You should know that dsl comes in different speeds. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #126

it must depend on location barbtries Nov 2012 #139

bookmarking n/t brokechris Nov 2012 #38

I only spend 13 dollars on very basic cable. Big Blue Marble Nov 2012 #39

Why not just spend $10 on a digital TV antenna and cut the cord? ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #43

when my son and i moved to NC barbtries Nov 2012 #44

no tv for about 10 years now backtoblue Nov 2012 #46

I am rural and like sports Doctor_J Nov 2012 #48

I did it years ago. Atypical Liberal Nov 2012 #50

Thanks for the link... nt ProudProgressiveNow Nov 2012 #51

We renegotiate our cable bill every year. sellitman Nov 2012 #52

I have Comcast cable, Internet and my phone bundled. RebelOne Nov 2012 #55

I cut the cord 3 or 4 years ago Speck Tater Nov 2012 #57

Went Netflix in 2008 and have never looked back. go west young man Nov 2012 #58

I gave up cable over a year ago now. bunnies Nov 2012 #59

Gotten my non Tvio DVR william cail Nov 2012 #65

In 2001. About the time I joined DU ProfessionalLeftist Nov 2012 #61

Cut it last year. harun Nov 2012 #63

Given a choice between expensive Cable Tv and Inexpensive Internet Access.... AsahinaKimi Nov 2012 #64

Why Your Phone, Cable & Internet Bills Cost So Much ErikJ Nov 2012 #66

Thanks for posting this! Thom Hartmann often cites this fact. alp227 Nov 2012 #155

Thanks for this info. h2ebits Nov 2012 #68

This coming summer. ananda Nov 2012 #72

Cable T.V. - scam of the century notgoinback Nov 2012 #73

Thanks for that history lesson! Loge23 Nov 2012 #158

The only reason I have basic cable TV at all is because it came free with the internet. backscatter712 Nov 2012 #74

We cut the cord in 2010 Proud Liberal Dem Nov 2012 #75

It's been about 2 years MynameisBlarney Nov 2012 #77

Yes. Now have Roku streaming in the family room and Turn CO Blue Nov 2012 #79

No: Phone + Internet + TV = Phone + Internet (-TV) -nt DireStrike Nov 2012 #80

Over 10 years ago. I was sitting in my living room flipping for over Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #83

The cost of cable doubled in the time I had it. CBHagman Nov 2012 #85

Have been planning to since July, but the SO wanted to watch the Olympics. Then we were watching Dark n Stormy Knight Nov 2012 #87

About five years ago, cut the cord. salin Nov 2012 #88

I gave up cable a year ago...... llmart Nov 2012 #91

There is a lot of programming content from movies to TV shows (foreign and domestic). Snarkoleptic Nov 2012 #92

usually you can save the show from the cache too green for victory Nov 2012 #106

A year or so before dog_lovin_dem Nov 2012 #93

No. Can't get political talk shows timely anywhere else, that I have found. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #94

here green for victory Nov 2012 #103

HOLY-MOLY!!THANK YOU! I started watching "Columbo" on the UK ITV2, but switched to ABC just to see WinkyDink Nov 2012 #115

Thanks! The internets has come a long way since I last checked on that. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #132

what I find is that I save a lot of time not watching those shows, but I ginnyinWI Nov 2012 #131

I haven't had cable since 2001. intheflow Nov 2012 #104

The wife decided... behindenemylins Nov 2012 #108

You only need cable for sports of if you can't get OTA reception pstokely Nov 2012 #116

I did. kiva Nov 2012 #120

Been without cable for over a year now. Le Taz Hot Nov 2012 #122

No, because the only high speed internet I can get in my tiny town is through cable. Zoeisright Nov 2012 #124

Not only as good as cable, broadcast is better than cable. ginnyinWI Nov 2012 #127

I would love to cut it off. Live and Learn Nov 2012 #128

Do they watch anyone that can't be found online (legally)? pstokely Nov 2012 #130

had cable /satellite for a year or two at most many many years ago lunasun Nov 2012 #133

Haven't had cable since 1989 demwing Nov 2012 #134

wow barbtries Nov 2012 #141

K, R and Bookmarked. I fucking *hate* commercial tv. Smarmie Doofus Nov 2012 #136

Real Housewives, Honey Boo Boo, stuff like that Skittles Nov 2012 #137

I still have cable Raine Nov 2012 #140

I think it has been 2 years now. aandegoons Nov 2012 #145

No, we still have it union_maid Nov 2012 #146

and talk about the d*mn commercials.....UGH... a kennedy Nov 2012 #147

Almost. Looking into alternatives. Bookmarking. lonestarnot Nov 2012 #149

Found a free site to walk me through cutting the cable in my home ackr Nov 2012 #150

Welcome to DU! hrmjustin Nov 2012 #164

I cut the cord in July 2012 because I was underthematrix Nov 2012 #151

Bookmarked - Cable TV leveymg Nov 2012 #152

Took the first step today - changing my email address to Gmail Jersey Devil Nov 2012 #156

I still have cable -- no immediate plans to drop it fishwax Nov 2012 #157

I get my Internet through Comcast, and I used to have full cable TV service Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2012 #159

Thank you all, especially those who supplied links and bits of technical info. ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #162

Haven't owned a TV in over a decade. Lizzie Poppet Nov 2012 #165

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