Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xmas74

(30,053 posts)
36. Antenna for your locals and affiliates with a converter box if needed (for older sets).
Tue May 20, 2014, 12:17 AM
May 2014

I have a friend with a simple antenna and a newer tv and he has quite a few channels. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW, PBS from two markets, ION, My Network TV, Antenna TV, THIS tv, TBN, ME tv-heck, here's a list for the Kansas City market, all free with an antenna.

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=38

That gives you an idea of what a smaller market can offer with just an antenna. Check it out with your nearest market:

http://www.rabbitears.info/

I also have a Roku and have had one for years. I love it and am planning on cutting the cord once I find a place in the country, compared to where I live now. There are plenty of crazy channels on Roku-just google "Roku private channels" for an idea. And you can get news on a Roku, depending on what channels you look for.

HBO-maybe buy a season pass to a show on iTunes? I don't know about HBO but I know some who do this for the shows on AMC such as Mad Men and Walking Dead: instead of paying for a cable subscription they buy season passes on iTunes and see the shows shortly after airing, usually after 24 hours. Much cheaper than paying for cable.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I have Roku and Netflix. Le Taz Hot May 2014 #1
Thank you. I could probably live without instant HBO, but I gotta have the NFL. Comrade Grumpy May 2014 #2
Try this for the NFL TransitJohn May 2014 #10
you'll be missing a wild card playoff game next near if it's not your local team and don't have cabl pstokely May 2014 #45
We are thinking about giving it up too - TBF May 2014 #3
I dont get any news from the tv. Warren Stupidity May 2014 #4
I have a Roku and a rooftop antenna. I find plenty to watch on Netflix, Amazon, etc. NBachers May 2014 #5
thrones Niceguy1 May 2014 #30
Same here workinclasszero May 2014 #48
I have Netflix but I don't see it as an acceptable replacement for cable. Lasher May 2014 #6
yep, although the DVD versions are genrally more limited than Roku or Apple TV and bettyellen May 2014 #8
I have an older high def TV that has component video inputs and not HDMI Lasher May 2014 #21
there is no coupling converter for that? I am mad I only have two HDMIs, and I switch one back and bettyellen May 2014 #24
I wish I could find a component to HDMI converter but I don't think that will work. Lasher May 2014 #28
Look at this and check out the "after looking at this other people bought" section... bettyellen May 2014 #31
I have looked into these before. Lasher May 2014 #33
Ah, I always think that someone out there has a fix, LOL. I'm upset my Roku is malfunctioning bettyellen May 2014 #42
Roku 1 and 2 mockmonkey May 2014 #51
That is composite, not component. It does not support high definition. Lasher May 2014 #54
Last TV I had bought was in '89 mockmonkey May 2014 #56
You apparently have an addiction. First, admit you are powerless... scarletwoman May 2014 #7
+1 nt Zorra May 2014 #55
Me too Galileo126 May 2014 #9
I have Dish and I renegotiate my price every several months. WhiteTara May 2014 #35
Just do it. Worry about a substitute after the fact. It's been about a month GoneFishin May 2014 #11
unplug it first!!!!!1! RainDog May 2014 #12
We have Roku and Netflix, total cost is one time payment of around $80 for Roku Whisp May 2014 #13
So, do you have a data cap on your internet? If so, do you have difficulty staying within it? n/t winter is coming May 2014 #16
no data cap - internet fees are about $50 per month. Whisp May 2014 #17
But I fear a data cap might be coming Lasher May 2014 #27
I'm wondering about getting the lowest level of business-class Internet service. n/t winter is coming May 2014 #39
News is easy. SheilaT May 2014 #14
I've looked for NFL and all I can find is NFL rewind - TBF May 2014 #15
Seems like sports (aside from what the networks get) is Laura PourMeADrink May 2014 #18
Roku added Youtube recently Whisp May 2014 #19
My two sisters are getting HBO off our account - amazing Laura PourMeADrink May 2014 #20
Thanks, everybody. You're really encouraging me. Change is scary. Comrade Grumpy May 2014 #22
I can't drag the kids along to sports bars - TBF May 2014 #46
I gave it up in Jan, bought an antenna and get all I wanted for free. Then for 7.99/mo, hulu plus larkrake May 2014 #23
I dropped all my movie channels and it dropped ohnoyoudidnt May 2014 #25
I did it a couple of years ago, and haven't regretted it . . . markpkessinger May 2014 #26
We cut the cable about a year ago and the quality of our viewing has gone up. factsarenotfair May 2014 #29
'Saving Grace' IS a great movie! Craig Ferguson was wonderful! Luminous Animal May 2014 #41
No. I'll check into it. :) factsarenotfair May 2014 #43
We've always been no cable, but we do okay. politicat May 2014 #32
I tried the rooftop antenna because my husband insisted napi21 May 2014 #34
Antenna for your locals and affiliates with a converter box if needed (for older sets). xmas74 May 2014 #36
Rabbit ears. Roku, Netflix. Cut the cord 2 years ago. Best decision. kairos12 May 2014 #37
I got rid of my TV altogether and watch a few things online now and again. Luminous Animal May 2014 #38
I have Roku w/ Netflix + antenna The Blue Flower May 2014 #40
find a sports bar and someone else with an HBO subscription pstokely May 2014 #44
over $200 for cable? or for a bundle? DrDan May 2014 #47
If you mean legally, and you want to keep watching Game of Thrones, Jamastiene May 2014 #49
since most cable companies also provide internet service... Javaman May 2014 #50
We gave up cable a decade or so ago JanMichael May 2014 #52
Lineman's pliers should do the trick badtoworse May 2014 #53
Ask if you can get just the minimum basic network channels, HBO, and internet IronLionZion May 2014 #57
Depends whatthehey May 2014 #58
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»OK. I'm sick of paying th...»Reply #36