What are you paying for Cable TV and is it worth it?

[bleedingheart]

Based on how many Dems I know hate Cable TV I am always amazed at how they spend $36-120 a month to get a service that normally has nothing good to watch and it also is filled with RNC propaganda.

I dropped to basic service after the 2000 election and I pay only about $13 a month...why pay for RNC chatter?

Part of the problem I see with the media is the fact that a lot of people keep paying for TV they hate.

Would you continue to go to a Gym where you could never get on the equipment because it was broken or always in use by someone else?

[LittleApple81]

1. Actually I went the opposite: I had basic and now for two months

I have extended... going right back to basic... I was curious to see what people in DU were talking about...SAW, threw up... leaving.

[burythehatchet]

2. I think there is a market for a service

that delivers only the channels you want. Whether its 5 channels or 500. You pay a small amount for each.

I would need 1, Comedy Central.

[bleedingheart]

4. I have thought that for a long time....now there is the company to start

you would make a mint!

[pmbryant]

3. Nothing, and it's well worth it.

Not having cable TV has no doubt saved my sanity the last few years. :-)

Peter

[bleedingheart]

6. I would definitely consider dropping it cuz I don't even watch

$13 worth most of the time.

[central scrutinizer]

31. I second that - $0.00 per month

I don't watch TV at all during the summer and maybe 2-4 hours per week in the winter - mostly football on the weekends.

[happyslug]

5. I do you one better

I have NEVER had cable. It restricts me to one channel (Reception in Johnstown stinks) but all that did is prevent me from buying a new Television (I have a 30 year old Black and White portable that stink works when I want to watch TV, the last time was 9/11).

See, I avoid the WHOLE problem by getting my news from the Net and entertain myself with activities OUTSIDE the home.

[dryan]

7. TV reception without cable....

in Central Florida is horrible. It is like trying to watch a show through a snowstorm. My husband and I only have basic cable; there was too much repetition on the "premium" channels. We like channels like A&E, the History Channel, C-Span, Court TV, and "Lifetime" (forgive me but my husband is gone a lot and its a guilty pleasure). The news on MSNBC is much better than CNN. We watch Imus in the Morning before work. We also watched the Democratic Convention on MSNBC and C-Span. We pay about $40.00 a month.

[bleedingheart]

10. Your basic includes a bit more stuff than I get but geez what a difference

I pay $13 you pay $40...wow....

[dryan]

20. We have a digital connection...

and we have cable in three rooms. This has probably saved my marriage; my husband can watch NASCAR on the home office TV. I can watch CourtTV in the living room, and the cat can watch Animal Planet in the bedroom.

[bleedingheart]

25. I can see how that would save a marriage

:-)

[mcar]

30. That's the only reason we have cable

Have had only basic at $11/month for several years. A cable person called and got me at a weak moment in May and I signed up for 6 months for full cable (no premium channels) at $30/month.

We'll be cancelling it after the Olympics. We just don't watch TV that much and my 7-year-old has become addicted to Cartoon Network. I just can't bring myself to watch cable news.

[gpandas]

34. you are letting her become addicted...

don't blame the cable

[DrWho]

8. VOOM

Voom Satelite Service

$85/Month, includes HBO and the rental of 2 boxes.

most important feature HDTV!!!!!!!!

DNC was in HDTV, not too mention sports and the Olympics in HDTV.

www.voom.com

[MsUSA]

9. We've got the extended.......

and we pay 48.00 a month. Only reason we wanted the extended channels was for C-SPAN & C-SPAN2, not all the other junk available. We've deleted all the children channels (do not have children), and the FOX channels. We do like the sports channels, PBS, History, and Discovery, but other then those few channels it's a waste of our money really.

[KoKo]

11. I have it, and don't watch it. But, I still can't bring myself to get rid

of it, because I tune in now and then just to check out how the Media Whores are doing. Every time I do, I'm disappointed. C-Span is what I watch. Used to be a big PBS watcher, now the only thing I watch there is Moyers and an occasional "Frontline," and the BBC nightly news wrap up. Don't even watch their news with Jim Lehrer anymore.

I think folks are moving to Sattelite but I can't find what I want on either of the schedules I've seen for both systems. :shrug: I pay $50.00 a month for C-Span, really.

[Bridget Burke]

12. Forgive my decadence, I have digital cable.

And it costs more than $13 a month. The Daily Show comes with basic cable, but the digital option allows me to get BBCAMERICA (some news, intelligent* entertainment) & NWI (international news, based in Canada). I do watch TV for entertainment & there's greater variety with the more expensive package.

I've been told that digital usage is "monitored"--that is, they know who's watching what. I'm OK with that since I never watch CNN, Fox news & MSNBC.

*

[theblasmo]

13. Digital Cable Seems Worth It

I pay 52 per month for clarity and get 250 channels,w/50 digital cable radio stations, most of which (radio stations) are pretty great. IFC and the Sundance Channel are worth every penny, as is 3 C-Span's. I use about 3-4 tapes a week. Now that DVR is being offered for free, I think it might be an even better deal. If you teach TV-related classes, you can get the costs deducted on your taxes. And I have little idea how; my friend the accountant tells me so. Still, what little regulation of the industry exists means this could change at any moment...

[Shopaholic]

14. I pay $45 a month

for about 60-70 channels, and yes, it's worth it, if just to see Jon Stewart on Comedy Central and Keith Olbermann on MSNBC!

[catmandu57]

15. 41.00 a month and no it's not

we have expanded basic, I rarely have the tube on during the day, I flip through the channels periodically, mostly to see what the weather is or see what is happening on cspan.
I don't think it's worth the price, I'd love to pick and choose our channels.

[qanda]

16. Where do you live?

Our basic cable is $42 a month!

[bleedingheart]

17. I live just east of Pittsburgh

I have Comcast and basic is $12.85

[qanda]

28. I didn't know they still offered that

My mom lives in Pittsburgh (I was born and raised there). I'll have to tell her about it, she doesn't have cable because she said it costs too much. Anyway, I don't think they offer just basic cable in my area. The smallest package I could get was expanded basic and it started out at like $23 just five years ago and now it's over $40.

[catmandu57]

29. No secret

Savannah Missouri, an hour north of KC on the interstate.

[MercutioATC]

18. $130/month (that includes the cable modem)

I get every cable channel except the adult channels and the sports packages (I DO get all of the hi-definition channels).

I also get the fastest broadband access they offer. With a cable modem, speed varies by user load, but I've never been below 1200kbps and usually run between 2400kbps and 3300kbps.

Definitely worth it.

[AmandaRuth]

19. every cable system has to, BY LAW, offer a

a bare minimum of service that runs around $12 to $14 which is the 3 network channels plus a few others. The cable company WILL NOT tell you about this service and will offer the level up as the "basic" service. This level usually runs $40-$50 and includes fox CNN ESPN MTV plus others. For those at this level of service and wanting to drop to the lower level - so you are not paying for fox, you will have to directly ask your provider for it, it will NOT be offered to you.

Personally, i believe the media is market driven, and boycotts do work, so if enough of us just quit paying for expanded cable (and let the cable co know it is due to faux) eventually we could force some change. However, everytime i post something like this i am sure to get a reponse about a boycott of cable would never work, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda don't fight don't fight. roll over, don't complain.

[bleedingheart]

23. I totally agree with you. Crappy service shouldn't be rewarded

and paying for crap like Faux is just insulting.

But there is even more crap on other than Faux....most of my mom's cable line up (she pays a bit more for extended) is pathetic...she ends up renting movies to watch just because nothing good is on TV ...yet people keep paying for this crap.

[liveoaktx]

21. FCC Debate recently about A La Carte offerings for Cable

I watched the hearings on Cspan last week.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64399,00.html

Staffers at the Federal Communications Commission grilled cable industry reps Thursday about their opposition to letting viewers pick their channels individually, or "a la carte," expressing skepticism that it would destroy the economics of the industry.

Thursday's FCC symposium was part of the agency's research as it prepares to issue a report to Congress on the controversial a la carte model by Nov. 18. The House Commerce Committee requested the report earlier this year. Consumer advocacy groups have been asking Congress to look into why cable companies won't let subscribers pick the channels they want in their subscription packages instead of being forced into accepting dozens of channels they may never watch while still paying for them.
The FCC won't make recommendations to Congress, but its findings could determine whether Congress passes a bill to force cable companies to offer channel menus.

At Thursday's hearing, FCC staffers pounced when officials from consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton presented a study (PDF), funded by the cable industry, that warned that a la carte would hurt cable networks.


*****It appears to me that we all need to read up on ala carte and then FLOOD our congressmen with our opinions.

[supernova]

24. saw this after I posted

I like this idea very much.

For instance, the sat package the most closely resembles what I want also has a slew of ESPN sports channels. There are no men in my house and I hate sports. I would never watch them so that's wasted money for me.

However, I do love the Olympics, even the obscure sports like archery. So the sat or cable company would do well to offer me a special Olympics package for a couple of months. It's not a lot of money, but it's money they wouldn't get from me otherwise.

[supernova]

22. I don't have cable or sattelite

since I can't afford it.

I would like a service that allows you to design your own lineup. Say, each channel costs $X. I'd choose Food Network, HGTV, Discovery, the PBS clones, the C-SPANS, AMC, TMC, perhaps the National Geographic Channel too, and Comedy Central.

I don't have a need for the premium channels. The shows I'm interested in I can wait until the DVD comes out and watch it then.

[qwertyMike]

26. FREE!

It's free in my apartment building. Hi-speed internet too!

I ain't moving.
Only in Canada, eh?

[terrya]

27. $61.00 /month. Yes, it's worth it.

[cmf]

32. The most basic at $13/mo

We can only receive one channel w/o cable and it's Fox (:puke:). So we get the most basic service that includes the broadcast channels, CBC, Discovery, Weather Channel, CSPAN and a smattering of sports and religious channels. The only expanded cable channel I wish I had is Comedy Central.

[Kitka]

33. $29/month and I get Free Speech TV and LINK….

Dish Network, baby. I didn’t have 2 years because I was so annoyed with the conservative media. I gave in when I realized FSTV was on Dish, and now I get Comedy Central as a bonus!

[Tracer]

35. $98.67

However, this includes $50 for hi-speed internet Ñ which is a necessity as I work from home and NEED to send large files to customers every day.

The remainder is for the TV and frankly, it's a rip-off. Out of the 79 channels that I get, I watch about 10. The 6 shopping channels, the 3 "religion" channels, the golf channel, the fishing channel Ñ bleach. Who the heck watches those? I'd jump in a minute to "a la carte" programming.

By the way, my stuck-in-the-repub BIL has basic cable for about $10 per month Ñ but this "basic cable" package manages to offer the Fox News channel, but not CNN, MSNBC or CNBC. No wonder his ideas are screwy.

[DemWitch]

36. Cable bill runs anywhere from $98.00 (low) to $136.00 (high)

depending on movies I order etc. I have Time Warners DigiPak... 400 channels, of which I watch CNN, MSNBC, FOXNews, History Channel, TDC, TLC, HGTV, FoodTV, Comedy Central, Bravo, C-SPAN 1,2 and 3, USA, TNT, Two shows on NBC (West Wing and Crossing Jordan) and one show on CBS (CSI). BUT... I also have the music channels which are fantastic. No ads, no static, no Rush :)

That also includes my Roadrunner, which since I got it 4 years ago, I couldn't imagine being without. My folks still have dial-up, and when I have to use their 'puters, it's like watching paint dry.

The best part is the I-Control. You order a movie and you can watch it over and over, backwards and forwards, slo-mo, whatever for 24 hours.

[rocktivity]

37. I have a basic cable/broadband internet package

for $90/month. Since I run my own website, which requires me to work with music audio and video files, listen to Air America after midnight, and will be getting Sirius, the faster connection is a real blessing. Though I enjoy the mysteries on A&E, The Discovery Channel, and Court TV, and of course the Daily Show, I would NEVER spend that much JUST to watch TV!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Carson]

38. I don't have television service at all,

not even an antenna for local channels, and haven't had for 5 years. If there is something I really want to see I'll have a friend tape it or go to someone's house.

I get my news from the internet and radio and can honestly say I don't miss having a TV.

My son is better off as well for my choice. It's so easy to plant a child in front of a television to keep them entertained. Now, in the evenings, we read, play games, take a walk, etc., without the temptation to sit for hours glued to the idiot box.

I'll admit it's a little extreme, but definitely worth the benefits, IMHO.

[BiggJawn]

39. I don't have cable.

$42 a month for 70 channels of DREK. That's stupid.
And no BBC America or C-span after 6PM, either. What a rip-off.

Do you REALLY need 150 "flavours" from your Glass Tit?

[DaveSZ]

41. Best shows on TV:

Comedy Central:

John Stewart

HBO (which I get for free):

Bill Maher


:)

[BiggJawn]

43. I'm partial to "Iron Chef" and "Countdown" and that's about it.

But not $42 a month's worth of partial...:-)

My ESSO is about to dump the wire. It keeps going up, and she pretty much watches just BS-RNC, "60 Minutes" and TCM.

[ObaMania]

40. $53.00 for very basic analog service...

.. no boxes, internet, or premium movies. Just a bunch of greedy thieves at Adelphia I guess. I remember when TV was free and you could get 20 good channels w/ just an aerial.

Huge ripoff.

What kills me is that I can't pick and choose my channels and pay accordingly. I could definitely do without FAUX News and it pisses me off to know that a portion of my remittance goes to them.

[sendero]

42. I don't know why anyone would buy cable...

... when satellite is cheaper and infinitely superior :)

[UdoKier]

48. It is not cheaper. And superior is in the eye of the beholder.

The standard package for cable is between $7 and $12 per month in almost all areas. Cable companies do not promote it, but it is much cheaper than the minimum satellite package which is at least $30.

I used to have DirecTV and there were no more than 7 or 8 channels out of the 50 or so that I had to pay for that I ever watched...

Total ripoff.

[sendero]

50. Well....

... you will not get any kind of cable in Dallas for less than $30 bucks. And superior, well, there is no comparison in picture quality or features, sorry.

[UdoKier]

52. That is not true. Cable companies are REQUIRED to provide low-cost

service. You have to prod them a little but ask for their BARE MINIMUM package. They do not promote them at all but they are required to provide it.

It is your prerogative if you want to waste your money on a bunch of junk channels, but you do NOT have to.

It was part of the cable regulation bill of 1992, I believe.

[sendero]

56. I can barely ...

... find anything to watch with 70 channels, I'm not interest in some minimal package.

[UdoKier]

58. Umm... the fact that you can barely find anything to watch with 70 channel

is a pretty good indication that

a) TV is dead.

b) Slashing your service down to the minimum and getting out more would be great.

Hell, I'm a big admirer of those people who have thrown out their TVs altogether, but have never had the guts to do it. At least I've cut down to a few shows a week.

But it's your money and your time. Enjoy.

[RushIsRot]

44. Zilch!

I don't even have a TV. The peace of mind is worth even more.

[UdoKier]

45. Cable companies are required by law to provide a limited basic service...

...at a very low price. It's usually only 12~20 channels and should be between 7 and 12 dollars a month. The thing is they do not promote the standard packages, they only tell you about "basic" and "Expanded Basic" which cost considerably more.

If broadcast signal is bad in your area but you don't want to pay $30 for cable, ask your cable company what the absolute BARE MINIMUM package is. It will have all your local broadcast channels and a couple of free cable ones to boot.


At present, the cable is provided free at my apartment.

[Heddi]

59. That's what we have

without cable we'd be unable to get any reception---we live in a large building and you can barely pick up the radio, much less TV even with a super duper Antenna.

We were paying $45/mo for 'limited basic' which is pretty much everything besides the premium channels. But that was such a waste of money and just filled our minds with garbage. TV rots the brain--of that I'm sure.

So we called the cable company and got the "poor white trash ghetto" special for $12/mo. It comes with the local channels, CSPAN, pbs's, discovery, CBUT (canadian channel) and a shitload of religious and shopping channels. But I like it much more.

My husband and I also found that without 19874 channels of garbage to choose from, that we actually *gasp* turn off the TV when nothing is on and either read, or converse with each other or sit outside or do SOMETHING where the TV isn't on.

I realized we had an addiction to TV when the first thing we'd do when we got home was turn on the TV, even if it was muted and on just for background.....it's disturbing.

I'm much happier without the cable, and again, we only have that because otherwise we'd never be able to see ANYTHING---especially PBS...which is pretty much the only channel we watch anyways

[UdoKier]

62. Pretty much our experience exactly.

Whenever I hear somebody blathering about "The Sopranos" or "Sex in the City", I know I'm not missing a thing, and I chuckle to myself that they are actually PAYING to watch tripe...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

46. I don't really know, since it's bundled with my Internet connection, but

It's worth it to get BBCAmerica's Monday mysteries, News World International, History International, Trio, Ovation, the International Channel, Discovery Science, Sundance, Independent Film Channel, and HBO, as well as Comedy Central and the CSPANs.

If I had the next level down, I'd be stuck with CNN, FOX, shopping channels, and all their miserable ilk.

By the way, what's this about digital viewership being monitored? Can they really tell how many people are watching a given channel at any given time? If so, I know a few channels I'm going to "promote."

[TexasSissy]

47. I got DirecTV after my THIRD rise in Comcast Cable services.

I LOVE it. I get MORE channels for slightly less money. AND it includes the international news station, NWI (NewsWorld International). I get TWO PBS stations (double the Charlie Rose!).

I pay about $75, including tax, for the middle package.

[Sparkle]

49. You pay $13/mth for basic?

I have basic and I pay $40/mth...Time Warner Cable

[bleedingheart]

54. actually $12.85

Comcast

I was so pissed after the election I called to cancel all cable, but the woman told me that I could get the bare minimum for 12.85, I don't have a lot of channels in comparison to most people but I get the major networks, PBS and Cspan...that's just enough.

[UdoKier]

63. That's not the real "basic".

They call the packages that and don't promote the bare-bones service they are REQUIRED BY LAW to provide. Call them and ask them what their bare-bones absolute minimum package is. Should be around 20 channels at $12.

[Sparkle]

66. Thank you. I didn't know that.

I will call them today!

[slaveplanet]

51. deep fringe

antenna -about 100 bucks one time fee at Radio Shack

I can pull 10-12 stations and sometimes CBC when weather is favorable. I have family record it(documentaries) or I get library movies when I want something else. monthly bills are history , I apply them to internet connection and will never look back. I pulled the switch when the cable companies think-tanked on how to soak every customer for $40 amonth minimum(almost double the previous avg. for just a few extra crap channels with mega commercials). They will never let you pick and choose unless the total comes to between $30-$40 a month minimum, and includes a healthy dose of propaganda outlets. They've spent millions on putting those packages together for a reason.

[Kazak]

53. Sports!

Come fall and all the way through College Hoops...I'm ashamely addicted.

[PhuLoi]

55. Basic cable for $11.00/mo.

We only watch CSPAN and Comedy Central.

[ContinentalOp]

57. I pay nothing and feel so free!

About 6 months ago we dropped our cable and I don't miss it at all. We were mostly watching movies anyway and the best shows always make it onto DVD sets which are much more satisfying to watch thanks to the lack of commercials.

[cprise]

61. A friend of mine pays for satellie

...and we got to see 'Mannequin' on Lifetime!

Boy, that sure makes up for all the fear and brainwashing.

[cprise]

60. I've had both basic and extended: Wasn't worth it

I just have broadcast now and watch less than 5 hrs. per month.

Broadcast news is outrageous enough.

[HuckleB]

64. I don't pay for cable. It's not worth it.

Niether is satellite.

[Zhade]

65. Hell, I WORK in broadcasting and DESPISE 99% of television!

I can get - free - the best package DirecTV has.

I don't bother. I can't stand tv, except for a few channels/shows - Worldlink TV, Simpsons, South Park, Bill Maher, and HBO series. And I can watch all that (and pay-per-view) for free at work.

Ten years of working in tv kinda made me realize what utter crap is on. Full of propaganda, lies, and omissions. Depressing.

Thankfully, the internet fills my information and entertainment needs far more than tv ever could.

[Eurobabe]

67. too damn much, $116/mo. digital cable

But that includes cable modem internet too, and my phone is VoIP (Vonage) So all bundled, I guess its worth it. Maybe.

Yeah, I sure wish these cable bastards would offer ala carte choices: you get to choose which stations you want vs. loading on all the crap in these dumb silver or bronze packages. I was really pissed in May when Adelphia redid things (based on focus groups-phuck focus groups!!) and took away OLN & International Channel, but gave me SoapNet - bah!!