 Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593 |
I have mentioned on a few previous posts that I was switching to the internet for my TV. Just thought I would update on details in case anyone else wanted to go that route. Based on being in Canada.
I was paying local cable company $75/month for cable TV and another $5-10 for rental of their equipment. I was also paying about $45 for internet from same provider.
I cancelled my cable TV and switched my internet provider from local cable to 'teksavvy' and went from 80 Gb limit to 300Gb limit for $40/month.
I had to purchase my modem and router (about $250).
I also purchased a Mac Mini ($600) although there are cheaper alternatives available.
I also purchased Netflix for $8/month and unblock-us for $5/month (unblock-us uses DNS to spoof location for netflix, hulu, BBC and other sites that insist you access from that country)
Overall savings is about $65/month (will take just over a year recoup initial outlay)
As for availability of programming.
1. News is freely available on multiple web sites
2. Movies: Netflix is better than tv movies however not the newest movies
3. Sports: I'm not a big sports fan but CBC.ca streams hockey and I have heard from friends that there are subscriptions sites where I can get a years sports for under $100. Additionally, I can still get local broadcasts with an antenna.
4. TV programing: Pretty much all TV programming is available on station web pages the day after it is broadcast on air. As a bonus if you use firefox with ad-blocker you can watch most programming commercial free. Some sites will not play with ad-blockers however on-line ads seem to only come in ones and twos rather than the 6 at a time that are put into TV broadcasts.
If anyone has any questions about the process or has come across any interesting web sites with either content or services that make obtaining content easier please post.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,200 Likes: 10
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,200 Likes: 10 |
Wow! Last time I paid for cable tv in Canada, it was about $30/month. Now it's $75? Ouch! I don't even have a TV anymore (but do have a projector in the living room, along with surround sound!) so I save a lot right there! Although, cable tv is about $20/month here... but I really watched 3 or 4 channels out of the 100 or so... I just can't watch the typical asian show... it drives me nuts! Now, I get to choose what I watch and when I watch it. Loving it! True, I do get the shows at least 12 hours later, but that's ok since I am 12 hours ahead of the Americas! 
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,175 Likes: 47
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,175 Likes: 47 |
Jim can I block Holmes on Homes and all the other non reality cause I don't have the coin to do all those renovations shows? I would have to wrestle the controller out of my wifes hands first which may cause certain bedtime problems. 
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593 |
Quote:
Jim can I block Holmes on Homes and all the other non reality cause I don't have the coin to do all those renovations shows?
I would have to wrestle the controller out of my wifes hands first which may cause certain bedtime problems.
I hear you on that one. I was very disappointed to find out that Glee and The Voice were available on line.
Unfortunately I have found that you actually have more content on line than with cable. Most station web pages have at least 2 weeks available on line with some as much as 3-4 seasons worth.
The only down side I have found is I now have 20 min to kill every hour. It is amazing how much time is wasted with commercials.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
Same here. I dumped my TV service too. I use Netflix, Hulu Plus, and stream whatever. The internet is a pretty good source if you can deal with a day late on the broadcast. The thing I love is people talk about this commercial or that and I have no idea what they're talking about. Oh the joy of almost commercial free entertainment at 25 bucks a month. I was just sick of paying SO MUCH money for FREAKING TV. It was just stupid.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1 |
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,307 Likes: 3
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,307 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
Blah blah blah....but that's ok since I am 12 hours ahead of the Americas!
So, lemme give you a call next year before the Super Bowl starts. We can make some serious cash in Vegas.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Way to go, Jim on dumping cable TV. "No TV is good TV" is how I've lived for many, many years.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,466 Likes: 4
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,466 Likes: 4 |
Quote:
... The thing I love is people talk about this commercial or that and I have no idea what they're talking about. ...
For awhile I didn't have any TV and people were talking about entire shows...
'04' Black America
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 11
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 11 |
Quote:
Way to go, Jim on dumping cable TV. "No TV is good TV" is how I've lived for many, many years.
No cable TV here. Internet: Netflix, Roku, PlayOn. Over the last 4 weeks I've been around a TV oh about twice. Didn't miss a beat. Most TV programming is pathetic. The better shows are classics. The Rifleman, Marshall Dillon, MASH, WWWest, etc. Those 24 hour news channels? garbage! The likes of that big butt slu@ Kardashian? Revolting.
 
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
I have not seen anything on tv worth paying for. My life is better with out tv.and the constant drivel that spews forth for that thing. When I had tv I would flip channels over and over until I would give up and settle for some crap or go to bed.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
You know, when I'm in the grocery checkout line I frequently see a magazine with something about the Kardashians.
WTF are they? I'm serious, I have no frickin' idea who these people are other than they are on magazines at the grocery checkout. Are they actresses I've never seen? Do they have a television show ('reality' shows don't count...I could get one of those). WHO ARE THEY?
I know who Paris Hilton is because I've stayed in her daddy's hotels a couple times.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
You know, when I'm in the grocery checkout line I frequently see a magazine with something about the Kardashians.
WTF are they? I'm serious, I have no frickin' idea who these people are other than they are on magazines at the grocery checkout. Are they actresses I've never seen? Do they have a television show ('reality' shows don't count...I could get one of those). WHO ARE THEY?
I know who Paris Hilton is because I've stayed in her daddy's hotels a couple times.
+1
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Quote:
Way to go, Jim on dumping cable TV. "No TV is good TV" is how I've lived for many, many years.
No cable TV here. Internet: Netflix, Roku, PlayOn. Over the last 4 weeks I've been around a TV oh about twice. Didn't miss a beat. Most TV programming is pathetic. The better shows are classics. The Rifleman, Marshall Dillon, MASH, WWWest, etc. Those 24 hour news channels? garbage! The likes of that big butt slu@ Kardashian? Revolting.
That's pretty much the same set up I'm running. Cut the cable TV over two years ago! I di keep the Internet cable at $35.00 per month. I'd drop that in a heartbeat if I could find a good cheaper alternative. Aint paying for a smart phone service either. Got 1500 mins and unlimited texts for $30.00 a month with a cheap LG. US Cell prepaid, works damn well and no contracts.
I'm over paying for high priced contracts for entertainment/information.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 11
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 11 |
Quote:
Internet cable at $35.00 per month. I'd drop that in a heartbeat if I could find a good cheaper alternative. Aint paying for a smart phone service either. Got 1500 mins and unlimited texts for $30.00 a month with a cheap LG.
Dang. My cable internet is $52.00/month. Smart phones and the required contracts aren't cheap, but they are the cats meow when traveling.
wunderground's mobile app is a lion's roar! lol. The free gps navigation using google maps or apples maps is way betterer than paper however much they pale vis-a-vis a garmin zumo.
Hum where was I? $35/month and you are looking for a less expensive isp provider? That reminds of the time rolling back from the Arkansas '08 Rally and asking the hotel clerk if he accepts AAA at the Star Motor Inn, 1115 S Willow Ave, Cookeville, TN (the price back then was $32.41 for the night.) 8/26/08
 
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I never had any use for a smartphone before I got an Android. I'll never go back. In fact, I can use a free app and do away with hard wired internet, if I so chose, because my Android internet is THAT fast. I also can dispense with my GPS, compass, and all kinds of other stuff.
I just can't leave my phone at home all the time. I wouldn't write off a smart phone until I've checked out a decent Android phone. They are pretty frickin' amazing.
I'm sure iPhones are cool, too, but they always seem to come with a boatload of issues that takes Apple a year (and a roll of duct tape) to work out.
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,251 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Hum where was I? $35/month and you are looking for a less expensive isp provider? That reminds of the time rolling back from the Arkansas '08 Rally and asking the hotel clerk if he accepts AAA at the Star Motor Inn, 1115 S Willow Ave, Cookeville, TN (the price back then was $32.41 for the night.) 8/26/08
Cookeville, heck one more hour and you could have been at my place. $32.41 is outrageous, I would have only charged you three shots of Elijah Craig 
Cheaper ISP provider? Well one can dream right
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593 |
Quote:
Dang. My cable internet is $52.00/month.
Wow, I finally found something we pay less for in Canada. lol
I only pay $40/month and that is for 300 Gb data (so a pretty good package).
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Re: Alternative to Cable TV
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
You know, when I'm in the grocery checkout line I frequently see a magazine with something about the Kardashians.
WTF are they? I'm serious, I have no frickin' idea who these people are other than they are on magazines at the grocery checkout. Are they actresses I've never seen? Do they have a television show ('reality' shows don't count...I could get one of those). WHO ARE THEY?
I know who Paris Hilton is because I've stayed in her daddy's hotels a couple times.
I heard on the radio them Kardashian girls were here in Houston a week or so ago, and folks were paying to see them. I dont know what they do. I never heard of a song the sing or any such thing. I got no clue why some one would pay to see them. I saw a picture of one and there are women that look better down at the local pub.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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