Thread Drift

[thekarens]

I'm with Catrin, I dropped satellite/cable tv years ago and haven't regretted a minute. I use Amazon, Netflix and Hulu for TV.

I don't find it hard to follow current news/events. I follow my favorite news services on FB and Twitter.

[OakLeaf]

Prodigy, that's what it was. It was driving me nuts. I knew DH would know!

Back then, it was TV or nothing. In those days, CNN actually had news on ...

[Crankin]

We had Direct TV in 2002, because my younger son was annoying me about not having access to "real news," and the town we lived in did not have cable until 2003. Every time the wind blew, or it rained, the signal went out. We got cable as soon as it became available.
About 3 years ago, DH went on a rant about paying for the basic cable we had and dropped it. We got a digital antenna, which gets a very good signal, but of course, only local stations. I missed CNN, and most of all HGTV. So then we got an Apple TV device for our kitchen and bedroom TVs. Of course, you have to know how to use it with the I Pad and I just never can remember how to do this. I got increasingly pissed about this, because the only shows we could watch from the Apple TV were old or crappy ones. Yes, we have occasionally streamed stuff from Amazon, but I don't care that much about movies. So, then we upgraded to get cable, so we could watch current shows through Apple TV. Just last month, I convinced DH to break down and get an HD cable box for our family room TV. And voila, I am actually watching some newer, current series on HBO. However, I mostly am watching HGTV and looking forward to not having to watch the Tour on my computer. I still wish we would get cable boxes for the other 2 TVs, because even though we now have complete access to cable shows throught he Apple TV, the damn thing never seems to work correctly, so I just ignore the thought of trying to learn how to use it.

[rebeccaC]

This is the first place I’ve had a television so I’ve never had a tv provider before. I live in a high technology building where a communications company installed and maintains the buildings directv and also the high speed internet for us. The cost is cheaper than an individual cost and is included in the hoa fees. No problems or complaints about directv from me.

There are usually just around 6+ programs I record to watch when I want (and avoid commericals) and the occasional hbo/showtime/ifc movie/doc. I’m doing something most of the time at home and music is my background most of the time rather than television programing.
If it wasn’t included in the hoa fees I’d probably not have a provider and just stream since I have a wireless capable smart tv.

[Crankin]

Funny, I don't watch TV that much (except the news), but not having what I want bothered me.

[Helene2013]

If it was only for me, I don't think I'd even own a tv. But hubby is a tv maniac. Never big enough and not enough channels. Deuh! Not that he watches a lot but he likes to have his options!

Used to have satellite and it was a nightmare. Snow: no tv; storm: no tv. We were back to cable with the zillions channels. I have to cut down on the costs or the budget would bust.

The other day I made him realize with all the media we have (cable, internet, iphones, etc) we were spending near $3000 (after taxes!) on stuff like this. Taking monthly, nothing there. But when you start to look at annual expenses, I flip! Luckily we can afford it but it is a LOT of money to watch tv and play on internet.

But I say it is better this then smoking and drinking (at least drinking too much). And as long as our chores are done, I have no issue.

I have to say that in Canada (at least for Quebec) we pay a lot for everything. Our packages are so much more expensive than anything we could get in the USA. I guess it is the price to pay for being smaller and not as many suppliers.

Personnally, I get all I need from internet. Would be better if we could catch some tv shows, etc that are blocked to Canada (from USA) but hey! Nothing I can do with the CRTC laws, etc.

[emily_in_nc]

I am missing some US TV here in Mexico, where we have only Mexican cable. There are a couple of stations that have content in English, but they are very limited: Seinfeld, Friends, and Big Bang Theory in syndication, which we enjoy; and an entire channel on crime investigations ("Investigation Discovery"), which can be pretty engaging at times. We also like watching the Spanish cooking shows and can follow them pretty well.

What I miss is HGTV, the Weather Channel, and CNN. We get International CNN in Spanish, but that's of limited use to me. My reading in Spanish is getting better all the time, but as fast as they speak on news broadcasts, I can't catch much of it. There are a couple of US network shows I keep up with (though behind the times) using Hulu.com. Was sorry to see that "Resurrection" just had its season (and probably series) finale. I really liked that show, and it appears that it will not be renewed.