Ditch Cable for Hulu/Netflix

We have your basic cable - network stations, and few random ones like TBS and ion. Hardly ever watch live tv - too many shows come on at 7pm and that's when we're making dinner, or they come on at 9pm and we're heading to bed. So we watch most stuff the next day on Hulu. We do have an HDMI cable to hook the computer up to the TV though. 

The only thing we really miss - Food Network. 

We "cut the cord" over a year ago. Don't regret it at all. I don't really have a problem paying for something that is worth it - I just REALLY didn't feel like Cable needed to be that much. What was it - like a 500% mark-up?!?

Anyway - we got a blu-ray player (panasonic) that has wi-fi built in. We can get hulu and netflix on it and we've had no problem. Other possibilities are Apple TV or Roku. There are quite a few on BT that have Roku's - they're pretty cool!

I do have a digital converter box (needed for "air wave" TV) but my antenna is only a little rabbit ears...however, we have positioned it fine for the Oscars and Superbowl - otherwise we just watch Hulu, Netflix or Rentals.

Check out this website: http://www.antennaweb.org/

It has info about where to position your antenna and different types, etc. You spend one month (maybe 2) of what you would on cable and you have a really good antenna! The non-cable TV is a lot different since the digital switch. They have an "EPG" (I think that's what its called) but on that station it will tell you whats on and whats on later...

I say GO FOR IT! I personally don't want to support the Cable companies or Satellite TV - they don't have a monopoly on the market anymore so they should stop acting like it 

Another question for those w/o cable - how ya gonna watch the Olympics? It says that every event will be shown live online...so I could hook up my computer to TV...but...I was looking for other possibilities??

Did it nearly 3 years ago.  And we have 4 kids.  No problem at all.  It offers TONS of programming.  I find that we watch less junk and more documentaries or educational shows. We do have an antenna for sports.  But I deliberately leave it disconnected to discourage random viewing.  We also have an Xbox where I can stream ESPN. 

All in all, makes our house some much more interesting.  After a while you will forget what commercials are and how much they brainwash you into think that you must buy/eat/wear the latest and greatest.  Now whenever we watch tv, we just wonder who buys all this crap they are promoting. 

When we moved to our current place about a year ago, we got rid of cable and now have no television channels at all.  In the winter months we subscribe to Netflix, but cancelled it for the summer months (given how little we would watch during the summer it wouldn't be worth it). 

I found it took about a month to get used to, but now only miss live tv when I want to watch live sports (the European soccer tournament, NHL playoffs, I suspect the Olympics).  For most of those, though, if I really want to see it, there is the internet, local pubs, etc.

Otherwise, if we want mindless entertainment, we watch DVDs (our own or rentals). The best part is having so much time to do other things - when we had tv it was too easy to get sucked in for extended periods of time.  Now, watching something on the television is almost a last resort in terms of entertainment - even in the winter.

Ditched it 2yrs ago and haven't looked back.

I have a laptop, an xbox w/ netflix, and an HD antenna. No problems, and I'm not missing anything.

I don't understand why they get to call it Hulu+ when it offers about 15% of what Hulu has, even though you are paying for it.

OWe have broadcast, Hulu and netflix.

i haven't had cable or anything in over 4 years. not planning on getting it any time soon. i use netflix, and i can stream ESPN on xbox live in the fall for NCAA games.  

plus torrents are awesome

As soon as the TdF is over I'm scaling back my DirecTV to local channels only.  I know cable used to do this anybody know if DirecTV does this?  On top of that I'm probably going to stick with our Netflix streaming, Amazon Prime and/or Hulu+.

All the shows my kids love are on Netflix. 

Interestingly, and while I'm sure there are ways around it, NBC will stream all events live . . . . but there's a catch.  You have to be a television subscriber (see link).

http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-oly-tv-20120714,0,6030446.story

http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/help/index.html

I just have Netflix, I love it.

This... only I've recently canceled Hulu, too. Just wasn't watching it.

Most cable providers let you set up more than one account. My sister has a big name cable/internet provider, and she made a user account that I can use to get access to stuff online.

BUT, some companies won't let two user accounts linked to the same subscriber account access content at the same time.

Also, don't forget about playon

It's a downloaded file to your computer, wirelessly linking it to your gaming device. It scans and pull files from TONS of other sources and makes them available in one easy to find category on your console.

It is pay based but in different levels: $4/mo, $30/yr, or $60/lifetime.

It adds channels like MTV, nick, nascar, abc, cbs, nbc, spike, and about 50 more. Definitely something to look into.

dropped cable 6 months ago - purchased an HD antenna (it looks like a laminated piece of black construction paper) for local channels and PBS and some wacky religious channels - have Netflix and Amzon Prime - we like it because 1) no commercials to warp young minds 2) no commericals to lengthen to duration of a show and waste even more time watchign TV 3) Netflix has a history of what was watched so we can monitor TV shows they watch 4) If they dont like the selection - tough crap - find something else to do. I used to really be into sports (college football and professional soccer) but you know what - I dont miss it that much now.

Not sure if you're aware, but an Xbox with a gold subscription will get you ESPN & ESPN 360. Almost every football game I wanted to watch could be had on the antenna or the xbox during last season.