Logo

Column: How to Pull the Plug on Satellite or Cable

Feb 8, 2009  •  Post A Comment

On soap operas, the sexy leads will often kiss, date, mate, hiss, throw things, break up, make up and kiss again. And that works on a soap.
But the whole on-again-off-again thing isn’t quite so cute when it comes to the digital television transition. Many consumers are fed up with the mixed messages from the government on the switchover, which makes me wonder if some of those consumers might be tempted to go TV-free.

TV Guide website

SEE IT NOW TVGuide.com helps viewers find their favorite TV shows and Web-only programs online.

Could the digital TV delay be the proverbial final straw for some TV viewers to say, “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll get my TV from the Internet now”?
Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a number of readers in recent weeks who want pointers on how to get started with the broadband video-powered lifestyle. Consider this your tip sheet on how to start living cable- and satellite-free.
First, let me offer a disclaimer: This isn’t for sports fans!
Sure, some sports are available live online, but if you live and die by the pigskin flying in hi-def, then the broadband video life likely is not for you.
For everyone else, the first thing you need is a phone. Pick it up and dial your cable or satellite operator. Say, “I want to cancel my service.” Steel yourself—these well-trained customer-service representatives will dangle enticing offers to try to lure you back. Remember, you are sticking it to the man and you must be strong. If all else fails, blame your boss. When I called to cancel, I simply said, “My editor is making me do this as part of an experiment for our magazine.” That wasn’t in the “how to save the customer” script, so they let me go.
Then, turn on your computer and go to Hulu.com, NBC.com, ABC.com, CBS.com, Fox.Com, TheDailyShow.com, CartoonNetwork.com and so on and watch your favorite shows. It’s really that simple.
You also can go to TVGuide.com’s online video guide, AOL’s guide or Veoh, as examples, for lists of both TV shows online and Web-only programs.
If you want to get a little more arty, you can connect your computer to your TV. You’ll need to purchase the right cord for your computer, so ask at your local electronics store.
You also can get an AppleTV, which brings iTunes and YouTube to your TV set. I recommend AppleTV if you’re a major news viewer. You can watch many news shows such as “NBC Nightly News” and “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” for free on iTunes a few hours after they air on TV.
If you’re going to watch entertainment programming on AppleTV, you’ll likely need to pay $1.99 an episode. Add up the costs to see if that makes sense over the long haul. You’re probably better off watching those same shows for free on the Web.
I don’t consider AppleTV a must-have for the cable-free lifestyle. The selection is still limited and the free proposition for TV episodes online is much more compelling.
You also could install Boxee TV if you have an AppleTV. This software brings Hulu.com, ComedyCentral.com, CBS.com and other Web sites directly to your AppleTV and thus your TV set.
The one must-have is Netflix for your DVD fix. As part of the monthly Netflix fee, you now can watch more than 12,000 titles immediately online.
Thanks to its relatively cheap monthly fee and its instant-streaming proposition, Netflix added 718,000 new customers last quarter, more than double its expectations. With fourth-quarter profits up 45%, Netflix might have some new cord-cutters to thank.

148 Comments

  1. I have another suggestion for you: get your broadcast TV over the airwaves for free. My desktop monitor has an ATSC tuner in it, to which I’ve attached an indoor antenna. One push of the remote and I’m watching DTV off the air; another push and I’ve got broadband. Oh, and the over-the-air TV works even when the cable goes out. It’s wireless without Wi-Fi, and the quality’s a lot better than streaming broadband.

  2. Can we get a few suggestions on set-up and hardware involved to connect computer-to-TV? Maybe a site with some type of tutorials? I don’t like the ‘ask at your local electronics store’ suggestion-most of them know about as much as I do(not a whole lot) and, besides, their job is to SELL and UP-SELL-so I’m a little hesitant to totally trust them.

  3. Here’s a suggestion: for the millions of Americans who live in rural communities with no access to affordable broadband call up your satellite provider and say, “Thanks satellite people for making it possible for me to not give a damn about the DTV switchover because you already send me a digital signal.” Oh, and for those who think satellite Internet is a viable broadband alternative: 1.) it costs $70/month; and 2.) the speed isn’t nearly fast enough to make watching shows on your computer feasible.

  4. These online, Internet viewer people are living on another planet.
    Currently, the penetration of that kind of “real world” viewing is less than 2% of the potential program viewing audience. It is mostly made up of techno geeks who already live and break via text messages, not human interaction.
    AppleTV and ZULU…don’t make me laugh. They’ll both be gone in 18 months or less.
    Get real – if you folks want to watch TV on your 2″, 4″, 10″, and 17″ screens….go right ahead….just leave the reast of us normal people alone with your bizzare and stupid ideas.
    HDTV and Blu Ray are here now and growing in major leaps – Blu Ray is now up to 15% of all DVD purchases after less than 2 years – these are the future and the future is now.

  5. BOXEE.
    You don’t have to have an APPLE TV to use BOXEE.
    Download the alpha program right now for your linux or apple system…and soon the PC.
    It’ GREAT!
    To plug my computer into my TV was simple.
    My TV has analog and digital audio inputs. It also has analog and digital video inputs.
    I ran the highest quality cables i could from my computer to my television.
    In this case it was a 15 foot DVI to HDMI cable from my computer to my television.
    And a 13 foot digital optical cable from my computer to my television.
    BOOM!
    Now I can watch High Definition television AND movies in DOLBY DIGITAL from all the places Daisy listed as well as over TEN THOUSAND selections from NETFLIX that I can download!
    Boxee ROCKS!
    TAKE THAT LUDDITE PETE!!! SPINNING DISCS ARE FOR THE BIRDS!!!! AND SO IS CABLE AND SATELLITE!!!

  6. It seems unlikely that anyone who is ready to switch to watching TV on broadband or cell phones is doing so because the government is sending mixed messages about DTV.
    At one end of the spectrum you have people like yourself who are tech-forward – you are figuring out what new technology can offer and what old habits you can ditch, like owning an television.
    At the other end are people who are not ready for the digital conversion – they are either living under a rock and haven’t heard the message or just don’t care that much about TV, procrastinators who won’t adopt new technology until forced, or those who can’t afford a new TV or a converter box, and don’t necessarily even have a computer or internet service in their homes, let alone broadband.

  7. Notageek, I would ordinarily agree with you. However, today’s economic climate is forcing even normally upscale households to look for ways to cut costs. The combination of free DTV and improved broadband video services will tempt others beyond the small segment of “tech-forward” viewers.
    Pete, you really need to take a closer look at the evaporating DVD retail business. Blu-ray may be around for a long while, but it will never scale the heights reached by its standard def forerunner.

  8. As stated in previous comments, this style of online viewing is not for everyone, and as an avid console gamer, I don’t see myself giving up television anytime in the near future. It’s a possibility, but I bought an LCD TV so that I could play games and watch TV shows and movies in hi-def, and I simply don’t want to bother with hooking up yet another piece of hardware (my computer) in order to enjoy this ‘easier’ online lifestyle.
    In the coming months and years, I could change my mind, but convenience is key for me and paying for that cable subscription is a lot easier than finding all the shows I want online or paying for them à la cart. It’s also more complicated when, like me, you live in a rural area with few broadband choices. If I want more than 1.5Meg download, I have exactly one choice, and anything under 3Meg doesn’t stream HD very well. That’s changing, but very slowly in my neck of the woods.
    I do enjoy Netflix streaming. If it wasn’t for the inclusion of Xbox consoles in the list of streaming devices, I wouldn’t watch near as much media that way. Kudos to Netflix for adding the option. It just might be what eventually pushes me to cutting the cable/satellite strings (or at least getting me interested).

  9. Bamabrad: I will look into specific suggestions of hardware to connect your PC to the TV and post them here.
    Notageek: I don’t think the digital delay will spur people who only had analog. I think other consumers who lean a little tech-forward or who simply are evaluating expenses as many of us are in this climate will see the missteps in the delay as a reason to say, forget it, it’s easier to get TV online.

  10. FG is right to frame the choice in terms of download bandwidth. Let’s not be fooled by claims such as: “upto umphteen gazillion terrapiddles download per nanosecond”. For the moment, all of the anecdotal reports that I hear say that AT&T and Comcast promise a great deal more than they deliver, and blame the customers’ wiring for the deficit, which usually turns into an expensive, frustrating, useless, and time-consuming fire-drill. I’d switch to an IPTV approach, if only I could trust my ISP to provide what they claim.
    I’d love to hear from anyone who has had success in making this transition with AT&T U-verse, Verizon FOITTH, Comcast hollerith cards, Cox ShadowPuppets, or any other technology.
    http://richreader.blogspot.com/

  11. Daisy – you won’t find the right “cord” at your local electronics store. Trust me, I’ve looked. You can find them here: PCTVCables.com

  12. TVWeek readers might also like to try ovguide.com to help cut the cord!

  13. There are lots of great Internet TV options that have been listed in the story and through the comments. Another option is Windows Media Center. You can watch your TV via a TV Tuner (and it supports digital signals in the U.S.) as well as get free Internet TV content, like “Arrested Development” and the MSNBC News beta. The best part is, Windows Media Center is included with Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, so most people that don’t know they have this capabilitiy, do.

  14. FAO sports fans::
    myp2p.eu 😉
    no high def, but i have only once in however many years not been able to find an event: calzaghe vs. hopkins.
    otherwise, the selction is better than cable/sat

  15. I’m Looking for a project to volunteer in this might not be on topic but is there anything you can recomend me? I would really apperciate it thanks!

  16. Thank you for a great post

  17. Good post, thanks

  18. This is an extremely excellent site you have going here. The matter is very informative and straight to the point. Excited to read more about your blog next time.

  19. This is an extremely fantastic site you have going here. The matter is very informative and straight to the point. Excited to read more about your blog next time.

  20. Thanks for your visiting this http://www.replicaseller.com/replica-pens online store.

  21. Thanks for your visiting this http://www.replicaseller.com/replica-pens online store.

  22. If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.

  23. There are some great tips and tutorials here. I bookmarked a few. Thanks.

  24. thank you your writing style is amazing. just found your site on bing. come back later for sure 🙂

  25. Wonderful to read!

  26. Best work!! You have fabulous tips I have never seen and you seem to learn your stuff.

  27. Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

  28. Lindsay Lohan Goes to Rehabilitate Today, 30 days later she’ll be back at it. Pity in the “star struck” process of law for allowing this lass to trash her lifetime. By now she justifies discipline not rehab.

  29. The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

  30. Please also post an updated list if you have.

  31. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  32. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  33. I added Google Reader to your site when I have spare time try to follow.

  34. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  35. Know whether the site is opened too late.

  36. Know whether the site is opened too late.

  37. If you love watching movies online, take a look at satellite for pc software. It is defiantly forth the small investment.

  38. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  39. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  40. Was looking for this – so I just tweeted your site on our account – thanks

  41. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  42. Was looking for this – so I just tweeted your post on our account – thanks

  43. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  44. I really loved the site so I used my Digg account to digg it – should assist you

  45. I come and read constantly. very nice blog

  46. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  47. Searched Yahoo/Bing and ended up here – its good so I posted the site on my Facebook account !

  48. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  49. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  50. I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success 😛

  51. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  52. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  53. Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂

  54. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  55. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  56. En güzel erotik filmler burada.

  57. Way to focus and straight to your point, i love it. Keep up the work people. Dont let anyone stop us bloggers.

  58. You make blogging look like a walk in the park! I’ve been trying to blog daily but I just cant find writing material.. you’re an inspiration to me and i’m sure many others!

  59. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  60. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  61. This subject matter can be a delicate 1, a single has to think through it just before coming to a conclusion on about it,stunning website I just like the header.

  62. I enjoyed reading it. I require to read more on this matter…I am admiring the time and effort you put in your blog, because it is obviously one great place where I can find lot of usable info..

  63. Here’s how you download YouTube videos

  64. This is great news! Looking forward to see more.

  65. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  66. I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

  67. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  68. Love this blog.

  69. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  70. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  71. I agree.

  72. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

  73. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  74. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  75. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  76. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  77. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  78. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  79. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  80. Interesting thoughts here. I appreciate you taking the time to share them with us all. It’s people like you that make my day 🙂

  81. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  82. Interesting thoughts here. I appreciate you taking the time to share them with us all. It’s people like you that make my day 🙂

  83. You make blogging look like a walk in the park! I’ve been trying to blog daily but I just cant find writing material.. you’re an inspiration to me and i’m sure many others!

  84. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  85. You completed a few good points there. I did a search on the topic and found mainly people will consent with your blog.

  86. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  87. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  88. Kudos for the great piece of writing. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

  89. Kudos for the great article. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this.

  90. Kudos for the great article. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this.

  91. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  92. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  93. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  94. Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!

  95. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  96. Thanks for your insight for the great written piece. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

  97. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  98. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  99. Thanks for the great post, found you site on google and added to my google reader account. Gonna try to keep up with the new posts as much as I can :).

  100. Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

  101. Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.

  102. Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

  103. Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

  104. This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

  105. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

  106. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  107. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  108. My identify is Liz and I have a secret. I examine your weblog just about each and every day, but you you would notknow that. That is certainly due to the fact I hardly ever depart a comment.

  109. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  110. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  111. Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂

  112. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  113. Appreciation for the great blog post. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this.

  114. Simply curious must you happen to knew a single factor else in regards to the large blogengine update that is coming up soon? I’m making an attempt to reach out to over site owners to discover out what they know because Google hasn’t indexed complete lot new on it for awhile.

  115. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  116. Thanks for your insight for the great written piece. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

  117. Kudos for the great piece of writing. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

  118. Kudos for the great article. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this.

  119. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

  120. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

  121. I desired to thank you for th is good study!! I certainly experiencing every tiny bit of it I have you bookmarked to look at new things you submit.

  122. What an awesome resource!

  123. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  124. This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

  125. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  126. Good to be visiting your blog again, it has been weeks for me. Well this is the article that I’ve been waiting for so long. As a roofer I would say this is very informative post and I like your post. Regards, excellent share.
    regards
    Vancouver Roofing Contractor

  127. I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

  128. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  129. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  130. I the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great content .

  131. Thank you for the amazing piece of work. I will be taking advantage of the amazing content on this blog. I will be returning!

  132. much more exciting on th is site.

  133. Giving thumbs up for Aol. (it’s not AOL anymore, ideal?) along with the London Olympics, is that only for securing that you are around the correct aspect on the wave?

  134. I just extra th is website to my favorites. I really enjoy studying your posts. Tyvm! Frankly I tend not to participate on blogs, but I would like to say that th is guide really convinced me to try and do so! Congratulations, really nice publ ish.

  135. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  136. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  137. I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

  138. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  139. Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!

  140. “you know, i used to be just pondering of how poor people today are acquiring when they’re trying to industry a website, i mean, for example, have a look at this place, nothing but spam. appears so desperate, why not just do ads rather than spamming all the time.”

  141. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  142. I like your blog.

  143. Hi there! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the good stuff you’ve right here on this post! Sry off topic but I gotta know if somebody might know when Taylor Swift is going to play in TN?

  144. Nice site. On your blogs very interest and i will tell a friends.

  145. 完全indited データ。の
    C-BA STYLE*シーバ スタイル プリティエハートネックレス(アクセサリー ジュエリー ペンダント おしゃれ プレゼント ギフト かわいい 可愛い レディース 記念日 誕生日 プレゼント 女性 彼女) P15Aug15:ZAZA STORE http://www.chicoccasions.com/voividir/1326.html

  146. こんにちはへの感謝!私は今朝、偶然あなたのウェブサイトを発見したが、実際に私がしたどの嬉しく思います!その面白いだけでなく、アイブ見たロットと比較を使用するように簡単ではないだけ!
    インテリア;収納/ラック;おもちゃ収納ラック;トイBOX2段+木の本棚:スマイルプライス http://silaka.org/maoshipk/70.html

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)