Libby

Ive been considering it for awhile but Its still an issue for all the sports I watch which is the only real reason I have my cable anyone have any suggestions for being able to cut cable and still get sports content (other then mlb tv, nhl tv etc)

nick1091

Sports is really the only thing that keeps me from cutting the cord. I got DirecTV primarily for Sunday Ticket, and it's awesome (though DirecTV's customer service is, in a word, shitty.) I also have the NBA League Pass, which I can also utilize via my Roku, but the broadband version doesn't play the big national games.

Other than that, the only things I watch that aren't available are a lot of shows on Investigation Discovery (I'm a true crime junkie), but that by itself wouldn't be worth the monthly DirecTV nut.

printerati

We did it about a year ago, dropping cable for Netflix and Hulu+ (and the occasional rental from Amazon VOD) on the Roku, and minimal OTA programming like the NFL and the morning news. Overall, no regrets.

The one upgrade I will probably make is a tuner card in our Windows Media Center HTPC, since I wouldn't mind having the ability to DVR some stuff from the local PBS stations. That would also give the HTPC something to do, since we typically use the Roku for all streaming content (unless the Hulu+ channel is being shitty) and don't have much in the way of "local" video files.

hahn

Somebody needs to create an app that's a streaming aggregator. So you can look for a TV show or movie and it'll search across all your services - iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon VOD - to see who has it.

LosingMyMind

It's called Nintendo TVii.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7...tv-has-failed/

TheBigDave

Roku has this. It's the new Roku Search feature. I posted some info about it in the Roku thread:

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/streaming-t...ku-thread.html

BobO'Link

I'm not a sports fan either and could do without the *mandatory* addition of all those channels (put 'em on a special tier and sell them just to those who want 'em), but frankly, the inflated cost is with *every* "cable" channel. The amount of money "stations" want per subscriber is outrageous!

I've tried streaming and the quality generally sucks or there's lots of "buffering" stopping the show. I'd ditch the cable for nothing but DVD but the wife watches lots of daytime junk and home renovation type channels. Personally, I no longer watch anything on cable due to the volume of commercials and other annoyances (bugs, etc.). I'm currently looking into an Amazon Prime account because it adds "free" shipping to the streaming package.

islandclaws

I'm likely going to quit my job at [major cable company] next year (focus on school, and get out of this place I hate), so we're probably just going to keep internet and cut the cable entirely. As someone who has every single channel right now, I can positively confirm there is almost never a thing on worth watching.

We've got a Roku, and a wireless BD player, but my main concern is being able to catch the few shows we do enjoy, namely things on AMC. What are my options there? I know I can pay for episodes on Amazon or VUDU; don't want to, though. I figure Hulu should have the various Gordon Ramsay shows, Modern Family, and Shark Tank, just about the only network stuff we watch.

DJariya

Nothing from AMC can be watched legally online for free.

FYI, if you don't pay for Hulu Plus, everything on FOX (including all of Ramsay's shows) has an 8-day delay after it airs.

It's all covered in this thread that I created awhile ago.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/streaming-t...e-legally.html

islandclaws

Thanks, that'll be helpful.

kefrank

If those are the only shows with which you care about staying current, you can buy the season passes from Amazon and you still save money over cable. A season pass for The Walking Dead is $30-something I believe.

Dan

Yeah, I did the Season Pass thing for Breaking Bad. It was still less than subscribing to AMC for the time that it was on, so for me it was a good deal.

DJariya

If you only watch less than 5 shows, then either Amazon or Itunes plus Hulu plus is probably a better alternative if your trying to cut costs on entertainment. But if you watch 30 or more like me, then forget that option man.

Tarantino

The only thing I miss about not having cable is sports channels, and even those are starting to be ridiculous. Live sports games are missed.

Other than that, I can get my shows online. I haven't had cable for around 5, 6 years.

Ghostbuster

I have the original Roku player, and I pay monthly cable Internet and streaming Netflix bills (about $55 per month total). I may subscribe to Hulu at some point.

Patman

Thinking about junking Comcast cable, and going the streaming route. What will I end up paying for solely internet from Comcast? I figure it'll being around $60-$70/month since they try to piggy-back some "cable" fee due to the analog cable signal of the past, but with everything digital and requiring a converter box, that seems unfair for them to charge for higher internet price a la carte), and that also seems pretty high.

Ropes Pierre

for comparison, you can get time warner, 29.99 10 mps. no tax, buy your own modem and avoid their rental fee. this is NYC area.

TheBigDave

I checked the Comcast website, and in my area (Southwest VA) they offer basic internet ("up to 20Mbps") for $20/month the first 6 months and $35/month after that. The modem rental is an extra $7/month.

rbrown498

This is what finally got me to ditch DirecTV. I found that, generally, I was watching a handful of shows every week...for $88 dollars per month. So I decided not to pay any more.

Of the two shows that I watched religiously, I can get The Amazing Race for free over the air, and I've decided (and found it to be true) that I can live with not watching The Walking Dead until it hits Blu-ray.

The only thing that I really miss being able to watch are college sports, but if there's a big game on, I can go to someone's house or a bar and catch it.

I've also killed my Netflix subscription. I've got over 3600 DVDs and Blu-rays, and I've probably only seen about a third of them. Now's the time to start wading through them.

So, between dropping satellite and Netflix, I'm saving over $110 every month...and not missing those services at all.

hahn

I've been paying to watch my AMC shows on iTunes. Not cheap, but I get HD quality shows, no commercials and within a few hours of the airing. Even though it's not cheap, it's still way WAY cheaper than a monthly cable bill.

Ranger

American Horror Story can't be watched anywhere online legally either?

majorjoe23

Not the new episodes, as far as I can tell. Season 1 is on Watch Instantly.

pelenor

New story may make cutting the cord a little easier,a s Netflix signs exclusivity deal with Disney.

http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/1...vengers-2.html

SuckaMC

Its been a few months since we cut the cord, and we are doing fine. Between Netflix, Hulu plus and Prime, we have plenty to watch. At first I was sad to not get the news, but now, eh.

chino77

I haven't had cable for at least 4 yrs. I subscribe to Netflix but I also use torrents.