First off, I put this in the media forum because it's about how we get information but it might equally fit in some other forum so I have no complaint if it gets relocated.
What I DID was to "cut the cord".
Today I disconnected my cable TV service, cut back my landline phone service to bare minimum and upped my internet service by more than double the speed and data allowance.
I could rationalize it on cost saving alone and that might be attractive for some of us hereabouts. With the substitutions I'm making my cost will drop by approximately $90/month!
Cable TV: I had a 150+ channel service for which I paid about $90/month. Of those channels I found I as using seven, of which four are available to me free using a small (true, unsightly) indoor antenna. One of the remaining channels I used off cable was recently changed over to a different provider with programming I won't watch. To rub salt in it, the converter box would have to be replaced with a newer one (mandatory) but for several more bucks a month. True, more features, but things I wouldn't use
The few "cable" channels I watch now come off a Roku box (others work well, too; this one was just most convenient) for which I pay zero per month of itself but I added "Sling" and "Acorn" for a total of $25/month. I already had Hulu-without-commercials so no cost change there.
Phone: Was $45/month for unlimited long distance/local calling and stuff like voicemail that I never used. Reduced service now $15/month. At $15 I'll keep it indefinitely but will one day switch over entirely to Ooma at $4.24/month. I'm already using that device (internet phone) for all my long distance and international calls.
Internet: Was 12 meg/60 gig per month for $50, upgraded to 50 meg/150 gig per month for $85. If I go over that I can buy additional in $10/increments - no surprise overage fees.
All this is a preview of what's coming and now your media access will change very soon. Hey, I qualify as "elderly" and was able to figure it out and make it work. Yes, it will be a barrier for some with no technical background but also a job opportunity for those who do have the skills.
What's coming? What people have wanted for years is a la carte TV - buy and pay for only what you want. The cable companies have not allowed that an attempts in Congress to force it have not worked out. So it's developing all on its own. The first shot was Apple TV - which offers a somewhat limited choice. Apple was (and probably still is) negotiating with the major providers but they're resisting. Dish TV had more success and now offers "Sling" - a small sub-set of the channels they offer by satellite. AT&T has pre-announced a service they'll be providing and has bought DirecTV as the vehicle.
So the big issue is acceptance. Younger generations will take to it; older will resist but actuarial tables are a bitch. Are there others among us who have cut the cord? What works for you and what doesn't?
Maybe we have a need for a new forum if there are enough interested?
What I DID was to "cut the cord".
Today I disconnected my cable TV service, cut back my landline phone service to bare minimum and upped my internet service by more than double the speed and data allowance.
I could rationalize it on cost saving alone and that might be attractive for some of us hereabouts. With the substitutions I'm making my cost will drop by approximately $90/month!
Cable TV: I had a 150+ channel service for which I paid about $90/month. Of those channels I found I as using seven, of which four are available to me free using a small (true, unsightly) indoor antenna. One of the remaining channels I used off cable was recently changed over to a different provider with programming I won't watch. To rub salt in it, the converter box would have to be replaced with a newer one (mandatory) but for several more bucks a month. True, more features, but things I wouldn't use
The few "cable" channels I watch now come off a Roku box (others work well, too; this one was just most convenient) for which I pay zero per month of itself but I added "Sling" and "Acorn" for a total of $25/month. I already had Hulu-without-commercials so no cost change there.
Phone: Was $45/month for unlimited long distance/local calling and stuff like voicemail that I never used. Reduced service now $15/month. At $15 I'll keep it indefinitely but will one day switch over entirely to Ooma at $4.24/month. I'm already using that device (internet phone) for all my long distance and international calls.
Internet: Was 12 meg/60 gig per month for $50, upgraded to 50 meg/150 gig per month for $85. If I go over that I can buy additional in $10/increments - no surprise overage fees.
All this is a preview of what's coming and now your media access will change very soon. Hey, I qualify as "elderly" and was able to figure it out and make it work. Yes, it will be a barrier for some with no technical background but also a job opportunity for those who do have the skills.
What's coming? What people have wanted for years is a la carte TV - buy and pay for only what you want. The cable companies have not allowed that an attempts in Congress to force it have not worked out. So it's developing all on its own. The first shot was Apple TV - which offers a somewhat limited choice. Apple was (and probably still is) negotiating with the major providers but they're resisting. Dish TV had more success and now offers "Sling" - a small sub-set of the channels they offer by satellite. AT&T has pre-announced a service they'll be providing and has bought DirecTV as the vehicle.
So the big issue is acceptance. Younger generations will take to it; older will resist but actuarial tables are a bitch. Are there others among us who have cut the cord? What works for you and what doesn't?
Maybe we have a need for a new forum if there are enough interested?
Welcome to the vidiot*-free zone, Henry. Huzzah.
