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Canceling the cable and watching everything via Internet

her209

her209

No Lifer
I pay $70+ per month for video services for digital cable service + HD channels + DVR box. Seems a little excessive considering most (95%) of the shows I watch are on network tv channels (NBC/ABC/CBS/FOX/etc.). The only thing I watch that is on cable channels is South Park and sports games when its broadcasted on ESPN/ESPN2/FSW/etc. I was seriously thinking about canceling the service and watching everything via Hulu.com, cbs.com, southparkstudios.com, and justin.tv. Sure, I'll have to wait until the next day see the episode, but I don't mind (except for the sports games that shown on the cable channels).

Does anyone know if you still receive an HD signal of the local channels even if you don't have cable service, but you have Internet service?
 
I think it's going to vary a lot.

Having had Comcast in multiple markets, sometimes they shut off the TV signal, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they even leave the expanded basic on. I even had free expanded basic + internet somehow when I was Florida, for 10 months, using my own modem I had purchased years before.

From what I could quickly dig up, no TV signal = no free local QAM signal. Regardless, usually your internet-only bill will go up almost as much as the basic local-only TV package costs. Just downscribe to the basic package, and you can be sure to have the QAM signal.

For example, if I drop TV entirely, my internet bill goes from $45/mo to $55/mo. Whereas the local-only package costs something like $12/mo. $2/mo difference is no big deal.
 
All the plans here the HD channels are part of the package, so you have to have cable to get HD, unless you go OTA, which I am not sure of quality here.
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I think it's going to vary a lot.

Having had Comcast in multiple markets, sometimes they shut off the TV signal, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they even leave the expanded basic on. From what I could quickly dig up, no TV signal = no free local QAM signal.

Regardless, usually your internet-only bill will go up almost as much as the basic local-only TV package costs. Just downscribe to the basic package, and you can be sure to have the QAM signal.

For example, if I drop TV entirely, my internet bill goes from $45/mo to $55/mo. Whereas the local-only package costs $12/mo. $2/mo difference.
Click to expand...
I don't get a discount for having Internet and cable. I have to have all three to get a $5 discount. And the basic service is still $20 if I keep it. Internet is $45.
 
I can get HD channels where I live with some good old-fashioned bunny ears. Hopefully your TV has a built-in HD tuner, and you live in a somewhat populated area.
 
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I think it's going to vary a lot.

Having had Comcast in multiple markets, sometimes they shut off the TV signal, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they even leave the expanded basic on. From what I could quickly dig up, no TV signal = no free local QAM signal.

Regardless, usually your internet-only bill will go up almost as much as the basic local-only TV package costs. Just downscribe to the basic package, and you can be sure to have the QAM signal.

For example, if I drop TV entirely, my internet bill goes from $45/mo to $55/mo. Whereas the local-only package costs $12/mo. $2/mo difference.
Click to expand...
I don't get a discount for having Internet and cable. I have to have all three to get a $5 discount. And the basic service is still $20 if I keep it. Internet is $45.
Click to expand...

Damn...that fucking sucks! I say give it a shot if you don't care about news, and can watch sports at a bar.
 
I'm sure it probably varies, but Cox used to makes you get the basic cable ($5-10 a month) to get the internet, and so you'd get the local channels for free. There was some ruling recently that concerns cable encryption, and it looks like clear-QAM will be on the way out as I believe the cable companies no longer have to keep the local stuff unencrypted. The plus side is it is opening up CableCARD so that should be less hassle. Not sure how quickly it goes into effect though.
 
Originally posted by: blinky8225
I can get HD channels where I live with some good old-fashioned bunny ears. Hopefully your TV has a built-in HD tuner, and you live in a somewhat populated area.
Click to expand...
Roommate has OTA to pickup the HD channels in his room and he says the signal sucks. His TV doesn't have built-in HD tuner but mine (in the living room) does. Oh, and I live in SoCal but on the side of a hill (near the top).
 
Even if you don't want to go OTA, you can just go with Comcast's Standard plan. Screw the box. Hook up your HD tuner. you'll still get the QAM channels for local HD.

I don't believe in paying $10 or $20 more just for DiscoveryHD, ESPN HD and stuff when I already get the digital version (non HD)
 
did this several years ago, i get all my news from reading- cnn video suxors BTW. and hulu/netflix has all the video i need.
 
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I think it's going to vary a lot.

Having had Comcast in multiple markets, sometimes they shut off the TV signal, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they even leave the expanded basic on. From what I could quickly dig up, no TV signal = no free local QAM signal.

Regardless, usually your internet-only bill will go up almost as much as the basic local-only TV package costs. Just downscribe to the basic package, and you can be sure to have the QAM signal.

For example, if I drop TV entirely, my internet bill goes from $45/mo to $55/mo. Whereas the local-only package costs $12/mo. $2/mo difference.
Click to expand...
I don't get a discount for having Internet and cable. I have to have all three to get a $5 discount. And the basic service is still $20 if I keep it. Internet is $45.
Click to expand...

Verizon DSL
1meg down/384k up
$14.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Originally posted by: her209
I pay $70+ per month for video services for digital cable service + HD channels + DVR box. Seems a little excessive considering most (95%) of the shows I watch are on network tv channels (NBC/ABC/CBS/FOX/etc.). The only thing I watch that is on cable channels is South Park and sports games when its broadcasted on ESPN/ESPN2/FSW/etc. I was seriously thinking about canceling the service and watching everything via Hulu.com, cbs.com, southparkstudios.com, and justin.tv. Sure, I'll have to wait until the next day see the episode, but I don't mind (except for the sports games that shown on the cable channels).

Does anyone know if you still receive an HD signal of the local channels even if you don't have cable service, but you have Internet service?
Click to expand...

u can still watch sports live via channe;s on justin.tv

or

sopCast
 
I canceled my $52/month satellite a few months ago. I built an HTPC for less than $400 with a dual TV tuner for the local OTA channels. It does a great job with those. I also can watch almost all of the cable shows I want to on the internet. ESPN360 is great for watching sporting events. I pay $34/month for dryloop DSL and $0/month for anything television related (other than electricity and DSL).
 
I've gone pretty much all Hulu and OTA. There's also Comcast's own Fancast service, similar to Hulu.
 
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