Cancelled my cable TV today.

[dullard]

I've been watching TV less and less. I've been spending more and more time socializing (my GF, going out, having dinner parties). And the cable rates have gone up between 4.2% and 14.4% each year for the last 8 years (compared to inflation which was 1.6%-3.4% in the same period). Just today I got the bill with a nice 6.2% increase in price with no new channels or shows or anything that I want (no new things I want in the last 8 years).

So I called today and cancelled. No, I didn't switch to Dish or DirectTV either.

All this from someone who grew up with the TV on at all times (watching it 100%, 50%, or 0% it didn't matter).

For those who have cut it, how painful was it?

 

[DeadByDawn]

I've been without for over 3 years, don't miss it. We just netflix movies we want to see and use the internet to read the news or find out what the weather is going to be like.

 

[SpanishFry]

i would do it, but i would miss ESPN

 

[Queasy]

I've been trying to do it but wife and kids overrule me.

 

[BrokenVisage]

How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night?? Being more sociable is nice, but what are you gonna do when you have people over and theres a game or show on that your company would like to watch? I don't know about you, but a 3-5 hour dinner party gets pretty boring to me after a certain amount of time just making stupid small talk. I just don't see the logic in getting rid of cable just because having a social life detracts from the value of having it.

 

[MrPickins]

I've ripped all my dvd's (including 4 or 5 complete tv series) to my HTPC. Between that and netflix, I get plenty of TV.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Television, like the Internet, is an invaluable resource. I will never live without either.

 

[fatpat268]

Yea, I'd do it too... because of bittorrent and all, but I would be missing out without espn and all that.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night?? Being more sociable is nice, but what are you gonna do when you have people over and theres a game or show on that your company would like to watch? I don't know about you, but a 3-5 hour dinner party gets pretty boring to me after a certain amount of time just making stupid small talk. I just don't see the logic in getting rid of cable just because having a social life detracts from the value of having it.

The fiesta bowl was broadcast on FOX, correct?

I still get my local channels OTA, in Hi-Def free of charge.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Good for you man. I couldn't do it, but good for you!

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: Queasy
I've been trying to do it but wife and kids overrule me.

Same here, we actually did it for 6 months in 2005 but my wife and kids griped the WHOLE time. I thought it was kinda nice(except for the griping). I missed football, but that gave me an excuse to go to the bar with the guys on game day

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: kmr1212
i would do it, but i would miss ESPN

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night??

That was a good game. Although, I only saw the last half.

The only sports I watch is college football. So I kept it through the football season. The rest I can get on rabbit ears or go out and watch it. I may reactivate it next Sept though for more football.

I'll miss TLC and the Discovery channel the most. And the weather channel was nice to have. I had been watching a lot of cable news, but that has degraded signficantly the last couple of years.

I guess I never had trouble filling a ~3 hour party without the TV.

 

[radioouman]

I hate cable. I never had it growing up. The only reason that we have it now is because my wife wants it. I prefer free, over-the-air, especially with all of the digital channels available.

 

[Patt]

I have done it a couple of times, mainly while living abroad, and haven't missed it at all. What with the things you can find for free on broadcaster's websites etc., unless you love live sports there isn't much reason. That said my wife would castrate me if I cut off the satellite

 

[Ramma2]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night?? Being more sociable is nice, but what are you gonna do when you have people over and theres a game or show on that your company would like to watch? I don't know about you, but a 3-5 hour dinner party gets pretty boring to me after a certain amount of time just making stupid small talk. I just don't see the logic in getting rid of cable just because having a social life detracts from the value of having it.

Fiesta Bowl was on local broadcast channels, in HD as well.

Down with cable! I'm going to cancel as well, just need to look up the number.

 

[KK]

maybe they wont come around and turn it off, analog basic that is.

 

[blue1friday2]

I haven't had any television at all for over two years... you don't need it really.

 

[igowerf]

We just canceled our cable service. I just watch the HD channels off my antenna now. Most of the shows that I watched are on NBC anyways.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

As a single guy, it's no big deal going without. Once you have kids you spend a lot more of your time at home and are unable to do a lot of things you otherwise would.

 

[timswim78]

We deep-sixed all of our television sets. Now, we just have an OTA HDTV tuner on the PC, which we use about once a week (football). We sometimes use the laptop to watch DVD's. Saves us about $60 a month.

 

[InlineFive]

I only have the Basic Cable service for internet. And I generally use my TVs for game consoles.

 

[dullard]

They asked why and I said the price increase. They asked if there was anything that could be done to keep me as a customer (price lower for 3 months). I said the only way to keep me would be a la carte, she laughed and said that won't happen for decades.

But, if the consumers band together and enough of us cancel, we can get it. Too bad I'm not an organizer.

 

[jdini76]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night?? Being more sociable is nice, but what are you gonna do when you have people over and theres a game or show on that your company would like to watch? I don't know about you, but a 3-5 hour dinner party gets pretty boring to me after a certain amount of time just making stupid small talk. I just don't see the logic in getting rid of cable just because having a social life detracts from the value of having it.

I love TV like the rest, but If I have company over, and they want to watch TV instead of socializing with the group, then I will say goodnight. There is plenty to do other than just talking. you can play a board game. They are fun.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I wish I could dump cable, I don't watch much tv but my gf does, and she would bitch a fit if I turned it off.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: jdini76

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
How could you do such a thing after that amazing Fiesta Bowl game last night?? Being more sociable is nice, but what are you gonna do when you have people over and theres a game or show on that your company would like to watch? I don't know about you, but a 3-5 hour dinner party gets pretty boring to me after a certain amount of time just making stupid small talk. I just don't see the logic in getting rid of cable just because having a social life detracts from the value of having it.

I love TV like the rest, but If I have company over, and they want to watch TV instead of socializing with the group, then I will say goodnight. There is plenty to do other than just talking. you can play a board game. They are fun.

What makes a board game better than television? Both can encourage social interaction. Maybe it's the programming you choose rather than the nature of television itself?