Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

[DayCruiser]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

It really boils down to the cost of entertainment. Lets say your TV is being watched for 3 hours a day. Thats just over 90 hours a month. If your cable/sat bill is $120.00 a month thats just over a $1.30 an hour. Not sure what other form of entertainment can be had for that cost.

How much of that time was spent with them trying to sell you something? Cable was promoted in the beginning as commercial free TV. We now know that was just a way to get people hooked up. A short time later commercials took over. There are so many commercials that I have wondered off and forgot I was watching a good program. Just how much is our time worth? Seeing how life is so short

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Our cabin in WI doesn't have TV at all by choice. In the fall, my boys and I escape to the cabin and on Sunday Mornings, we hang out at the local bar/restaurant where they have all the games on AND a free taco bar. In my view, that is a win-win..

Do they have sofas and recliners where you can lay back drink beer/snack and doze off?

 

[jkust]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Our cabin in WI doesn't have TV at all by choice. In the fall, my boys and I escape to the cabin and on Sunday Mornings, we hang out at the local bar/restaurant where they have all the games on AND a free taco bar. In my view, that is a win-win..

There gets to be a certain time at night and we sometimes play games and other times we just want to sit and watch some tv. We were up there for 5 days after xmas and it got to be -33 air temp and you get in from snowmobiling and are just beat and tv sounds good. The house has everything in place for satellite and just needs a phone call to activate each receiver....I just philosophically struggle to pay for TV content and you can't get unlimited internet up there like you can here in the cities. They still charge you by the gig. I may end up succumbing at a time when many are just cutting the cord.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Cable was promoted in the beginning as commercial free TV. We now know that was just a way to get people hooked up. A short time later commercials took over.

Man I'm glad somebody finally said it! Cable is one of the biggest scams perpetuated against the American public since the EPA was forced down our throats! I remember when basic cable was introduced in our area (circa 1988) it was 11.99 a month, which after taxes and fees came to just under $15. At that time there were NO commercials! Just the ads for the cable service provider between movies. Three years later and at $19.99 per month, the commercials started becoming a part of the programming. I specifically remember thinking; "Why are we being charged to watch commercials...isn't that the point of cable-to pay up front to watch commercial free programming?"

Now look at what you get for your money. Utter garbage! I haven't been a cable or satellite subscriber for over 15 years, and have no intention of ever having it again. This is my financial perspective...cheapest cable $50 per month X 12=$600 per year x 15 years=NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS! I have bought a lot of fun toys for the $ that would have been spent watching commercial advertising!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Man I'm glad somebody finally said it! Cable is one of the biggest scams perpetuated against the American public since the EPA was forced down our throats!

So how was cable forced down our throats? You never were forced to buy it.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

i work for a satellite company and I would prefer you not 'cut the cord'......



The post about if it worth it to you is really applicable. If you're good with netflix/HULU/OTA, go for it. The future of TV is going to be interesting to be involved in.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

So how was cable forced down our throats? You never were forced to buy it.

I guess if you want to see certain college bowl games you are forced to buy it. A lot of programs were took off free/commercial TV and switched to SAT or Cable

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

I guess if you want to see certain college bowl games you are forced to buy it. A lot of programs were took off free/commercial TV and switched to SAT or Cable

You have the option to watch them or not. Not sure that is being forced.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

I guess if you want to see certain college bowl games you are forced to buy it. A lot of programs were took off free/commercial TV and switched to SAT or Cable

Sports bars would be an alternative viewing option.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

So how was cable forced down our throats? You never were forced to buy it.

Hi Bruce...better re-read the sentence. I didn't say cable service was forced down our throats. I said cable is a scam. I said the EPA was forced down our throats. A person can choose to have their money taken from them by the cable industry...that is their prerogative. However, no law-abiding citizen can avoid paying the inequitable financial demands that the EPA has unleashed upon our nation.

You were awfully quick to jump my arse about a simple opinion...so I must ask you; are you particularly sensitive about the matter because you are a cable employee? Or perhaps you own a million dollar portfolio in the cable industry? Or maybe you just don't like me and wanted to get a jab in? Well, whatever the answer is, I won't lose any sleep over it.

Have a nice afternoon.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

How much of that time was spent with them trying to sell you something? Cable was promoted in the beginning as commercial free TV. We now know that was just a way to get people hooked up. A short time later commercials took over. There are so many commercials that I have wondered off and forgot I was watching a good program. Just how much is our time worth? Seeing how life is so short

OK for the sake of argument lets say half the time "was spent with them trying to sell you something". That still only brings the cost to $2.60 an hour. Still seems like a bargain. Especially when compared to say boating for a day.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Especially when compared to say boating for a day.

bingo. I always chuckle when boaters complain about wasting money on stuff other than boating. Boating is essential after all.....

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Dave Ramsey would find this thread funny.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Hi Bruce...better re-read the sentence. I didn't say cable service was forced down our throats. I said cable is a scam. I said the EPA was forced down our throats.

OK...I see what you said. Not sure how the EPA has anything to do with cable but so be it.

By the way, I see Comcast had its 52 week high today! Same with DirecTV!

 

[jkust]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

So, I'm curious just to flip it up a bit. What does comparable cable and satellite cost in other countries? Canada or England. In the UK, the government sets up and owns the infrastructure for industries such as the cell phone industry so you don't get two year contracts...do they also have high content prices?...do they also own the cable infrastructure? I presume they aren't in the business of launching satellites into space.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Sports bars would be an alternative viewing option.

Ya have a 6 pack. Get a DUI and a free ride to the slammer

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Ya have a 6 pack. Get a DUI and a free ride to the slammer

and at $3+ per beer call it a push...

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

So, I'm curious just to flip it up a bit. What does comparable cable and satellite cost in other countries? Canada or England. In the UK, the government sets up and owns the infrastructure for industries such as the cell phone industry so you don't get two year contracts...do they also have high content prices?...do they also own the cable infrastructure? I presume they aren't in the business of launching satellites into space.

In the United Kingdom any household watching or recording live television transmissions as they are being broadcast (terrestrial, satellite, cable, or internet) is required to hold a television licence. Since 1 April 2010 the annual license fee has been ?145.50 for colour and ?49.00 for black and white. That's about $250.00 a year just for the right to receive TV signals.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

bingo. I always chuckle when boaters complain about wasting money on stuff other than boating. Boating is essential after all.....

Watch out the Cable company will buy your lake/ocean/river put a fence around it and charge you a fee to go boating. Of course Bruce will say you don't have to go boating

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Getting Ready to Cut the Cord

Of course Bruce will say you don't have to go boating

Yep. At least I am consistent!