I'm seriously considering cutting the cord

[JSD]

The value in cable tv is just not there anymore when considering the alternatives.

My cable and wifi bill right now is $160/month. For a solid internet connection I could probably cut that down to about $50 a month.

$160
-$110 cable cut
————————
= $50 per month for internet

Now I would need to buy a digital antenna for the basic channels. I'm also wondering if I should buy a smart tv at this point. Is it necessary? Or would getting Apple TV for my current tv suffice? Anyway, I would add Netflix and Hulu Plus to the equation. Each are around $9 a month. Then I would subscribe to NBA tv for $150 a year.

$0 basic tv (NBC, ABC, CBS ect.)
$0 Youtube App
$50 internet connection
$9 Netflix
$9 Hulu Plus
$12.50 NBA package
$5 Xbox live
——————————
$85.50 a month


I would literally cut my cable bill in half and probably not even really notice.

[pokeKingCurtis]

People like Netflix if that tickles your fancy.

[JSD]

Edit.

[JSD]

Couple negatives:

No HBO -- they're too afraid to alienate their satellite and cable friends so they haven't offered a non cable subscription yet.

I think only one tv in the house will be hooked up to the internet content. But literally 99% of the tv watching done in my house takes place in the living room.

[Celtics4ever]

I've thought about the HBO GO + internet and keeping Netflix.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/10/hbo-go-comcast/

 This would coast 47.99 for a year and 77.99 after that.   You'd get local channels, HBO and 25 MPS internet.

[JSD]

I've thought about the HBO GO + internet and keeping Netflix.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/10/hbo-go-comcast/

The problem is it goes through comcast and is $50 a month... That's a ripoff.

Edit- $50 a year. Now that's a lot better.

[Celtics4ever]

If you have an aerial antenna it's not a good deal.

[JSD]

Ok so Smart TV's are a dumb idea according to this tech review:

http://www.howtogeek.com/176392/smart-tvs-are-stupid-why-you-dont-really-want-a-smart-tv/

Apple TV  or Ruko essentially convert your tv into a smart tv. Good to know.

[bdm860]

I cut the cord, haven't looked back since.

Don't even have Netflix or Hulu Plus either.  Now while I understand Netflix, don't really understand why people get that AND Hulu Plus.  Like you said, you already get NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.  So you get all those shows for free, plus you get them free online the next day on their websites or regular free Hulu (Fox makes you wait a week though), in my experience, they typically offer the last 5 episodes free online. Tried the free trial of Hulu Plus, but didn't think they brought any value for $9 per month, since all they really offered was you can watch the full season online, which most of the time was episodes I already saw.

Have Amazon Prime though, got it for free 2 day shippimg, but their free instant video stuff is decent enough if you're trying to be really frugal, although they offer nowhere near as much as Netflix.  I would say it's like: Netflix is to the premium cable package with 300 channels, while Amazon Prime is to the basic cable package with 50 channels.

Don't have any smart TVs either, run everything through my PS3 or I just use the HDMI hookup on my laptop.

Definitely cut the cord though. So many legal and free or cheap alternatives out there.

[bdm860]

Ok so Smart TV's are a dumb idea according to this tech review:

http://www.howtogeek.com/176392/smart-tvs-are-stupid-why-you-dont-really-want-a-smart-tv/

Apple TV  or Ruko essentially convert your tv into a smart tv. Good to know.

Does your xBox not do the same thing as those, which you already have? I know my PS3 does.

[JSD]

It does, but I'm looking to move away from Microsoft completely at this point. My computer is apple, I have an iPhone and an IPad, so Apple TV is really the better option for intergration. The content sharing between all the devices is seamless.

I will be making a transition to PS4 probably next summer.

[indeedproceed]

I've had a roku box for a few years, dating back to before. Xbox live offered free hosting of netflix.

I think smart TVs are a complete waste of money. There are so many cheaper options that you can find with a better interface than the ones you get standard on the smart tv.

[JSD]

How do you watch Celtic games, bdm860? I know there are free options , but I can't take the low quality and pop ups. NBA basketball is one of those things I don't mind paying for.

[mjokc]

I cut the cord, haven't looked back since.

Don't even have Netflix or Hulu Plus either.  Now while I understand Netflix, don't really understand why people get that AND Hulu Plus.  Like you said, you already get NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.  So you get all those ahows for free, plus you get them free online the next day on their websites or regular free Hulu (Fox makes you wait a week though), in my experience, they typically offer the last 5 episodes free online. Tried the free trial of Hulu Plus, but didn't think they brought any value for $9 per month, since all they really offered was you can watch the full season online, which most of the time was episodes I already saw.

Have Amazon Prime though, got it for free 2 day shippimg, but their free instant video stuff is decent enough if you're trying to be really frugal, although they offer nowhere near as much as Netflix.  I would say it's like: Netflix is to the premium cable package with 300 channels, while Amazon Prime is to the basic cable package with 50 channels.

Don't have any smart TVs either, run everything through my PS3 or I just use the HDMI hookup on my laptop.

Definitely cut the cord though. So many legal and free or cheap alternatives out there.

HULU goes way beyond those basic channels and allows you to watch your favorite shows on demand when you want to with very few and short commercials. Me and my family cut the cord 3 years ago and haven't looked back. We purchased a Roku player and love it. We currently use Redbox instant streaming, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon instant video (Free with Amazon Prime). We literally never run out of things to watch. We also only pay for one of the services and share with family. For example, Mother and Father pay for one, Sister pays for the other, Me and my wife pay for one and we each get to share all three of them together. That's another way to save money.

[bdm860]

How do you watch Celtic games, bdm860? I know there are free options , but I can't take the low quality and pop ups. NBA basketball is one of those things I don't mind paying for.

Sad to admit (especially on a C's site), right now I don't.  Go to my mom's house on weekends and watch games there.  Last year, the C's weren't fun to watch anymore, and this year I thought they'd be much less fun to watch than they have been, otherwise I would have gotten NBA TV.

I feel as I've gotten older, less time for sports, at least not as much as a slave to them as I was in the past.  Outside of the playoffs, there were few games I really intently watched where I wasn't multi-tasking on something else and the game just ended up being on in the background anyway.