Is Free TV in Danger?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Apparently Time Warner cable subscribers might have to start paying efor FOX in the very near future. My FOX channel keeps showing a banner at the top of the screen listing shows that people will be missing (aka anything FOX shows) like Bowl games, House, etc.

That's a scare tactic. These have been used so many times it's not funny. You do mean paying extra like it's HBO, right? Cause if you have cable you're already paying for it...

Sirius XM is great for people who are on the road all the time, and for businesses. If you're just in your car a normal amount of time though, I think it's an absolute waste of money. Like DrPhil said, there's a concept of CDs.

Free tv is already gone - the digitalization saw to that. Before that happened, my parents' house got 7 channels, including all the main networks. After it was put in place, AND after buying the converter, I could only get 3. I HAD to get cable because the signals didn't come over the mountain and were that weak.

And the last thing I want to do is watch TV shows on any sort of computer. I can make it through a SNL skit on youtube and even that is pushing it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Sirius XM is great for people who are on the road all the time, and for businesses. If you're just in your car a normal amount of time though, I think it's an absolute waste of money. Like DrPhil said, there's a concept of CDs.

I have also noticed that a lot of new rental cars have Sirius XM (or something like it?).

Originally Posted by 33girl

Free tv is already gone - the digitalization saw to that. Before that happened, my parents' house got 7 channels, including all the main networks. After it was put in place, AND after buying the converter, I could only get 3. I HAD to get cable because the signals didn't come over the mountain and were that weak.

See! That's the conspiracy that I was talking about ealier. Most of this stuff is being forced upon us.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That's a scare tactic. These have been used so many times it's not funny. You do mean paying extra like it's HBO, right? Cause if you have cable you're already paying for it...

Yes, paying extra like HBO. I don't have Time Warner. We are satisfied enough with our package provider, though I agree that the it's expensive. We need a fast internet connection bc my husband sometimes telecommutes, and we both watch cable stations probably 4x as much as we do the networks. He loves the HBO shows and I love A&E, Discovery, Animal Planet, and a bunch more of the specialty channels. So we just made the best choice for us.

We don't have expensive hobbies, and whenever we buy new electronics (like replacing my 4-year old laptop for various reasons), we usually try to sell the older version (he saves boxes and packaging) and try to recoup 1/3 to 1/2 of the older item's original cost to put towards the new item. So before we get new phones, mpg players, etc., we check to see the going price and sell-ability of used items we have, before committing to making a new purchase. Of course, I cringe when I have to spend $100 at the grocery store (I load up when chicken breast is on sale for $1.99 a pound), so we weigh our costs carefully.

Not to totally take the thread aside, but I am a firm believer in decluttering and selling items you no longer use or when you need to upgrade. We have sold DVDs, CDs, tech books, and donated clothing and furniture to the Salvation Army for the tax deductions. So much of the stuff is still in amazing condition, and someone else will be able to get things at a bargain. It's also a way of being green.