Cable companies are scared spitless. Why? Because people are turning off their cable to watch shows on Hulu. Now, if they are like me and watched 40 plus hours of television a week, you couldn’t do it. Most reality shows are not on Hulu (at least the few I like), some shows don’t play the same week they broadcast, and some shows only supply clips instead of the full episode. Of course, there’s iTunes, which offers the comfort of watching whenever, but you might as well keep cable for the cost (that is, if you watch 40 plus hours of television a week…)
Don’t get me wrong, the various stations’ online sites and places like Hulu and Fancast has done a great deal towards unchaining us from the television, giving us primetime anytime. Is it enough? Can the tv addicts get their tv fix. Can man live on .com alone?
So, have you cut the cord? Why or why not? If you have, what shows do you have to watch? If you didn’t, do you think you can?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Wehave cut the cord. I do not dig on TV for kiddos, I just cant get behind it. I was raised on the box, and I constantly fiend for fresh mindless entertainment. I just can’t see that as healthy.
A major part of the decision was financial though. Cable was running us $40+ and the cable internet was another $40 for mediocre speeds. The powers that be told AT&T not to require a land line for DSL, and it was a no brainer. Instead of $15 plus fees for a home phone that was never actually connected to any phone in our home, and then paying $20 for poor but adequate internet, we only have to pay $20 for the poor but adequate internet. I wouldn’t pay $40 to lose cable and internet speed, at that point it was still worth the $40 extra, but saving $60 and getting slightly slower download speeds? Hell yes.
No mindless TV for the kids. $80 to $20 in total expenses. Did we need another reason? No, but we got one.
We were renting (Blockbuster style) seasons of TV shows for the wifey and I and when I found out about HULU, and the fact that (even if I couldn’t watch it right away) majors stations saw the trend and started putting their own stuff online, and torrenting to top it off. Fan-fucking-tastic! Now $20 carries all of my entertainment, and I dont have to miss anything…ever. I just get it a couple of days late.
Not paying those bastards $40 + $40 to watch their commercials and get terrible service and provide shit programming makes me happy.
Rant complete.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Wait, I am sorry. There was a part 2 to your question. Or was it part 3?
Since we can get by without missing anything, here is what we don’t miss:
Battlestar Galactica (i know its over, but i won’t accept it)
24
Lie to Me
Heroes
Lost
House
Dexter
How I met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory (although it is getting a little played out – yeah you called it)
April 8th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Wow, you guys really thought about this AND it looks like you aren’t missing any good shows… and yes, I did call Big Bang Theory. Thank you! :^)