  baineschile2600 ways to livePremium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI | If The pay TV revenue stream drops, isnt there an expected drop in production quality? | |
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 | amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
 ·KCH Cable
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: If Not necessarily - look at how much crap is out there. HBO/Showtime might have some decent shows from time to time, but that's "premium" which is kind of off topic.
Broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) still generally rely on advertising, and get paid whether or not you view the channel OTA or via cable/sat. The "bonus" of being paid for retransmission is, from what I understand, a relatively recent thing. | |
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| | | I wouldn't think. I would expect them to produce materially trying to entice them to want to watch their material. | |
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| | | Already happening, it is called reality tv. | |
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| | | If I put an antenna on my roof, someone please tell me, how the hell GFK media KNOWS. What a crock. | |
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| |  RickNYPremium
join:2000-11-02
Manorville, NY | Re: If said by ITALIAN926:If I put an antenna on my roof, someone please tell me, how the hell GFK media KNOWS. What a crock.
Really? GFK conducts surveys... They take a statistically significant sample of people and ask them about the technology in their home.. This isn't rocket science -- they weren't counting YOUR specific home.
said by Article linked at the top that would have explained it to you :"GfK Media’s syndicated research service that has measured media technology in the home for 32 years, is challenging my skepticism. In 2012, we see homes with broadcast-only reception increase at a statistically significant level (2% or more) for the first time in over five years. We found that 17.8% of TV homes report broadcast-only reception, compared with levels of 14% to 15% going back five years. Projected out, this means that around 21 million homes rely only on over-the-air broadcast rather than pay TV service." | |
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| Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
| said by baineschile:The pay TV revenue stream drops, isnt there an expected drop in production quality?
that's what the TV industry would like you to think. based on the sh!t I see on TV, I doubt seriously if the quality can get much worse. | |
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| | | | Re: If Yet, youre watching it. Interesting. | |
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| | | | | Re: If no, not watching it; I see it while on the computer when my wife is watching. I think she's addicted to prime time. | |
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|  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by baineschile:The pay TV revenue stream drops, isnt there an expected drop in production quality?
because quality is so high now? | |
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| | | said by baineschile:The pay TV revenue stream drops, isnt there an expected drop in production quality?
They still have DVD Blu-ray sales and whatever they get from the streaming services. | |
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| | "La La La I can't hear you!"
A Cable TV operator is quoted as saying.
Dave | |
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 Duramax08Win8 sucksPremium
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX | Speaking about over the air.... My grandma is coming over for the summer and I need a DTV antenna so she can watch TV in her room. Any suggestions for a cheap antenna? | |
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|  spewakR.I.P DadkinsPremium
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
kudos:1
·SureWest Internet
| Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by Duramax08:My grandma is coming over for the summer and I need a DTV antenna so she can watch TV in her room. Any suggestions for a cheap antenna?
HD or SD?
--
The weekend is here, grab a can of beer!
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| | Duramax08Win8 sucksPremium
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX | Re: Speaking about over the air.... HDTV | |
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| |  cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | There is no such thing as a SD or HD antenna, or a analog or DTV antenna. An antenna is an antenna is an antenna...as long as it's designed to operate at the frequency range needed (UHF or VHF). | |
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| | |  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by cdru:There is no such thing as a SD or HD antenna, or a analog or DTV antenna. An antenna is an antenna is an antenna...as long as it's designed to operate at the frequency range needed (UHF or VHF).
And almost all the OTA channels are now using UHF frequencies. | |
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| | | |  UHFAll static, all day, ForeverPremium,MVM
join:2002-05-24
 ·Callcentric
 ·DIRECTV
 ·surpasshosting
| Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by Linklist:And almost all the OTA channels are now using UHF frequencies.
Is that so? In my market, only one channel moved from VHF to UHF, so we still need VHF antennas to watch ABC and NBC. | |
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| | | |  FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | plenty of VHF here in Chiago | |
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| | | | | | | Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by FBGuy:plenty of VHF here in Chiago
Plenty? Really? I count exactly 2. There is WCOK-CD on Ch. 4 and WBBM-TV on Ch. 12, all the rest are on UHF. You do know the displayed channel numbers are virtual, right? | |
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| | | | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: Speaking about over the air.... Last I checked, I can get a few(3 or 4) indiana stations and 2 Wisconsin stations. | |
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| | | | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by FBGuy:Last I checked, I can get a few(3 or 4) indiana stations and 2 Wisconsin stations.
Indiana and Wisconsin are not Chicago. | |
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| | | | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by FBGuy:plenty of VHF here in Chiago
That's bullshit. I have family that lives near Chicago. | |
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| | | | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: Speaking about over the air.... I'm pretty sure I live about .5 mile from the north edge of Chicago. | |
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| | | |  aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FiOS
| said by Linklist:said by cdru:There is no such thing as a SD or HD antenna, or a analog or DTV antenna. An antenna is an antenna is an antenna...as long as it's designed to operate at the frequency range needed (UHF or VHF).
And almost all the OTA channels are now using UHF frequencies. Certainly most but not all. Here in teh DC area, the ABC and CBS station went back to VHF after the analog changeover. And those are two out of the four major networks. | |
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| | | Reviews:
 ·Air Advantage
·HughesNet Satell..
| said by cdru:There is no such thing as a SD or HD antenna, or a analog or DTV antenna. An antenna is an antenna is an antenna...as long as it's designed to operate at the frequency range needed (UHF or VHF).
yup. i have a roof mounted antenna from when we originally built our house 18 years ago before hd even existed and it sill works like a charm on our hdtv's | |
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| FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Check out »www.antennaweb.org/
you can plug in your address and it will show you what type of setup you need to pick up the broadcasts that you are in range of. | |
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| | Duramax08Win8 sucksPremium
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX | Re: Speaking about over the air.... We were using OTA about 3 years ago. We use to get all the channels so we don't need anything fancy. Looking for a indoor antenna around the range of $20. They have some at walmart for around $20, just curious if theres anything cheaper out there. | |
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| | | LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | Re: Speaking about over the air.... said by Duramax08:We were using OTA about 3 years ago. We use to get all the channels so we don't need anything fancy. Looking for a indoor antenna around the range of $20. They have some at walmart for around $20, just curious if theres anything cheaper out there.
Here is a selection at Amazon.com
»www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_i_0?r···40116970
I have an indoor amplified Terk for my OTA setup, but only use it for backup when the cable is out(very infrequent occurrence). I am approximately 30 miles from the metropolitan area antenna farm and get approx 40 channels & subchannels very clearly with a 1st floor indoor antenna. | |
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|  pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by Duramax08:My grandma is coming over for the summer and I need a DTV antenna so she can watch TV in her room. Any suggestions for a cheap antenna?
In my experience, the "cheap" antennas tend to be junk. But if you wish to have some fun, try this:
»www.tvantennaplans.com/
If you are reasonably close to a city (within 30 miles of the TV broadcast towers) you should get some good reception. However, OTA with ATSC tends to be VERY directionally sensitive. You can't just put the antenna up in the air and expect to pick up all of the TV stations (especially since so many are underpowered now), especially if your antenna is mounted at a right angle to the direction of the TV broadcast tower.
I had some interesting experiences with this particular antenna (it supplements my primary outdoor antenna). I found that the best area for reception of stations is actually not in the open air, but rather in the space between my house and my neighbor's house.
The one major problem though is signal loss over the coaxial cable. You may need pre-amplifiers or distribution amplifiers to pump up the signal.
--
Romney 2012 - Put an adult in charge. | |
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| | | Check out monoprice.com, they have good indoor or outdoor ones | |
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| aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by Duramax08:My grandma is coming over for the summer and I need a DTV antenna so she can watch TV in her room. Any suggestions for a cheap antenna?
I got my Gf several of these RCA tabletop amplified antennas several years ago. They work very well for her reception on her several TVs..
»www.amazon.com/RCA-Indoor-Amplif···a+indoor
BestBuy used to sell them too. If they still do, pick one up and try it out. If it doesn't work you can always return it. They are around $22 at Amazon rigth now which is a good deal.
I had tried several antennas for my GFs Tv years ago. Some were too big and most didn't get very good reception. But teh RCA one worked the best. Since it was still realtively small and also had a built in amplifier. With the amplifer my GF can get all of the DC stations and most of the Baltimore stations. | |
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| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by Duramax08:My grandma is coming over for the summer and I need a DTV antenna so she can watch TV in her room. Any suggestions for a cheap antenna?
depends on where you live. We just can't give out a recommendation without knowing what kind of reception you have.
Go to this think and post a link to the results
»www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29 | |
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 NightfallMy Goal Is To Deny YoursPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Comcast
·Callcentric
·Site5.com
| The cord cutter exists, and it is a geek. »www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47510139/ns···-8PWV31A
Yet, a majority of pay-TV subs are going up.
Verizon added 180,000 subs
Time Warner added 592,000 subs, but some were from Insight.
Comcast lost 37,000
Cablevision lost 7,000
Dish added 104,000
Directv added 81,000
Charter added 27,000
I am going to ignore the Time Warner number because that was from acquisition mostly. So, all total, there were more subs gained than lost overall. Which means more customers entered the pay-tv market.
Now, I am not saying that cord cutting doesn't exist. It does exist, but its still a techie thing to do. Finding all the entertainment options on the internet, including live sporting events, is hard to find without going an illegal route. For people like my parents, who are used to flipping on the DVR and watching a show, its not easy hooking up the computer to the HDTV, going to ABC.com, and streaming the video.
The technology will get there eventually. Which is why when you read about these cord-cutters, you will understand why it is a techie lifestyle change.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net | |
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See 10 replies to this post |
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| | OTA here also I dropped Dish back in November, got tired of paying for 250 channels, and not finding anything worth watching on most nights. Mainly from the cable networks straying from their original formats, adding too much "reality" crap.
I'm actually finding MORE to watch over-the-air than I did on Dish. Don't subscribe to anything like Netflix though. Tried the trial, but the video stuttered too much on my DSL connection.
The OTA broadcast subchannels have some good programming also. They weren't on Dish.
Also helps that I have a LOT of my favorite TV series on DVD, to watch whenever I want! | |
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| RJW1678
join:2003-01-15
Wilmington, DE Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: OTA here also I got rid of Comcast on 6/24/2009 after installing an antenna in my attic. I am OTA here and I get about 32 channels/subchannels and I never have to pay for pay TV. Using a set top OTA DTV converter box on my old VHS VCR I can even record TV shows to watch later.
No pay TV here. | |
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| | | | Re: OTA here also Only getting 16 digital channels/subchannels here with my roof antenna, and one low-powered analog station (a RTV affiliate). | |
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| | I've Never Understood It I've never been able to understand how people could justify to themselves paying $100 or more a month for... television? Seriously? $1200 a year... to watch television?
We've occasionally thought about it. Even at half that, we just cannot see spending that kind of money to sit in front of the tube. Not even if that would also pay for premium channels.
As for streaming: Our new Blu-Ray player has it. So, for $10/mo. we're signed up to Netflix. Even the $10/mo. is a marginal proposition, for us. Based on the cost of renting DVDs and BDs, we're just barely getting out money's worth out of it.
So, for us: OTA TV, Netflix and the occasional DVD or BD rental does it. I suppose our combined recurring charges are maybe... $20/mo., max? Maybe less. | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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 DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| Cablecos are playing the fiddle and it won't be much longer until the Visigoths show up.
I am not in the lower-income or younger household demos but I cut the cord. That the industry keeps trying to dismiss it as "just those without a lot of money" is beyond laughable. I am not the only "atypical" consumer who got fed up with paying over $125 a month for mostly channels I had no interest in and never watched.
Since the cutover to digital broadcast, I now get all of the local channels with just a makeshift antenna (before, I actually did need cable for the locals). Sorry, but $60/mo for HBO & Showtime for only 1 or 2 shows I might want to follow is ridiculous. The vast majority of movies that have come out since the 1990s are rubbish...if I want to watch a movie on TV that I didn't feel a compelling urge to catch in the theater I just have to wait about 5 or 6 months and I can pick it up on DVD for under $5 at Target. There are maybe 2 or 3 cable channels with shows I follow but I can get them online for free...it doesn't matter to me if I can't watch them as they air since I probably would have recorded them to watch later anyway. $10 *extra* for the HD feed? $18 more for a DVR? Forget it. I *might* take TV again when FiOS gets here a couple of years from now if it's part of a good bundle. Otherwise, it is just not worth the money.
--
"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following." | |
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| | Got mine from here... »www.antennasdirect.com/index.html
put a DB2 in the attic... since I am smack in the middle of two markets, wish I had a rotor!! LOL!!
(nnrr nrrrn rrrn rrrnnnrrrr CLICK!)
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Splat | |
|
Reviews:
·voip.ms
| Content control is also an issue Honestly I'm researching my alternatives to cable myself because even with the discounts I managed to wrest from my cable company (originally I was paying $325 every three months, down to $197 now until January 2013)
Looking at what I watch, honestly the TV is only used for sports. Everything else I can honestly do without because there hasn't been a TV show that I've had more than a passing interest in for years.
The problem I'm facing is that in Canada anyways, the big players have locked up the online content to force you to either subscribe to cable or cellular services at certain stages.
For example - NFL on-line
I can only legally get the regular season NFL package in Canada on line with the NFL's on-line service As of the playoffs I'm screwed because Bell via CTV has exclusive transmission rights and the on-line content is only available if you subscribe to Bell Canada's cellular service.
If I could get what I wanted sports wise on line, I would boot my cable company to the curb and save a whack of cash to boot while staying legal..
NefCanuck | |
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| NightfallMy Goal Is To Deny YoursPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI Reviews:
·Comcast
·Callcentric
·Site5.com
| Re: Content control is also an issue said by NefCanuck:Honestly I'm researching my alternatives to cable myself because even with the discounts I managed to wrest from my cable company (originally I was paying $325 every three months, down to $197 now until January 2013)
Do what I do.
Call the cable company in January 2013 and say that its too expensive and you need to find a way to cut costs. Let them know that you have AT&T Uverse in your area and quote the price they are going to give you for 6 months. Comcast will ALWAYS match it. If you do find someone who won't help you, hang up and try again. I have always gotten a discount on my first call. I have preferred TV and blast internet for $100 a month.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net | |
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 IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA
·Comcast
·Verizon Broadban..
| Only if you can get reception Here in Western Mass (Springfield), the TV reception is very poor, especially since the DTV switchover. I have subscribed to Cable since the year 2000 (back when I was living in Iowa) so reception is not an issue for me. My mother's cousin lives in Northampton and she relies on OTA broadcasts. That came to an end when the DTV switchover happened as she lost reception because the DTV signals are weaker than the analog broadcasts. There is a handful of TV stations in Western Mass and some Hartford and Boston stations are considered to be local here as well. WGGB, WWLP, WFSB, and WGBY are all broadcast stations here. With the DTV switchover, the only stations she could get is WGGB and WGBY (because their towers are on the top of nearby Mt Tom) so when she lost reception, she decided to subscribe to basic cable (about $8 per month in this area) so she could get all the local broadcast stations. She lives in a special needs housing complex in Northampton and the management would probably throw a fit if I drilled through the building to put in an outdoor antenna so the best alternative was to subscribe to cable as the building was wired for cable. Comcast recently required basic subscribers to put in DTA converters as well. | |
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| | Rural areas. According to Antennaweb I can get two, count em 2 stations. But only If I had a tall antenna.
Hulu+ and Netflix work just fine for me | |
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Reviews:
·TekSavvy DSL
| Beware the fake "spectrum shortage". In the US, ATT and Verizon have Uverse and FIOS. In Canada Rogers and Bell have Rogers Cable and FIBE. They're all screaming "spectrum shortage", to get the government to shut down OTA TV. It's not about additional bandwidth, it's about shutting down free competition to their cable and IPTV businesses. This is what SCO tried to do (i.e. shut down free linux).
I'm old enough to remember when UHF went up to channel 83. The 800 mhz band was re-assigned to cellular, and UHF ended at channel 69. Then the 700 mhz band was reassigned, and UHF now ends at channel 51. Another 2 or 3 re-assignments, and free TV will be shut down. This is the next big fight. | |
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 ctceoPremium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN | Less Jobs Less Jobs = More people at home.
More people at home = need for entertainment arises or you fall into major depression.
That and OTA is cheaper in the long run but you only get a few channels at best. | |
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| | TV viewing is a habit When enough people with same habit in a population reaches a certain point, it becomes to be perceived as normal
Spending hours staring at a TV, day after day year after year - is not normal/healthy human behavior - just common behavior
Smoking was 'normal' for along time
Ending the 'normal' view point had the advantage of clearly defined health risks
Little tougher sell to 'unnormalize TV starring' as time not well spent,
as it is harder to contrast to more fruitful/productive endeavors not pursued... | |
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| | | Re: TV viewing is a habit Spending hours surfing the internet and posting on forums is normal/healthy human behavior. | |
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| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by Liberty:When enough people with same habit in a population reaches a certain point, it becomes to be perceived as normal
Spending hours staring at a TV, day after day year after year - is not normal/healthy human behavior - just common behavior
Smoking was 'normal' for along time
Ending the 'normal' view point had the advantage of clearly defined health risks
Little tougher sell to 'unnormalize TV starring' as time not well spent,
as it is harder to contrast to more fruitful/productive endeavors not pursued...
Not a habit for everyone. I have a 17 year old that RARELY watches TV. Anything he watches he can get by streaming off his PC or XBOX. His TV in his room isn't hooked up to cable though it could be. This is the opposite of me of course when I was 17 back in the mid 80's. The thing is he's not necessarily some fringe person among his peers in this regard.
This is what PAY TV operators are not thinking about. These potential future customers are not going to pay hundreds a month just to watch TV. Unlike my generation which the first to grow up with cable which meant more than just 3 or 4 channels so we got hooked to TV. So of course we pay too much for it. So if the pay TV guys are going to have an attitude of "Take our prices or leave it" my son's generation will have no qualms about "leaving it". | |
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| | loveageekPremium
join:2009-07-10
Oregon City, OR | Re: TV viewing is a habit "This is what PAY TV operators are not thinking about." - "Take our prices or leave it" --The FUTURE generation will have no qualms about leaving it! TOTALLY AGREE! | |
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| | from a real cord cutter I am internet only at one house (fios) and internet only at another (att u verse). VOIP and terrestrial antenna at both. Both houses have internet. I cut nearly 11.00 per month in TAXES off the fios bill alone by dropping stupid fios phone and TV. naked fios is taxed at about 1.00 pr mo.
so cord cutters are out there. Sports and HBO are the only things keeping pay TV alive. In the end consumers will get what they want either legitimately or not. A la carte cable show pricing will never come. But recall the days when people did not want to buy a full CD..just one song? what was the music industries response? And what happened? Who won?
--
Lakewood Accountability Action Group | »www.LAAG.us | Demanding action and accountability from local government
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| aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: OTA DVR device for those cutting Pay TV. ???That is $400. You can get a TiVo Premiere that has two tuners and handles OTA or cable with lifetime service for only a little more. | |
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| | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: OTA DVR device for those cutting Pay TV. said by aaronwt:???That is $400. You can get a TiVo Premiere that has two tuners and handles OTA or cable with lifetime service for only a little more. The fact you have to pay to record your shows beyond the cost of the machine is stupid. | |
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Reviews:
·ooma
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FiOS
| I finally did it! I got rid of cable-tv and haven't looked back!
Although, I still get my share of CNN when I want to (stream online). Otherwise, I'm content! That's not stopping the cable company from calling me every 3 or so weeks to offer it to me for another $30... really it's $18, plus set-top rental and franchise fees.. you're up to $30.. no thanks! | |
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| | Too expensive I'm shocked what people are willing to pay. I have OTA for free and DSL for internet at $20/mo. Also prepaid mobile. Some shows I miss out on though but paying all that money just to watch one or two shows is not worth it. | |
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| | | Re: Too expensive People pay for whatever they feel is of value to them. Those who find value in a service pay the price. Those who find no value in a service do not. | |
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| | Nothing on the pay channels anymore Directv keeps having "free" HBO, Cinamax, and Showtime weekends.
Everytime they have it I think to myself. "Thank god I'm not paying for this crap!!!"
I swear... There nothing on those channels anymore. | |
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| | | Re: Nothing on the pay channels anymore "Nothing" mean what? It's the same movies that previously played in the theaters. | |
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Usefull information regarding DTV Channel assignments.
