Tired Of Paying For TV Channels

[mrfascination]

I'm tired of paying for TV channels I NEVER watch. I'm currently with ROGERS and I have
like 500 Channels (Of which more than half are doubled up) and 90% of the others
I don't watch- But because I want certain channels (Like SPEED or TSN2) I end
up having to pay for a ton of channels I don't want.

I've looked at SHAW Direct and they have some good packages, But by the
time I buy the Receivers I need (3 tv's) they want some crazy amount like $700
up front for install (even after their credits).

Why should I be paying $90 a month for what a total of maybe 20 channels we
watch! Their has to be a better choice.. Any idea's?

[hitman_24]

im not 100% sure but i heard they were introducing a pay per channel service
albeit knowing rogers it will prob end up costing you the same

[mrfascination]

Yeah I heard that too - But when? And i'm sure there will be a catch.. There always is...

WHY do these BS channels exisit? If they were any good then people would subscribe to them and
they could survive on their own...

[CDNPatriot]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

[redgrandam]

Yeah I heard that too - But when? And i'm sure there will be a catch.. There always is...

WHY do these BS channels exisit? If they were any good then people would subscribe to them and
they could survive on their own...

There is a catch. I looked into it here, briefly, as they sent us brochures, since it's only available here, in London, for now anyways.. The catch is you need to buy the 'Digital Starter Pack' ($20.29/mo), then the minimum mix pack is 15 channels for $26.38. It's not like you can start from a clean slate, and add channels at $1.50/month or even 4-5/month to get a couple you want. So you are already at $50 after tax. Add to that Digital Box rental from 5-25/month, time shifting is $3, US networks is $3, and any specialty packs you want (depending on the channels, as not all are avilailable in the mix pack), and if you are comming from VIP with more than one outlet, you now have to pay for each additional outlet (3-7/month, I can't remember), and I think you'll see the price ads up to not much less than the full VIP pack is!

Needless to say I didn't signup. They also block all your analog channels, and somewhere I saw an install fee of $50, but that might depend on if you do a contract or not....

EDIT: Here's the brochure:
http://redboard.rogers.com/wp-conten...rom-Rogers.pdf

[Wingding]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

Streaming shows off network websites is neither convenient nor fun, and often the content is simply not available online without having to hunt around on bootleg sites. For example, I love AMC for its original series like Breaking Bad and Hell on Wheels, but they don't make full episodes of their programs available online.

Much easier to plop down on the couch and simply hit a few buttons on the remote to access the shows you recorded on your DVR.

Sure, ditching cable saves money, but it's about as practical as keeping your own cow in the back yard rather than just buying milk in a jug at the store -- like normal people.

[kcorscadden]

Get Usenet, end of discussion

[joo]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

+1

F*ck 'em all!

[mabba18]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

Until people stop producing good content because no one is supporting it, and all we're left with is lowest common denominator garbage.

HTPC + OTA + Netflix + streaming from provider websites, has worked great for us for a few months now, we get more content then we can watch for less then $10 per month. Cable is a waste of money, and the more people that ditch it the better. It's only a matter of time before content producers (i.e. sports leagues) realize they can make tons more money selling directly to viewers over the internet.

[Evil Baby]

Get Usenet, end of discussion

For people who like to watch live sports, Usenet is rather useless. For everything else, it is great.

Until people stop producing good content because no one is supporting it, and all we're left with is lowest common denominator garbage.

HTPC + OTA + Netflix + streaming from provider websites, has worked great for us for a few months now, we get more content then we can watch for less then $10 per month. Cable is a waste of money, and the more people that ditch it the better. It's only a matter of time before content producers (i.e. sports leagues) realize they can make tons more money selling directly to viewers over the internet.

Exactly. Things have to change from the old. Honestly I don't even mind paying for content that has commercials in it. I do however have an issue paying for multiple channels I never use. At one point my cable bill was near $140 a month. That is just insane.

I'm kind of surprised stations like AMC and HBO don't have direct streaming channels yet. Cut the middle man out, lower the price and put it on Xbox/Apple Tv/PS3/... and let people decide what they want to pay for.

[jelena-c]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

+1

wow 7 years!
only a year for us

op, i pay $8/m for a vpn so i can stream shows from american sites.....maybe tsn streams on their site?

[Bell Rep]

+1

wow 7 years!
only a year for us

op, i pay $8/m for a vpn so i can stream shows from american sites.....maybe tsn streams on their site?

Maybe Hotspot Shield is the same thing but free?

[jelena-c]

Maybe Hotspot Shield is the same thing but free?

yes it is....there's a few places where you can get the vpn, for free, or pay for it

[Myladybugs]

For this reason I ditched cable 7 years ago and just download shows and movies. Could not have been happier.

Yes - us too. We ditched cable 4 years ago. Did the dvd route, some downloading, now do netflix and apple tv. Apple tv required a new HDMI cable. Which required a new receiver.. my husband hasn't stopped buying.. probably cost us more than 4 years of cable but he's happier..

[CDNPatriot]

Much easier to plop down on the couch and simply hit a few buttons on the remote to access the shows you recorded on your DVR.

Sure, ditching cable saves money, but it's about as practical as keeping your own cow in the back yard rather than just buying milk in a jug at the store -- like normal people.

Wingding, it's very practical. Download Utorrent. Download VLC Player. Go to Btjunkie.org and hit search for your fave show or movie. Then voila stream from your computer.

If you think milking a cow is easier then maybe your a farmer.