Discussions

There are only a few channels I care about so what would be a good option ? I do not want to watch the shows on a cell phone or a computer screen what's out there & cost ? thanks

That sounds like a wonderful idea, been cable free, landline free since 2004. Put what you would normally spend for those into a savings account. You’ll be surprised at how much you save. What motivated you to consider the change?

I’ve been considering this too for a while but I can’t seem to actually do it. My kids just watch Netflix and YouTube now. We have an Apple TV that works for this. Just can’t seem to make the jump and cancel.

Rue said "There are only a few channels I care about so what would be a good option ? I do not want to watch the shows on a cell phone or a computer screen what's out there & cost ? thanks "

How does this work I would like only the programs I enjoy like  
nature shows  
Winnipeg news  
HGTV  
Tlc  
 
& not to pay for all the other yuck

I haven't had cable in a year. Get an HDMI cord if you don't have a smart TV. I watch Netflix on our game system and for my TV shows I just use my laptop and an HDMI cord. HGTV has episodes online. Channels like slice are online too. I catch some talk shows on YouTube that I watch with the HDMI cord too.

I don't think you can see live sports unless you pay for specific packages. If that's as big a deal for you as it is for me it's a deal breaker.

withallduerespect said "I don't think you can see live sports unless you pay for specific packages. If that's as big a deal for you as it is for me it's a deal breaker. "

and if you look at your cable bill, the most expensive packages are the one's with sports. Which I too want to have.

To see how many have cut the cord so to speak! I only need CNN and CBC for news but I have to of course purchase expensive packages to have access for those 2 stations. Not sure if cnn and CBC do continuous online streaming for free or if you have to sign up for memberships!

Abracadabra said "To see how many have cut the cord so to speak! I only need CNN and CBC for news but I have to of course purchase expensive packages to have access for those 2 stations. Not sure if cnn and CBC do continuous online streaming for free or if you have to sign up for memberships! "

CBC allows free streaming. Not sure about CNN.  
 
https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/115003482473-Live-streaming-video-on-CBC-ca

Not sure if this 100% legal and I don't know anybody who has it but there's Vmedia. https://www.vmedia.ca/en

Thing about getting rid of cable is when you realize how much you don’t miss it. We got rid of it and we will never look back. We spend so much more time outdoors or with our kids. It creates such a better family bond then sitting infront of the tv.  
 
Not only when you don’t have cable, I find that I’m up doing more around the house. Getting all the little tasks that my wife has on a list for me done.  
 
I only see positives when it comes to getting rid of cable. Netflix has enough shows and movies available for you and your children.

If you only require local stations a lot of them provide this over internet so you’d be up to date on most of their shows news and programs.

Brenda.. said "    withallduerespect said "I don't think you can see live sports unless you pay for specific packages. If that's as big a deal for you as it is for me it's a deal breaker. " and if you look at your cable bill, the most expensive packages are the one's with sports. Which I too want to have. "

With the Roku, I see you can get some of the sports packages as stand-alone, like NHL Centre Ice or Major League Baseball I think. So depending on what you watch, you might not "need" cable to see sports.  
 
We watched the Olympics and NHL playoff hockey livestreaming on CBC, so issues (or cost).

withallduerespect said "I don't think you can see live sports unless you pay for specific packages. If that's as big a deal for you as it is for me it's a deal breaker. "

You can get live sports too

lilolme said "    withallduerespect said "I don't think you can see live sports unless you pay for specific packages. If that's as big a deal for you as it is for me it's a deal breaker. " You can get live sports too "

yes, must see curling "live", otherwise I am snooping at all the sites and know the outcomes.  
 
The only TV I watch all year.

Don't miss it at all. Like another poster stated, you spend more quality time with kids and develop a closer bond with family when you aren't zoned out in front of a TV. Netflix and You Tube has more than enough to watch!

TV/YouTube/Netflix just replacing one provider for another. If you are going to cut the cord for the sake of the kids I think that should including streaming content/video games and the like. Just control the amount of time spent in front of TV and,computer. anyone can just as easily binge any provider.

Your saying that we should have cable, pay around ~80$ a month and monitor our usage infront of the tv? Sounds like a total waste of money to me. I will stick with my ~12$ Netflix fee and spend our time outside.  
 
Edited by GoWheatiesGo, 2018-07-12 15:47:07

No cable. No Netflix. Don't even own a TV or computer. we do have internet though (we use on our phone, app for texting/calling) I love it. Save so much money, get more time with everyone, enjoy the simpler things in life. We have a mass amount of toys though, and books coming out of every corner.... I mean, my house probably would be a lot cleaner if we all sat in front of the tv all day, but gosh, what kinda life is that?

We put the money we would have spent on "tv" into a separate savings account, and then we use that money for family trips.

Thats not at all what I am saying. In the original post you didn't say anything about money. You just said that the time that was previously spent in front of the TV is now spent outside with the family and that is great.  
 
What I AM saying that if you are going to reduce the amount of time spent in front of the TV be sure that its not just replaced with another format like Netflix/video games/facbook/ebrandon ect  
regardless of cost of the service. I know WAY TOO MANY people that tell me that they are going to disconnect service over the summer because they want to go camping or spend more time outside or with the kids then I find out they go to the lake and watch Netflix or play online games all weekend LOL  
 
Just my two cents

I haven’t had cable in years. I do have a roku and I subscribe to mlb at bat and nhl package through Rogers. That’s all the baseball and hockey you can watch on roku or stream from a device to tv with hdmi / lightning cable. Throw in Netflix and free steaming from hgtv and others. Even with the hockey and baseball packages it’s minuscule compared to cable every month. I don’t miss it.

i use mine for everything but i still have basic cable for current news weather and such i hate netflix

lilolme said "Thats not at all what I am saying. In the original post you didn't say anything about money. You just said that the time that was previously spent in front of the TV is now spent outside with the family and that is great.     What I AM saying that if you are going to reduce the amount of time spent in front of the TV be sure that its not just replaced with another format like Netflix/video games/facbook/ebrandon ect   regardless of cost of the service. I know WAY TOO MANY people that tell me that they are going to disconnect service over the summer because they want to go camping or spend more time outside or with the kids then I find out they go to the lake and watch Netflix or play online games all weekend LOL     Just my two cents "

Sorry I misunderstood you haha. I completely agree with you tho. I had someone ask me the other day how our family can possibly go camping for a week straight at a campground that offers no electricity.

I grew up without cable, and thus loved first getting it some 10 to 12 years ago. But things change, and one can easily replace pretty much everything you get through cable with online (legit) sources. Be it streaming boxes, or just having an HDMI cable.  
 
For those looking for news, one thing to try is clips. Though I rarely watch entire newscasts for any length of time anymore, most of the big national outlets (and independent media outlets, my personal preference at the moment) have apps and post single segments online for easy viewing. Makes it easy to gather the info I want without sitting through the fluff.

Unfortunately, I think that cable television is on the way out in the next 10 to 20 years, along with many other traditional services once considered staples. It will be interesting to see how both content producers and last mile providers deal with this ever-growing issue in the coming years.

I don't think that cable tv per say is going anywhere I just think the delivery method is going to go to IPTV or, signal supplies like Rogers, Shaw, HBO, Global will just selling direct to the customer. I hate ti nit pick but I have issues with the name "cable" look at services like Bell that is satellite delivery. Netflix is the same thing its just that the content is not live (yet) and the delivery is different. Companies like Bell have a ton of channels that they supply and have way too much money to let cable TV service as its traditionally known to die.

CTV Winnipeg comes in great.  
Soccer is free.  
News and weather free.  
Big Bang free.  
Google their free schedule.  
One other thing you will get free is more 'FREE TIME' :-)