With mere hours separating us from an
analog TV broadcast-free existence,
Harris has released poll results indicating many may switch to free OTA broadcasts, shutting off their current cable and satellite subscriptions. The way we see it, the 55 percent indicating they were either somewhat or very likely to switch to antenna probably represent many people who are only just finding out you can get HDTV without paying for service -- not to mention those who are paying and not even watching high definition at all. Still, with the channels available on digital TV broadcasts plus online streaming, there's a lot more choices, anyone else stepping back from their pay-TV habit?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
N8 the Gr8 @ Jun 11th 2009 4:31PM
Cable or satellite is the only way to go if you are an avid sports fan. Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins are only on cable channels (NESN). Sure you could subscribe to the internet packages (MLB.tv) but most block out local weekend games.
Tdar @ Jun 11th 2009 4:45PM
Before you get too excited by this poll, just remember that Harris Broadcast is one of the leading makers of Broadcast transmitters.....
Kumar @ Jun 11th 2009 4:54PM
The first thing I did 3 years ago when I got my first HDTV was hook up rabbit ears and watch a 1080i primetime show.
Ever since then, whenever I try to explain to friends and coworkers that they too can watch great looking high definition television just by putting an antenna on the back of their new TV, I almost always get the deer in headlights look.
I think people are more likely to watch their favorite network shows in standard def over cable/satellite (not paying for the hd service), than take a few minutes to set the TV up for HD OTA.
josejrp @ Jun 11th 2009 5:05PM
I am an admitted TV junkie, and I am going to try going DirecTV free as soon as I go through all my shows in the DVR (I tried unhooking it from the satellite to simulate a service interruption, and after a day it started rebooting periodically, so I have to watch everything before I suspend the service). I have a HD-HomeRun dual tuner receiver recording to an iMac with the EyeTV software for OTA shows, and Hulu/Plex for everything else. It will be a bit inconvenient but seeing how my DirecTV bill is more than $70/month, I am willing to try it...
Akin @ Jun 11th 2009 5:12PM
Ditched DirecTV in Jan'08. Hooked up rabbit ears and a Windows Media Center PC to my HDTV and haven't looked back. I had an initial investment to upgrade my network to gigabit and the additional PC (which is now directly hooked up to the tv instead of streaming over the home network), but I think i've about broken even now (factoring in paid downloaded content).
Its a little more work to watch tv that I want to watch than to just flop on the couch with a remote. Because I have to surf netflix/hulu/amazon/itunes for content in addition to the OTA content pulled down to the PC. But that's the way I like it, it keeps my tv watching sessions limited. I use the logitech PS3 bluetooth keyboard for the PC its a great media center pc.
Akin @ Jun 11th 2009 5:15PM
oops actually the antenna is hooked up to a single HD TV tuner in the PC.
maybe eventually get an HD Home Run if i see the need for dual HD tuner.
ElCabri @ Jun 11th 2009 5:15PM
I've never paid a single dish or cable bill since I moved to the US 8 years ago. First I exclusively was watching DVDs. I was happy with that, watching movies and TV shows by the season, and getting news and magazines exclusively on the internet. Then I got married and the Beijing Olympics came, and my wife demanded to be able to watch them live. I spent $20 on a pair of amplified rabbit ears, hit SCAN on my HDTV and was amazed at all that I got, including a crisp and clear high definition NBC, which is everything that was needed at the time. Since then, the rabbit ears are still connected, we occasionaly watch the local news (in HD) and for the first time I followed a TV show while it was broadcast (Lost season 5 on ABC).
Obviously there's absolutely nothing in the world that would make me start paying a monthly fee for TV programming.
squiggleslash @ Jun 11th 2009 5:14PM
No, it's going to get more people onto cable and satellite, as both are being promoted as an alternative to buying a box.
It's a shame, because OTA is looking much more attractive with digital. There's some interesting networks that many stations are syndicating as subchannels and I suspect that'll grow with time. Plus you don't have to pay an "HD fee"...
Wayne @ Jun 11th 2009 5:34PM
Count me as one. Between my HTPC and my OTA. I'm dumping my DTV when the contract it up.
CL @ Jun 11th 2009 6:04PM
Have been doing so for a few years now and I can honestly say I didn't miss cable at all.
Evan @ Jun 11th 2009 6:12PM
OTA and internet streaming will squeeze traditional cable and satellite tv. The cable and satellite companies aren't going to die immediately, but they will never gain market share from where they are now.
calc.exe @ Jun 11th 2009 6:16PM
I watch OTA HD, but have not been able to drop the cable bill. Internet access comes bundled with basic cable. I could switch to dsl for internet, but that comes bundled with a phone landline.
OTA + Vista Media Center has allowed me to drop the HD cable box dvr ($15/mo).
T-bone @ Jun 11th 2009 6:24PM
Dropped the cable service 3 years ago (June 2006 - first HDTV purchase).
For the occasional game that my favorite football team plays on cable, I just buy a 24 pack of beer and join a friend or family member :)
kevin @ Jun 11th 2009 6:39PM
23 years old. Never had cable. Never had satellite. Ironically, I might have to now, as I live in a weird area where there's essentially a "valley" where a number of the local ATSC signals just up and die. The only way to ensure reception is a large roof mounted antenna, and I'm just not thrilled about setting that crap up. Lifeline cable might be the answer.
ryan @ Jun 12th 2009 8:03AM
I haven't had cable for years. I probably the only person with a 50" HDTV and no cable. I built a cheap HTPC and mostly watched streamed or downloaded content. Have you seen how good Hulu looks? I don't know what most HTPCs you see advertised are $1000+ you can build one for ~$500! One of these days the HTPC will take off.
squiggleslash @ Jun 11th 2009 8:05PM
Quick quick! There's a thread somewhere you haven't posted this to!
It's not even funny. They're effing TVs, there's nothing either ugly or pretty about them. What kind of sad bastard makes a site like that?
bmccune @ Jun 11th 2009 8:18PM
I got tired of paying for all the channels with dish network. I found myself channel surfing. The only shows that I watch regularly are on the OTA stations. Big bang theory, Two and a Half Men - CBS. Lost - ABC. Nascar - Fox and ABC. Ny name is Earl and Dollhouse. I bought a ClearStream 2 Antenna from BestBuy online(had a gift card). Mount it on the post where my dish had been. Never been happier, better picture. Less channels ton surf through. I was waiting for U-Verse, before switching from Dish Network. But my contract expired, before it was available so I went OTA, and I not switching. FREE TV!!!
Randall Lind @ Jun 11th 2009 8:29PM
I seen a local station ad that said DTV starts at noon tomorrow.
T-bone @ Jun 11th 2009 9:12PM
Exactly...because it hasn't been around 9+ years already.
fikhl @ Jun 12th 2009 7:47AM
It amazes me how Americans are still willing to pay for TV with something like Hulu just one (or perhaps 2?) clicks away...
Chris @ Jun 12th 2009 9:29AM
I love the idea of ditching cable in theory but not so easy when I thought about the channels I primarily watch: ESPN, HBO, Comedy Central, TNT. My wife watches mostly MTV, VH1, and USA. Don't believe I would get these OTA, but could probably find some shows via Hulu or iTunes.
Rodney @ Jun 12th 2009 9:43AM
To all you tools who cried when this was delayed. Are you noticing the amazing decrease in reception and non-existent increase in emergency capabilities that you all cried about? I have satellite so this switch means nothing to me.... just wanted to point that out.
ZiggyDaMoe @ Jun 12th 2009 1:42PM
My house only gets OTA and it seems to satisfy us tremendously. We use the Series 3 Tivo and watch on a 52" Sony. I can switch the receiver input to the HTPC which will allow another couple shows to tape or even watch a third live television broadcast (which has only happened a couple times) Blu-Ray, DVD with great upscaling is available in multiple configuration in the PC and a PS3. The Tivo will allow archiving to the PC, and there is just too much to watch on the internet anyway, but is just a click away. Late night TV syndication has all the crap I would get on the cable stations that I would just channel chase after on the weekends. It didn't make sense to pay that much to watch basically 4 weekends out of the month when I shouldn't be watching TV on the weekend anyway. I sure don't miss it, but I love the savings in the bank.
thezero4 @ Jun 13th 2009 12:55PM
I have cable for my ISP and it's only like an extra 5 dollars a month for cable. I use a dual QAM/Analog Hybrid tuner in an HTPC and one OTA Tuner. So basically for network high def I have three tuners. I guess I'm not skipping out on cable, I would even be willing to add a cable card to my PC and pay more to the cable company. But I do not want a settop box at all. And since Cablecard tuners are expensive hard to find and need a hack to get working (plus DRM and can't use a comercial skip[ application), I guess the only real thing that the cable companies are doing to owners of HTPC's is pushing them more and more to OTA. Way to not really get your marketed demographic!