Clark Howard: It’s not so easy to cut cable or satellite TV
Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Listen to Clark's live radio show 8-10 p.m. weekdays on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.
Have you cut the cord from pay TV yet? The latest numbers from Nielsen indicate that 5.1 million households are getting over-the-air reception and supplementing it with Internet-delivered pay programming. That trend is up by roughly 25 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the average American household pays about $800 annually for cable and around $1,000 for satellite. It’s a battle I’m waging at our house. We’re with an expensive satellite player and I’ve floated the trial balloon with my wife and kids about cutting the cord entirely — they’re not having it. For me, it would be no big sacrifice because the only thing I watch on TV is the NFL. I would lose a handful of Monday night and Thursday night games, but the rest of the games are on regular network TV. It’s similar to when cellphones became ubiquitous some 10 years ago. There was a lot of talk about people cutting the landline, but it was more like a drop here and a drop there of people doing it. However, now that it’s 10 years later, you have monopoly local phone companies reporting big losses in customer numbers every quarter. I think it will be a similar slow progression with pay TV. For many, the process starts with cutting back on your package. It’s also a great idea to shop your plan. Many people now have access to four providers — two satellite companies, one cable company and a monopoly phone company providing TV. Pit them against each other and let them slug it out so you can get the best deal. And remember, loyalty hurts. A new customer at any pay TV provider can get an introductory deal with a contract. Find more answers to your consumer questions at Clark’s website. And get more savings tips from Clark’s previous blog posts. — Clark Howard — Save More, Spend Less, Avoid Rip-offs — for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
189 comments Add your comment
gakNIGHT
January 24th, 2013
10:27 am
Clark: First, the NFL is not what I primarily watch on TV. The major networks, excepting CBS are worthless so why would I want over the air TV which is a stretch sometimes from 75 miles away. I also enjoy real football and MLS. I also have satellite radio since over the air radio is filled with right-wing talk shows, terrible music and religious dogma. I would rather have my satellite tv and radio than see a movie at the theater or eat more than one meal a day.
creaative
January 24th, 2013
10:33 am
Great blog. II ditched cable because it is pointless for me except for espn. I love college football and tennis so typically I get cable when Wimbeldon starts and get rid of it when college football ends. Otherwise we watch shows (In chronological order (big bonus)) on netflix. Braves are on Peachtree for roughly 30% of games and that is enough for me. Not having cable also gets you doing more things that expand your mind and body such as reading or working out. While it is not a perfect system, it works for us. Also, I work in the cable industry selling software to smaller cable companies and the programmers are the one’s who constantly go up on price. For instance ESPN charges 6$ per subscriber and then require the cable company to purchase classic, 2, and news at an additional .20 per sub. You can do the math and understand why the prices go up and up. Until we go to a system, which the top 20 cable companies are debating, where you can select say 20 of your favorite channels for less then people will continue with the “cord cutting”
Nixon
January 24th, 2013
10:35 am
I love TV, but I have to say it is impossible to watch US TV. It’s extremely repetitive and overloaded with commercials. I feel much better without cable.
jacketgrad
January 24th, 2013
10:46 am
I had Dish on both my house and vacation home. The vacation home was bundled through a regional telephone company. Last July, I cancelled the vacation home account and since it was bundled, Dish didn’t have my billing address. I gave it to them so they could ship me the box. I returned the box and received an email stating they received it. Last week I got a call from a collection agency trying to collect $18.27 for shipping from Dish. I asked why I was never contacted by Dish and the agency had no answer. I called Dish to find out they mailed the final bill which only included the shipping charge to the physical address where the vacation home was. I don’t receive mail there and the post office doesn’t deliver there. Needless to say, they credited the account for not mailing it to the billing address (which they claimed they didn’t know) but they would be reporting it on my credit report. I closed my home account with them immediately and went out this past weekend and bought an RCA ANT751 antenna for $40 along with a signal splitter/amplifier for $25. I can’t believe how clear the digital picture is. It is much better than what I was getting from Dish. We added a Roku box for $99 along with Netflix, Hulu, and others. I’m wondering why I didn’t do this earlier.
Trying to cut the cord
January 24th, 2013
11:02 am
There is one thing standing in the way of cutting the cord for me – ESPN. Many of the college sports – including the college BCS game – is only broadcast on ESPN. I feel like I’m paying $75 a month for this one channel.
Adam
January 24th, 2013
11:03 am
We ditched our cable ~3 months back. Spent $99.00 for an Apple TV and $16/month for Hulu Plus and Netflix streaming.
95% of what we want to watch @ 22% the cost of our previous cable service. AT&T U-Verse has been begging for us to come back ever since we cut our cable portion.
Kanarstead
January 24th, 2013
11:05 am
This subject seems to have hit a cord. I cut the cord 2 years ago, and have saved $2,400. I used some of the savings to invest in a Tivo which will end up costing $10 a month if it lasts 5 years, which it will since I bought an extended warranty for $20. I expect it to last longer, which will bring down that $10 a month cost.
I tried to just go over the air, but soon realized I still needed a dvr. I still come out way ahead. To tell you the truth I thought I would cave after 3 months without Directv, but I haven’t looked back at all.
Cable/satellite is a ripoff. It is rigged. No longer a value. I hate feeling like I’m being ripped off.
TJM
January 24th, 2013
11:13 am
Ditched DirecTV two years ago. No regrets. Got an antenna, Netflix subscription, and a great program called PalyOn for a one time $40 fee. All the TVs in the house are hooked to then antenna and either a game console or a Roku box. PlayOn lets you get regular Hulu without paying for Hulu Plus on most any device. The only two things I can’t get too good are live sports and live cable news. I didn’t watch too much of either one, not $60+ a month worth.
Brewer
January 24th, 2013
11:13 am
Cancelled DirecTV over a year ago. Bye Bye $100+ monthly bill.
I use an attic antenna to pickup 20+ Atlanta stations over 40 miles away. Apple TV, Roku + XBOX 360 to watch movies & TV shows thru ITunes, Netflix, Hulu + Vudu. I have Comcast Cable which allows me to watch ESPN3 via my Computer, IPAD or Xbox 360. So long pay TV!
redevil
January 24th, 2013
11:15 am
I cut the cord over a year ago.. don’t miss a thing.. bought a an hdtv over the air antenna installed in my attic..that picks up a all the local channels in better HD than Dish had .. plus many more channels that I would’ve had to pay extra on Dish.. Hulu+ and Netflix ($14 mnth)with Roku box and with the money I saved from the $90 month Dish bill I upped the DSL speed for another $10 for seamless video streaming and still save $60 … and for sports, there are plenty of live streaming online of every game of every sport…. plus I download all the latest movies to my PC from torrents so don’t have to spend money going to the movies.. all the latest movies streamed directly to my TV with Plexx thru Roku as well.. my own home movie collection with the latest movies that just came out on theaters !
Joseph
January 24th, 2013
11:22 am
We ditched Directv last month for an antenna. We get all broadcast channels and we live in rural south Georgia. You would be completely nuts not to do an antenna in Atlanta. You get somewhere between 30-40 channels over the air.
redevil
January 24th, 2013
11:23 am
@ trying to cut the cord 11:02 I thought the same thing.. but there are plenty of ways to catch every game with live streaming online for free.. just need to look a little harder on line.. but they are out there
trust me, I watch every major game plus international soccer matches that I can’t get here locally.. with the $ I saved from cutting the cord I upped the DSL speed and the streaming is great even when the kids are on Netflix or online…
Phoenix
January 24th, 2013
11:26 am
It’s interesting that Clark did this story today. I just cut my cable with Comcast, but kept internet with an added promotion, yesterday. I called them numerous times to lower my bill and went as far as going to their corporate office to complaint. They only thing they did for me was lower the internet from $62.00 to $29.99/month with a $7.00 modem lease. When I told them I wanted to cancel the cable they gladly honored my request without hesitation which just goes to show you how much they care about their customers. I’m in an apartment complex so I plan to get an antenna and try Roku with PlayOn.tv. This also allows me to spend more time away from the tube doing things that I enjoy and studying. I have saved $120/month just buy cutting the cable!!
Trish
January 24th, 2013
11:27 am
Five years in ATL this month and I’ve never had cable, internet yes but no TV.
Phoenix
January 24th, 2013
11:29 am
Does anyone know where I can get a decent priced antenna for my HDTV??
mcmullen
January 24th, 2013
11:30 am
i read all the comments, and they were very helpful, i did not know there so many ways, to get around pay tv.!!!
k483`
January 24th, 2013
11:30 am
We all watch too much TV. Turn the stupid thing off and go for a walk. You’ll be happier.
Brewer
January 24th, 2013
11:37 am
Pheonix,
I purchased my Antenna (RCA ANT751R ) @ Amazon.com.
SARA
January 24th, 2013
11:39 am
Sold, will call AT&T and get the internet and drop old Comcast and their 150.00 per month tv and internet package. Will buy the Roku box and save me lots of money. Thanks all for your input.
redevil
January 24th, 2013
11:40 am
@k483 that is the point.. that most of us were paying way too much when we really don’t use the service that much.. meaning we are not glued to the tube to justify paying that outrageous monthly bills .. so we are happier!
Phoenix
January 24th, 2013
11:42 am
@Brewer…thanks for the info!
GEO
January 24th, 2013
11:43 am
Dropped cable 3 years ago. was paying $100/mo. I view all the content I want on my own schedule when I please on the interenet from a variety of websites and netflix. don’t miss it at all. Stop poisining your brain with all the empty content on tv!
Gael
January 24th, 2013
11:43 am
I use at&t U-verse and for now, quite satisfied. But having said that, and after reading these comments, I am seriously reconsidering to ‘cut service’. A word to the wise…I noticed someone mentioning the ruling of home associations not being able to stop one from installing an antennae. Although basically true, there are SOME restrictions such as size, common areas, etc. Here is a site which is pretty clear for the FCC ruling: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-reception-devices-rule
redevil
January 24th, 2013
11:44 am
@ Phoenix.. check out the Antennacraft HDX1000 from RadioShack.. I have it installed in my attic so it is out of sight and it works great.. at least for me..
ClydeFr0g
January 24th, 2013
11:46 am
I cut the cord a few years ago. When I got an HD TV all of my channels appeared with skewed proportions (circles looked like ovals). I contacted Comcast and they said I needed to upgrade to HD TV and pay even MORE money than they were already raping me for. I told them that was preposterous, that HD TV is now the standard, NBC didn’t charge a dime extra when they started transmitting in color, and I cut the cord that day.
Haven’t missed it one bit. Comcast can go to hell. I’ll never use them again. Really they are all crooks, they all have government-approved monopolies.
I don’t love AT&T but I get DSL for $25 a month which is sufficient for my streaming, downloading, surfing, and gaming needs.
Funny story…I went on a date with a much younger woman from work. She told me about the cable package she had with her roommates and how all they got was the major networks plus a few extra channels. I told her that I got those same channels but for free with an antenna. I kid you not…she said “What do you mean for free? How do you hook up an antenna? What’s that?”
I can’t say it enough: Comcast can go to hell.
Contemplating
January 24th, 2013
11:46 am
Phoenix:
You would be surprised that the $15 RCA antenna at Best Buy gets the best reviews. I am cutting the cord in about two months. I am so sick of paying for garbage!
The one thing I have noticed The Cable Company doing is charging $70 per month for internet after you cancel your cable.
ANYONE KNOW HOW TO GET AROUND THIS? What speed internet is required to use netflix and apple tv and your run of the mill surfing? Help!
Mark
January 24th, 2013
11:49 am
i dumped cable a year ago. i just plug an HDMI or video cable from my computer to the TV and stream EVERYTHING! lots of pirate sites provide every TV show free!
creaative
January 24th, 2013
11:51 am
Gael… The HOA is talking about an antenna on top of your house. The antenna we are talking about goes in your house behind the TV. It is very small and costs 40-60 bucks for a good one. The reception is great as well because the over the air stations do not compress the HD signal!!
Snooglechat
January 24th, 2013
11:52 am
We cut the cord a few months ago and have never looked back. Clear internet is a good alternative we have been able to stream Netflix and Hulu at the same time using a Roku player and the XBOX 360. Most of us have invested in the Xbox, Play Station 3 and Apple products. Once you try it I think you will realize you are able to watch television when you want and that you will be saving big, while getting full use of the home electronic you have invested alot of money in.
redevil
January 24th, 2013
11:52 am
@ Contamplating.. ATT is the only one that services my city.. Kennesaw.. and as much as I can’t stand ATT I’m stuck with them for internet… their DSL stand alone for 6Mbps ($29.99) of streaming does an excellent job for everyone in the family to be online and streaming of Hulu or Netflix all at the same time..
Matt321
January 24th, 2013
11:58 am
Cut the cord a long time ago, and I am very surprised that Clark, legendary for being a cheap skate, has not done so. We have U-Verse internet only + Netflix streaming only + an antenna in the living room for OTA. The OTA broadcast quality is great – even on my SD set, it’s still a significant upgrade from what I used to get from cable. Between free local channels and Netflix, there is more to watch than I ever could watch in ten lifetimes.
If you’re paying for cable or satellite, you’re wasting money. Cut the cord! I have never, ever met a cord cutter that regretted the move.
Carrie
January 24th, 2013
12:08 pm
I can’t cut cable because the apartment I live in mandates residents buy Comcast cable & internet. Is this even legal? What can one do but try to find another place to live once the lease is up. Really seems unfair.
Mark
January 24th, 2013
12:09 pm
Five years and counting, I don’t miss it!!
Dogvan
January 24th, 2013
12:18 pm
We ditched satellite TV in Jan 09, a few months before the transition to digital. We now receive over 50 channels but limit our access to 15 or so; the remaining 35 have no interest to us. We also have Netflix and Hulu Plus. Our land phone line was terminated that year also and we now rely solely on cell phone service. Our internet is provided by Clear at $40/month and is flawless. Total annual savings (including Netflix, Clear, and Hulu Plus bills now being paid) is a net @ $1300. If I want to watch the BCS Championship I can go to a sports bar. All service is 99.9% reliable. We were victims of the November 1992 tornado that hit Cobb. Our cable went out and we had no idea there were tornadoes in the area until two minutes before they hit. We have a UPS connected to the Clear network and wireless router. If we lose power during severe weather we have laptop and cell phone backup to keep us posted (if the towers don’t fail).
Shark Punch!
January 24th, 2013
12:20 pm
I went cable-free about a decade ago, well before the rise of streaming video, for the simple reason that I wasn’t going to pay for something I never had time to watch. I’ve picked up Netflix Instant + their basic DVD plan (less per month than a trip to the movies, let alone cable) and it’s more than enough.
My family still has DirectTV and Dish Network. It takes about fifteen minutes of me alone with their remote to remind myself why I’ve never regretted cutting the cord.
Trying to cut the cord
January 24th, 2013
12:33 pm
@ redevil – 11:23 am – Thanks for the idea of using online websites to supplement but then it becomes a quality issue. I do like the idea some have floated that they basically get cable during football and drop it again. I might do that as I do like to see those SEC games in HD.
CharlieATL
January 24th, 2013
12:35 pm
The cable & satellite providers offer 2 services – content & time-shifting. It seems a lot of folks have had success with OTA antennas and accept the content as offered by Hulu & Netflix as an alternative. As to time-shifting (watch a recorded show when you want, and fast forward past commercials), Boxee has come out with a new $99 set top box and a cloud storage offering. Currently it is limited to a hand full of cities (Atlanta being one of them), but for $10/month, you get the channel line up, the ability to record 2 programs simultaneously, and cloud storage.
If you use Boxee with either an OTA or basic cable, which is pretty cheap, you get by for the monthly $10 Boxee fee plus whatever other service you might buy, like Netflix.
I believe Boxee is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.
Streaming Only
January 24th, 2013
12:42 pm
We ditched satellite/cable 10 years ago. Figured we were paying something like $10 an hour to watch tv with the cost of satellite/cable. We spent some time just watching DVDs, then moved to streaming through Hulu and Netflix a few years back. We’re now toying with getting rid of Netflix since we can get everything they have – and more – with our Amazon Prime service. Amazon Prime is the best streaming option for both free, and rental or pay streaming. We can’t get a big enough antenna in the mountains for local signals but watch everything we want through streaming.
Mel
January 24th, 2013
12:48 pm
If we could figure out how to get sports – especially college football & basketball – we would quickly drop satellite.
Tony
January 24th, 2013
12:49 pm
I got rid of cable two years ago. I have Roku and due to Roku have Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions. The toughest part about getting rid of cable was losing the sports. It turns out that there are very trustworthy cable sites that show a lot of sports streamed for free. I connect my laptop to my tv and wala . . I have sports. Do a little research and check it out.
Sam I Am
January 24th, 2013
1:17 pm
Ditched cable 10+ years ago with their monopoly and high pricing in our neighborhood, switched to satellite. Ditched satellite when they started doing the same. Switched to digitial TV in ‘09 and have not regretted it one bit. High quality HDTV antenna plus online TV programming and Netflix. Did miss ESPN but my cellphone provides it with my data plan plus I have basic XM/SiRIUS radio. All these pay services cost but $20+ as opposed to almost $80+ with cable/satellite.
MeaneyMouse
January 24th, 2013
1:34 pm
I watch free TV. Never had SatLite. Dropped cable several years ago. Don’t miss cable one bit ^___^
Heather
January 24th, 2013
1:36 pm
My husband convinced me to have a trial cut the cord when we moved into our new house a few months ago. It was a tough battle for him to convince me that involved spreadsheets of shows I watched and what we could/couldn’t get through other online service providers. At first I thought I would hate it, but it’s actually been really great after the initial adjustment. Sure, there are times that the over the air channels don’t come through quiet as well as they should, or there may be some silly new reality show we don’t get, but I still find PLENTY of shows to watch (new and old) and can keep up with all the primetime shows that everyone at work talks about!
Wendy
January 24th, 2013
1:47 pm
I tried to ditch Comcast when they increased my bil by 20% and had DishTV ready to install when they said because of the way our house is positioned that they couldn’t deliver a reliable signal. Universe is not available where we live and I”m stuck with Comcast
I cut back on their plan but still pay 2 arms and 2 legs for terrible reception and service. I wish there really was a reasonable alternative. I feel like a hostage! Dang I dislike this!!!!!
G'Vegas Dawg
January 24th, 2013
1:48 pm
What about for those of us out of the city? I live in northern Hall Co. (Gainesville) and from what I have been hearing, I may or may not be able to get over the air channels?
John
January 24th, 2013
1:53 pm
We ditched the dish over a year ago and have not regreted it. We have 4 tv in our home connected to an OTA antenna, a DVR on our main TV that I built myself, and augment with netflix.
Biff Kabob
January 24th, 2013
1:59 pm
I first ditched my land line a few years ago. Then decided to get right of my cellphone. I have skype on my machine, by I have yet to use it. I got rid of cable for satellite about 5 years ago. Then I gave up TV for lent one year and liked the peace and quiet so much that I got rid of satellite. Now I have no TV service, but instead I go to network websites, hulu, youtube, or netflix to catch shows I want to see on my computer. I also got rid of my car, since I only put 200 miles on it the last year I owned it. So I save a ton of money using MARTA for work, but everything else I need is within walking distance of my place. If I need a car I just use zipcar.
outspoken1
January 24th, 2013
2:01 pm
I cut cable one month ago…awesome…I actually feel free to watch what I want, when I want it. I do have Netflix and will prob get Hulu too soon. I was also SICK of always watching reruns or just flipping from channel to channel with nothing to really watch. My reception is MUCH greater with air tv than with Comcast Cable. No JOKE!
Biff Kabob
January 24th, 2013
2:12 pm
For internet, I have naked DSL with AT&T.
Rod
January 24th, 2013
2:16 pm
Sorry Clark I like sports and Hulu and Netflix show C minus more like D plus movies I’d rather cut my cell phone off then my cable sorry