Today, most people get their TV from either a cable TV company or from one of two satellite providers, DishNetwork or DirecTV. They also pay increasingly higher bills for the privilege.
In this new age of austerity, when consumers are looking for ways to cut corners everywhere, even diehard TV junkies are considering the once unthinkable getting rid of their cable or satellite TV services.
But for most, getting rid of cable doesn't mean going without TV. If you live in, or close to, a metropolitan area and have a high-speed Internet connection, there's a way you can still watch most of your favorite shows and not pay for it.
Better reception
Last year's change to digital television makes watching over the air television much like watching it over cable or satellite. The picture is sharp and clear, since snow and ghosting, characteristics of marginal analog TV signals, are a thing of the past.
By mounting a new HD antenna and pointing it in the proper direction, you can watch the broadcast TV stations in your market for free. While cable and satellite charge extra each month in order to receive HD channels, when your local channels broadcast in HD, and you have an HD set with HD antenna, you can watch and pay nothing extra.
Not all HD TV sets have a built-in HD tuner, but most do. If yours doesn't, you'll need to purchase a separate HD tuner.
What about programming on cable channels? Since they aren't broadcast on over-the-air stations, does that mean missing them? Not in every case, and this is where your high-speed Internet connection comes in.
On demand
Full episodes on many popular shows are streamed online. You can find them either on the cable networks' websites or on special TV websites like Hulu.com, which streams many popular shows for free. You can attach your HDTV to your computer so that you get the full screen, TV viewing experience. Best of all, you watch them when you want.
There are hundreds of online instructional videos, like the one below, that can guide you through the setup process.
If you need to add just a bit more programming to the mix, consider signing up for a $9 a month NetFlix account. Not only can you download and view hundreds of popular moves, past episodes of your favorite programs are also available.
Again, having your computer connected to your TV makes it seem like you are subscribing to a premium movie channel on cable or satellite. But instead of paying $100 or more per month, you're paying $9.
Don't want to tie up your computer? Many new Blu-ray DVD players can capture streaming video from Netflix and other online providers. We've been testing the LG-BD550, which sells for less than $150 at
Amazon.com. We got the slim little unit set up and working in less than 10 minutes. It delivers a crisp, clean image from both Netflix streaming video and DVDs, blu-ray and otherwise. We tested it with both DSL and 40-mbps cable Internet connections and found no discernable difference in picture quality.
Upfront costs
There are some upfront costs, of course. You'll need an HDTV with HDTV turner to take full advantage of your local stations' HD content and an antenna capable of receiving HD signals. You'll also need a computer with ports for connecting a TV.
By ditching cable and switching to free TV, you might, in fact, become a trend-setter. Many industry observers predict television will eventually migrate to the Web, and may be in the process of doing so.
Hulu.com recently announced a new premium service allowing viewers to see current seasons of many popular shows, meaning you won't have to wait until next year to catch up on what's happening on The Office. There is a price for the service, but the $9.99 monthly charge is a fraction what what you're now paying for cable or satellite.
