Every other month I call my cable company because the bill goes up. They will give me a break for a month or so then slowly creep in other charges. I'm not tech savy and am reading about Hulu. I watch CNN, MSNBC, some of the old movies, the sports channels, cooking, and sometimes the history channel. These are a few of what I watch. Is cable a must for me to continue watching these networks?
By weinerdog41 from Lubbock, TX
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First about watching pc on tv. I am not so tech savvy myself, so I go to Youtube. There you will find 8 million videos showing you exactly what to buy and how to do it. Just search for "watching pc on tv".
As for the Hulu dilemma, it can be good and bad. A lot of the tv shows are available free for limited periods (A certain number days after air for a certain number days). I'm not sure how news shows would work. News 5 days late is not really news any more. Go plunder around and see. You don't have to register, and if availability is different with paid service they will tell you.
Another option is to go to the individual network website. That is sometimes the faster option for shows.
I say all this as I watch my cable tv. I am too stuck in my ways to make the change. I do, however, plan to change to basic cable and watch as many shows as possible through pc.
I am just in the process of doing this myself. I am SO not tech-savvy. If it weren't for my computer geek brother, I'd still be using my VCR (which he bought me in the 80's)!
We downgraded to just basic cable before our wedding 2 years ago, and it's been a great disappointment for $47 a month.
We were able to only get Netflix and Pandora through our Blue-ray player (gift from my brother, LOL), so we JUST bought a Roku box (a box that streams internet tv) and installed it two days ago - it was only $50. We now pay for Netflix and Hulu Plus at $16 a month total and get other stations free through the Roku.
So far, I'm really happy. I am able to get shows on Hulu Plus that I could no longer get on cable and that Netflix didn't have. There are a couple of shows that Hulu Plus doesn't have, but I can watch them online if I'm really desperate.
I've just been playing around with the Roku, but it has so many other channels.
I have found news channels that are free. NBC seems to post the nightly news and meet the press immediately, and there are several other news channels that I haven't even tried yet - a lot of them free.
Ooh, I just looked at your post again. I have heard that if you have internet and phone through your cable company, that if you cancel your cable, they will not actually stop your cable service. In other words, they automatically do internet and cable together, even if you cancel the cable. It would be up to you to decide if you would feel too guilty to use the cable! In my opinion, if they're sending it to your house even if you've canceled it, you should have the right to use it. Others might disagree.
Also, all you need for internet TV streaming services is wifi and a streaming device, like a Roku, Apple tv box, WII, or other internet-enabled device. I am liking the Roku so far.
Good luck!
Hulu is awesome. We have been using the ROKU for about a year and a Half now...at the time it cost about $65.00. there are so many great channel options with the Roku. Hulu Plus is what you Pay for to stream to your TV. It is $8 a month. Worth it. Additionally with the Roku you get channels such as Amazon movies. You can rent a movie on Amazon.com. So that is like pay per view. Hulu not only gives you access to common TV stations but there is a collection of HULU Exclusive programs, usually British productions that are very entertaining. I have loved not paying for cable.
Thanks, y'all! I already have the Roku box (and a smart TV which essentially has Roku built in), but my main issue is finding the best assortment of shows available on the various services without subscribing to a dozen of 'em! Probably the smartest idea is one someone suggested here: just rotate through various services, watch most of what you care to watch of their offerings, then cancel and go to another service for a time. Good tips here!
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