Ditching your Dish Network/Cable provider

[Mikekoz13]

I've decided that I'm tired of paying Dish network about $80 a month to watch TV.... especially since about half the channels are shopping/nonsense channels. I'll canceling my Dish in the next week or so. We're going to do a week run with my new setup (below) to make sure there are no "gotchas".

I've received my local channels over a roof antenna for the last two years. No problems at all and the picture is a high def picture. This past weekend I replaced my 9 year old 57" Toshiba RPCRT TV (which has been and still is outstanding) with a new 60" Plasma flat panel. The old TV is going to the kids play room (their 16 year old bottom of the line TV is way past it's useful life span).
Part of the reason I decided to move my old TV out and replace it with the new one is that it had no digital tuner built into it (HD Ready not a true HDTV). The choice for digital tuners was very poor and quality suspect on models. The new TV has the digital tuner built into it so I just run the coax cable from my rooftop antenna into the back of the TV. Run a channel scan and I'm good to go.

In addition, I added a Roku streaming box to my new TV. What a little marvel that thing is. I've decide to get Netflix and HuluPlus for the Roku ($8 per month each). In addition there are dozens of free channels you can load onto the Roku. I'll save about $65 per month by going this route. That savings will pay for my new TV and the Roku in less than a year.

Has anybody else gone this route? If you have, what are the negatives to it (the ones I see are only very minor).
If you have a streaming device, how do you like it and what channels do you REALLY like?

More thoughts on this?

[Razor X]

I think the negatives would be not being able to access cable news or cable sports channels.

[-Doug-]

We have bare-bones basic cable (NBC, ABC, CBS, & FOX) because we can't get those over the air well. Also, by getting that we save a little on our high-speed internet. We use the high-speed internet to stream NetFlix through our Wii. Netflix has most of the shows we like up to the season prior to the most current season so we watch shows that way. Once we get caught up on a show well switch to the broadcasting channel's website to watch the current season.

Mike - Can you watch current seasons on HuluPlus? How do you like it so far?

[Mikekoz13]

We have bare-bones basic cable (NBC, ABC, CBS, & FOX) because we can't get those over the air well. Also, by getting that we save a little on our high-speed internet. We use the high-speed internet to stream NetFlix through our Wii. Netflix has most of the shows we like up to the season prior to the most current season so we watch shows that way. Once we get caught up on a show well switch to the broadcasting channel's website to watch the current season.

Mike - Can you watch current seasons on HuluPlus? How do you like it so far?

Doug.... I haven't run the HuluPlus through any paces yet (this all just came about since Saturday fo rthe  most part) but I did look into it and for at LEAST some shows you can(the next day I think).

[Mikekoz13]

I think the negatives would be not being able to access cable news or cable sports channels.

You cannot get regional sprts networks like this BUT you can still sign up for MLB.com NBA.com etc. In the long run this is still cheaper than paying for cable/DSH every month.

[Mikekoz13]

One added benefit I've seen of this, in my so far limited trial, is that we're watching more things we may have never watched before. The main reasons for this? We can watch WHEN we want to watch rather than on the schedule of the cable/DISH companies.

For example... we watched a GREAT movie last night called "Hatchi". I'd never even heard of it or seen it listed on any channels in the past. Man was it good.

[Mikekoz13]

The biggest negative I've seen so far is getting used to not having a GIUDE that will show you what's coming on in the coming hours. We'll get used to that.

I'm looking around to see if there is a way around this with an app or some other way. If anyone knows of a way please let us know.

[Hook'Em]

I watch way too much ESPN and the like to even consider this.

[Sooner Steve]

I watch way too much ESPN and the like to even consider this.

That is my problem.  I have DirecTV and watch maybe 10 channels tops.  Most are related to ESPN and their colleagues.  I could not live without those stations. 

[Mikekoz13]

Graham/Steve-

I'm a Sports junkie too and I'll miss those channels in the beginning I'm sure. This is about re-prioritizing things a bit in my life.

1) Those funds can be used for something better for my Family for sure.

2) I've got to get my 11 year old daughter from out in front of the mindless Disney channel and watching better things when she does watch.

3) Less crap to watch will mean finding better things for me, the wife, and the kids to do.

4) My wife and I did a little three day survey of what we watch when we watch. About 90% of everything we watched was on network television.

5) I've been wanting to pick up my old guitar after not touching it for 30 years. My soon to be 16 year old son has shown an interest in learning guitar recently and my soon to be 28 year old son is an excellent musician and guitarist. ( I'd like to be able to sit around and play a little guitar with my two boys before I leave this earth).

6) This will help to give me a chance to re-kindle my love of reading.

I could go on but you get the idea.

And by the way guys.... you CAN live without those channels!! 

[slymyke]

Mike, I think that sounds like a great idea.  I think I remember you saying something about reconnecting with your older son, so the guitar idea sounds like a win-win.. and another win, for your younger son.   We have been tossing the idea around about getting rid of the Direct TV bill for a while now.  I may look into this idea.  Thanks.

[-Doug-]

Those are great reasons to cut back!

[Switchy]

Dish heard many complaints about it !  Not happy with it thought they would save money , trust me they all are a scam but go cable .  They all have you in a bind !  LOL , if you are a customer of cable co. and they bring out all the new plans to get new custormer's , try getting that plan.  DUH !  So let's say you have two cable plans, and try to switch back and forth  yeah right .

So at the end of the day find a plan that works for you and go for it ! 

[Frontier Guy]

Mike, I've heard great comments about the same arrangement as you have. I think you'll be quite satisfied.

[Razor X]

Coincidentally, a friend who just got a Roku sent me this article today:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/streaming-box-roku-announces-cable-deal-with-time-warner-which-is-big-news-for-you/