So I know watching TV has become kind of a pointless endeavor in most cases. I came home from graduating to find out that Time Warner was trying to make my parents pay way to much for their TV and internet (I know, big shock there right?). Sadly the only other alternative readily available is Verizon which has screwed over my family before.
My problem basically sums down to I've convinced them to look away from the typical TV solution, since no one is really home to watch it most of the time anyways. Netflix and Hulu combined give you most of the content you could mindlessly watch and combined with Amazon instant video a lot of TV is pointless.
I was wondering if anyone else found a more interesting way around this issue? Sadly we'll probably have to stick to Time Warner until Google graces our state with it's presence or I can figure out how to start my own fiber based ISP. I'm just looking for a solution for getting away from the overly high cost of cable TV through the power of the internet.
Just don't have a TV subscription? There's loads of movies, cartoons, documentaries and shows to watch using torrents, and if you complain about speed/cost or data caps then change and/or boycott your ISPs until they change their policies. Really there's not much else you can do but put up with the crap and let them rule the industry.
Between Netflix and Amazon, I haven't even touched a TV in years. I don't personally own one, and have probably watched more television content than most TV watchers thanks to a lack of ads, on demand content, and binge watching. The only thing I'd suggest is getting a VPN - it really is a night and day difference. With PIA, Netflix loads quickly and instantly starts in HD. When I turn it off, it loads very pixilated (240p most likely), and will stay that for the first few minutes before gradually going to HD, and then switching between HD and SD, with an occasional buffering screen. Again with PIA, constant, uninterrupted HD. I have a 6Mbps connection from AT&T.
I've found most of what I need, save Game of Throne, but that can be obtained through the Dark Arts of the Internet. However, I heard HBO is partnering with Amazon, and some of their older content, such as The Sopranos is available on Prime Instant Video, so that is very promising. Maybe, one day, I'll watch every season of Game of Thrones in one weekend with Amazon... I actually did watch every single Harry Potter movie in one weekend - I was up 28 straight hours. o_O @.@
I cut the cord a couple of years ago and am really happy about it, plus all the money I'm saving.
Between Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon you're pretty well set for most things. If you live somewhere with decent reception get a digital antenna, and you get all the local broadcast stations in HD for free. If you can run all this through a HTPC with a TV tuner I think that works best. The only thing I can't really replace to my satisfaction is ESPN, but there's always the sports bar.
Personally, i use netflixs, hulu,veetle, and a series of android apps. I cut the cord in the beginning of hulu, never looked back. Used miro in the past. Really is alot of choices. None will have everything but you can easily put together something you can live with.
Well that was the entire point of this post. I was looking for ways that weren't torrents as I'm the only one in the house that would understand how they work and I do not plan on living here forever, so the solution had to be something extremely easy that someone who isn't tech savvy could use.
Also not too worried about data caps yet, just stating my frustration that my only choice is Time Warner as U-verse isn't out where I am and Verizon is just a trap waiting to happen.