After 9 1/2 years as cable television subscribers, we decided we won't take one more rate hike. The content has gotten worse as the cost has gotten higher. We can no longer justify the impact on our family of either one. The cable has to go.
When did MTV stop playing music? When did Cartoon Network stop being for children? When did the news networks become political talk shows? When did it happen that the only decent dramas on TV were in Spanish?
Call me old fashioned if you want to, but I want my news stations to report the news, my kids to be the ones who watch cartoons, and gosh darn it I want my MTV!!!!! And I want it to cost less than my mortgage to get it.
I called the cable company this morning and bid them adieu. The smug guy on the phone became less smug when I told him I didn't need his trash TV any longer.
"What will you do for entertainment instead?" he read from the script.
"I don't know," I told him, "but I'm going to start off by playing with my kids."
He laughed and said, "You've got me. I just can't compete with that."
15 comments:
I completely understand! We watch very little on TV. I can't even stand to watch the news anymore. I still love EWTN and the occasional nights that the weathermen are covering the local tornados and severe weather. I will be happy to have it when Sooner football begins, but really, other than that, the TV is off!
Love, Suzanne
Way to go! I totally understand! As long as you have internet access you will be able to find the important news. My husband and I are actually thinking about pulling the cord also. I'm kind of a T.V. junkie though, mainly for the background noise. Have fun playing with your kids!
We have not had cable for years and we have been so happy without it!
We cut our cord a year or so ago. The only thing we miss is college football. Last year we spent many a Saturday afternoon on the deck listening to the games on the radio.
Now, if only I could get Sooner radio up here in Iowa, I'd be set! =]
The ONLY thing that makes cable worthwhile for me is the sporting events that are only on cable (like Monday night football...). Other than that, I agree. And with Hulu, I can watch what I want, when I want anyway.
Unfortunately, we signed a contract with Dish Network, so we're locked in...
Heather, You can't stream Sooner radio on your computer? I'm assuming your internet speed is fast enough, of course.
Seems like we tried to find it last year, but couldn't.
Of course this whole Texas issue and the SEC/PAC 10 has kind of soured me on football.
We did the same thing about 2 years ago. The first couple of weeks were really difficult, but my kids learned to PLAY and entertained themselves without, well...having to BE entertained. KWIM?
Thankfully, we can stream most of our favorite TV shows online and invested in a Roku box so we can still watch on our TV and not have to hover around the computer screen. But even so, our "tv time" has been drastically slashed and I don't mind sayin' that my relationship with my kids has improved.
In any case, I just wanted to say "kudos!" to you!
Congratulations, we stopped cable some years ago and just use antennae tv, nice not having a monthly bill plus there are some very good shows on public TV. One thing we have always tried to do with the Kids is to take a week out of the year and do not turn the TV set on at all. Now that they are older (teens) we modified it to No electronic media week. the first few days are kinda rough but it is an awareness how much the media can impact our lives, plus as an added bonus we get some good scrabble games in.
Good for you! My husband and I really enjoy checking out classics from the library and watching them together after putting the kids to bed. It's free, and the quality is so much higher than what you see on TV! Even better is reading the book before you watch the movie.
I think not having ONE SINGLE television channel is my favorite thing about my home. It will take some getting used to, but once you do, you will never want it back. I think you are doing an awesome thing for your family and especially your children.
I've toyed with this idea forever! Will I ever be brave enough? Will my husband ever agree? Kudos to you!!!
We don't have TV. I never even notice that we don't have one. Until I go somewhere that does have a TV!! Like tonight at my Mother-in-Law's house. There I was trying to VISIT and instead my head kept getting sucked around to the right so that my eyes could glue themselves to the mezmerizing TV. Doesn't help that it's one of those flat-screens the size of a wall!!!! (Holy smokes the TVs are huge these days!) I can't blame Elspeth for thinking *real* people are banging around in there. I mean... they're lifesize and all!
Crazy.
Way to go! We haven't had TV reception for years.
"I don't know," I told him, "but I'm going to start off by playing with my kids." YES! And, your children will learn more ways to entertain themselves, and you will all read more, and ... :)
We don't have a TV either, and much like Coffee Catholic says, we only notice it when we go elsewhere and watch it...It is at those moments that sometimes, sometimes I wish we had one. Then I'll think of how it will be:
Get home, plop on the couch and work the remote...NAH...
You're better off without it!
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