The End Of The Line… Or Cable

I’m finally cutting the cord… to cable. It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve watched admirably as others have done it and claimed to have no regrets. It’s not that I don’t enjoy TV. I do. It’s just that I can’t continue to justify the ever-rising costs and rigid packages in order to attain my viewing pleasure. I’m a big believer in value (not strictly cost), and I don’t see the value in cable for what I pay.

First of all, I’m not a TV addict. There are weeks that go by where I hardly turn the TV on, sometimes only for background noise as I’m making dinner or reading. I’m a nature lover; I love to be outside. (Yes, there are benefits to growing up in Timbuktu.) I’m fortunate that I live minutes from a metro park that offers multiple trails and mesmerizing scenery for hiking and trail running.

While I’m not a TV addict, I am a reading addict. Fiction. Nonfiction. Horror. Mysteries. Biographies. Psychology books. If it’s been written, I probably want to read it. At any time, my constantly evolving reading list (aptly titled bookworm) numbers 100 books or more. I also love to write, and I’m hoping one of the benefits of cutting cable is that I get back to writing more for me. Currently, my writing is mostly only for clients.

Word puzzles, crafts, DIY, sports. I have a lot of passions, so I’m not worried about filling my time. I will miss being able to turn on the TV to catch SportsCenter or an episode of Property Brothers on HGTV. But that’s no longer enough for me to send my money into the black hole of cable.

ksu_espn — One thing I will miss — catching my Flashes on ESPN.

Here’s my question… What other viewing platforms/resources do you use? Netflix? Hulu? Websites? iTunes/Google Play? I would love to hear your feedback and any personal experience you or a friend have had. Even after cutting the cord, I’ll still need to catch Downton Abbey. 🙂

Your thoughts are appreciated! I’m sure it will be an adjustment at first, but I’m looking forward to life without cable.

Cheers,
Jaime

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Published by Jaime Shine

I love to write. While most kids were playing with blocks or dolls, I was publishing magazines and newspapers – feature articles, ads, sports box scores, the whole nine yards. From promotions director to advertising roles to branding projects, I’ve always been interested in all forms of marketing. That interest blossomed into a career path and led me to open my own business, which has always been a dream of mine. And I’d love to work my magic for you. Check out my company's services, discover more about me or chime in on my blog, covering a variety of topics, at http://jaimeshine.com. View more posts

3 thoughts on “The End Of The Line… Or Cable”

Good for you!

Some of my friends have different setups to avoid cable and/or satellite (using Apple TV + some other tech), and some pay like $200 a month for their service… which I regard as insane. Seriously?

We have basic cable but have been thinking of dropping it because literally all we viewregularly besides CNN & a little local news is “The Big Bang Theory”. It’s Netflix & Hulu & DVDs otherwise.

Since we follow the local teams it would be nice to check an alternative that we could stream.

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Jaime Shine says:

March 12, 2013 at 10:05 pm

Thanks for chiming in, Paul! Apple TV does seem a little high because I wouldn’t use it enough. I’m probably going to rejoin Netflix, which seems to have a nice selection. Haven’t used Hulu yet but will check it out. Love my DVDs and have multiple RedBox kiosks and old school one-room theatre ($5!) within walking distance. Sports are probably what I will miss the most, but I’ll manage. I’ll have to blog on this topic again to give everyone an update. L

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