The no-cable experiment, a month in

About a month ago, we got rid of cable, yes, just as American Idol was getting into full-swing and just before the Top Chef season premiere. I was the person that had a "my show" for every night of the week. The reason was partly a cost-cutting measure, but also because J. and I found ourselves chained to the couch night after night watching TV. And that was starting to become...weird.

So how are we doing a month in? Even though we haven't gotten rid of TV completely—we have an AppleTV,  watch DVDs, and I watch shows here are there online or on Hulu—I admit that I miss the ritual of watching TV at night. I miss flipping to Bravo (my favorite station, more on that later) or seeing what's on the DVR. It's getting better, but I'm being honest, I do miss it.

Watching AppleTV can be expensive since most of the shows are pay-per-view. This puzzles me because you have to pay to watch shows like LOST or Grey's Anatomy when they are free online. Why AppleTV can't just crawl the internet for free shows I don't know. I refuse to pay for shows I could watch for free (well, free + some ads). Actually, that isn't true. When MadMen comes back on I will be paying for that. But that's about it.

AppleTV is great for watching movies (content feels a little light right now but it's growing) since they are comparable to cable or satellite PPV and we can watch most in HD, but what I really love AppleTV for are the endless video and audio podcasts. I think I might have replaced my couch TV habit with a couch podcast habit. (Wait, why did we cancel cable again?)

Some TV shows have podcasts (like HBO's new In Treatment series), most news shows can be watched as a podcast though sometimes they are a week behind, but the real genius is being able to watch Wine Library TV or DiggNation (my current obsession), or language (I can brush up on my French or Italian or learn Japanese) or cooking show podcasts (love the NYT/Minimalist podcast) any time I want for FREE.

I think the key to not having cable is being creative and flexible about the shows you want to watch. Most every show can be found online in some form or another. The only thing that pisses me off is that Bravo shows are not anywhere to be found. (Or are they?) Hulu doesn't have full episodes of my faves Top Chef, Project Runway, and my guilty pleasure—the Real Housewives of OC and NYC, only snippets. No fair! And Bravo doesn't have a channel on AppleTV either. Why, Bravo, why? I actually would pay to watch those shows on AppleTV and would happily watch them on Bravotv.com or Hulu with ads. Hmph.

What do I like about not having cable anymore? I like that when I want to watch something I have to seek it out. Instead of 600 channels with nothing on, I can find (by being creative and flexible) 600 channels that I do want to watch. I like that it's changed the way we think about TV. It's something we program now—we are our own Brandon Tartikoffs, and that's kind of cool. I also think Hulu is pretty fun. I am watching old episodes of Fame on Hulu which are hilarious...and sweet.

I like that the kids play more and watch less TV. They don't think about watching TV as much and don't beg to watch shows. They are outside almost constantly and when they are inside, it's arts and crafts and puzzles and pretend-play more than ever. I like that they watch movies now and by necessity both girls—even the 3.5yo—have FINALLY learned how to work the DVD player. Oh, and that reminds me, there are lots of great podcasts for kids, too. Many of their favorite shows are available as podcasts in iTunes.

What don't I like? I find myself turning to the computer more for entertainment, especially when I don't have any good reading material in the house (like now.) I expected that—and it's not hard to be sucked in by the internet during an election cycle—but I'm easing off gently. I don't like that I am missing some of my favorite shows, but I figure if I keep writing enough letters to Bravo that will change soon. I also don't like that I can't watch some of my favorite political pundits, but that's okay. I listen to the radio more. I seek out information if I need it.

All in all, it's an experiment that is working out, but if anyone is having a Top Chef season finale party, let me know!

Comments

[Becky]

We are on our 4th month of no cable and there are a lot of things about not having it that I love but I too am finding myself 1) missing it and 2)on the computer a lot more. We have become Netflix's biggest enemy. We pay for the $9/month plan and send those puppies back asap. All in all I enjoy not paying for a ton of channels and flipping through aimlessly and settling on some ridiculous sitcom just because nothing better is on. So here's to you my fellow "non-cable payer".

[Ellen]

That Bravo thing drives me crazy too. If you have a PC you can buy Top Chef from Amazon's "UnBox" digital download store, which isn't as nice as iTunes but has all the NBC/Bravo shows. (They pulled all their videos off iTunes a year ago, rumored reason being that NBC wanted to charge more for their shows.) At $1.99/show it's a cheap addiction.

Of course, they don't always put them up promptly, so I end up getting paranoid about being spoiled... but it's better than nothing.

[Green]

One of the points of getting rid of tv is usually to spend more quality time with loved ones. So call up a friend who has Bravo and go over there once a week for wine and cheese ahd whine and cheeseyness while watching Real Housewives of NYC.

Make it work! :)

[Mama's Nest/Ashlee]

my little guy has never watched TV and since that limits our watching we got rid of cable this year too. We do still watch some shows (downloaded and DVD) on our projector but it has been SO nice and so freeing to not even have a tv in the house anymore!

[Lia]

I will have a Top Chef finale party! How bout that?

[Gudrun]

wow, I am impressed. I will seek out foods without hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup, I will ride my bike rather than drive, I will eat locally grown, but to give up cable, that is, wow, scary! Once again, you are awesome!

Hope you all feel better soon, and hope your trip to NY is successful :-)

[kat]

have you tried sidereel.com for bravo??

gotta say real housewives of nyc is my new (guilty) pleasure.

[Kristin]

Oh, how tough you are! I'm another Bravo fanatic (so reassuring to find very intelligent women addicted as well). I also can't imagine doing without Jon Stewart during election season. Maybe after the election is over....but then what about Project Runway? And watching updates on President Obama on CNN everyday?

Again, you're very tough....

[Blair]

Hi - I have been reading your blog for a while - but I have never commented before. I love love love this blog - it makes me smile just about every day!
I have a question for you - I wanted to make your cheesey chile polenta but I screwed up and bought already cooked polenta instead of the bulk stuff - Is it possible to still make it? Should I just reduce the cook time?
Thanks!
Also - you are way tougher than me, I love TV, I would hate to cancel our subscription to cable!

[Audrey - Pinks & Blues]

God bless you!! I wish I had the power to do what you are doing. Besides the fact that I feel the TV is another member of our family at times... we took measures this year to reduce the kids time. We have 8pm reading time. Each boy gets to pick out 4 books. And then we have been doing games a lot at night. You know.. the Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish. It's truly made such a HUGE difference. The boys fall asleep easier and quicker! And my husband and I are... gasp... spending more time together!! :)
Hope BlogHer is going well!! Wish I was there!! It's my sons' 1st b-day this weekend and we're hosting family!
xo,
Audrey

[Kim]

We got rid of our cable when our son was about 6 months old, he is now 3.5. We originally gave it up for Lent, but it was more based on all the studies about small children/TV and ADD. We do miss it on occasion, but for the most part we have enjoyed it. We do have Netflix, which enables us to watch things like Grey's Anatomy, we are just a season behind! Our son watches a few things like Clifford and Thomas the Train, buts it's all on DVDs and we limit the time he spends in front of the TV. Do we miss it, heck yes. But not enough to get it back. My guilty pleasure is Project Runway, which I am also a season behind on, so don't tell me who wins!

[Tara]

Yay for no cable! We're on our ninth month without it. Netflix is great -- we watch lots of movies and tv shows that we never quite got around to. And there's a lot more time for board games and dinner parties with friends... and blogging.

[Susan]

fyi, slashfood.com has this week's top chef embedded into their site. http://www.slashfood.com/2008/04/04/missed-top-chef-watch-it-here/

[Kayris]

We have never had cable and have no intention of getting it anytime soon. It's mostly because we're too cheap to pay for it, but my H and I are not big TV watchers, especially since the writer's strike. There are 3 shows that I watch regularly, all on NBC. Most kid TV gets on my nerves, so my son has a few Disney movies that he watches a lot.

When people hear we don't have cable, they act like I said we don't have indoor plumbing. "What do you DO in the evening?"

[Amy]

It is funny because we just did this too and I think it has been a little hard myself. We did sign up for a Netflix account to help cushion the blow :) I am finding most of what I need on Hulu and on the channel's website.

I think it was easier to do because of the writer's strike :) I felt like I was giving up less, but we will see how it goes next year when all the new shows start :)

[crockpot lady]

Every year I get fed up with the TV and cancel it (we have DISH--) the longest we've gone was about 4 months. Then something "important" happens (like the election, Super Bowl) and we're back to TV Too Much. I'm getting ready to pull the plug again.

except The Office is back this week...

[Donna Mazza]

I came home last week to find that my partner has put out TV in the shed. Well I used to come home and spend 1/2 an hour relaxing in front of deal or no deal (edifying stuff!) and then I'd spend the evening trying to stop my 7yo girl from witnessing murders, car accidents, decomposing bodies, wars and operations until she went to bed. And that was just the ads! Now she does her homework and plays imaginary games with her sister and we eat dinner at the table. And somehow I'm more relaxed than I was after that 1/2 hour of Deal or no Deal! I recommend it. Agree though that I spend more time on the computer...but also read more books.

[Alanna]

I lived without television for about five years. It actually took a year or more to not need the "noise", another year to be completely oblivious to "It's Thursday at 9, time for ER." The shows cycle and soon you don't even know who they are and you just don't care. The ads for the next shows -- they really work, sucking you in for the next hour and the next week.

You've got me thinking. Cable cancellation today? Hmmm. Move the TVs to the basement??? HMMMMM.

[mac]

My wife and I unplugged the cable a month before we actually cancelled it. I bought a couple of digital set-top boxes with the government coupons, put an antenna in the attic and hooked it into the existing cable line. I am *so* happy I did so. Except during very bad weather, my picture in digital HD is so much better than analog cable ever was and, with just a couple of exceptions, I don't miss cable at all. The thing is, they raised the rates again and I had to consider the value question anew. It's just not worth it to me. I watch 'House' in HD, the local news, and a couple of shows from time to time on Create and IONlife when I'm just vegging out on the couch. I'm reading more, gardening more, and maybe, thinking more. I expected to swap TV time with the Internet but that hasn't materialized, even though I've got Joost set up on my computer. Add in 2-at-a-time from Netfilx and we're saving money and really no worse for the wear. Except from trying to explain leaving the cable cult to active devotees. But, then, I also have to explain that I don't watch sports, either.