We’re considering cutting our television cable. We feel like we bought the buffet ticket, but are only eating the soup and salad. We tasted the other morsels, and we enjoyed being free to do so, except that it wasn’t free.
I posted our intentions online and received a flurry of encouraging and instructional responses. It seems we’re late to the game. A lot of other folks have already set up their own personal, economical, home communication bouquet.
To cut to the chase, I was early on directed to the recent August edition of Consumer Reports with the cover line “Dear Cable TV, YOUR’RE FIRED!” I’d call it a must-read primer. I’m anecdotal here. Pick up a paper copy at Safeway, likely elsewhere, or our public library.
Sidebar Tip: Keep your library ID number in a text file on your desktop and in your phone notes. When you want to read Consumer Reports, surf to benicialibrary.org/databases, paste in your id number to the required field, and you’re reading Consumer Reports for free, baby.
I got so much good advice from so many people who are happier now and eating out more that the resulting discussion thread became whelming and I had to Save It for Later Viewing, which is now.
Currently, Susan and I are in the head-scratching phase. We are pleased with how seamlessly everything works and are reluctant to disrupt it, but it’s too much. We have too many channels and services we don’t use for too much money. I watch television only in the evenings, and usually fall asleep in my recliner within the hour. Sue’s into news, and she stays awake to tell me how our movies end.
We could just call our provider and request a cheaper package, but that doesn’t get rid of the box. We are currently renting two black boxes. One is the internet modem router and WiFi. We’ll keep that for now, but I could buy my own. The other black box is our TV cable.
Here is one scenario if we wanted to end cable and return the black box with its rental and storage fees. We would purchase an OTA (Over the Air) antenna mounted to the TV or on the roof. Go to tvfool.com to find your available channels. We in Benicia can pick up HDTV broadcasting for Fox, CBS, ABC, PBS, NBC, Telemundo, and CW. Black Lightning lives!
That’s quite a bit of network programing, plus news and sports. We can attach the antenna now before we change anything and see how we like it. Because of our proximity to Bay Area and Sacramento broadcasting we get good reception. The antenna, our Amazon Prime, and Netflix might be all we need. Cable bill — gone.
For others in remote areas without plentiful antenna signals, and for those who want more channels than the antenna provides, there are many cable alternative services, such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo TV for sports fans, HBO Now, DirecTV Now, and PlayStation Vue, to name a few.
We own a Smart TV with built-in internet access and an expandable app library. We could purchase an add-on device that duplicates some services and adds new ones, like the Roku, or an Amazon Fire TV, or a Google Chromecast, or buy an Apple or Android TV.  Why buy add-ons? Some channel services like Fubo tv are only available through a Roku, Fire, Apple, or Android.
Ours is a more huddled scenario. We don’t have kids. We want to live awhile with a minimum view and see if we are satisfied. I’m usually in the garage. If we begin missing something dearly, a favorite show, we will look into adding extra features as phase three.
Phase three – leap into the playground of Free Trials. It pays to take the time to visit the websites for YouTube, Sling, Hulu, Fubo, HBO Now, DirecTV Now, and PlayStation Vue. First of all, they’re beautifully designed, attractive, and it’s easy to see channels, services, and prices. You’ll also notice that they all offer free trials, sometimes a week, sometimes a month.
Susan and I can fire up a couple of free trials at a time, buy a box of Fudgsicles, and binge watch. Our kids have Hulu and they swear by it.
If we are happy with antenna channels only, and wish to record shows for later viewing, we can buy an antenna dvr like the Tivo Roamio.
A third step before selecting a cable alternative, would be to call my current cable provider and ask if they have a cable alternative service, and what would that cost? If they can’t meet our needs, our follow-up request would be to cancel cable and return their box.
Consumer Reports advises when calling one’s cable provider to bypass sales service clerks and request service-retention specialists. Ask for the “skinny” service, something below the basic package. If the price is right, and the service is sufficient, that may be the only change some folks need.
We are going to give the antenna a try. We don’t have to change any service plans to hook in an antenna. If we like it, we launch from there.

Steve Gibbs is a retired Benicia High School teacher who has written a column for The Herald since 1985.

Sharing is caring!