topic Re: Dumping Cable in Community Chat

Dumping Cable

spumoni99 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:40:50 GMT

Our Cable bill has gone up and we are wanting to dump xfinity, anyone else done this and if so what did you replace it with?

I don't watch very many channels, nat geo wild, tvland, food network, smithsonian, cnn.

I have heard youtube tv is a good option?

We have bundled our alarm, internet and landline with xfinity so we will have to find other arrangements for those of course.

Re: Dumping Cable

Kachina624 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:46:39 GMT

@spumoni99. Do a search in the electronics forum "cutting the cord" . There should be a lot of information.

Re: Dumping Cable

nwbabs — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:52:46 GMT

A few months ago I posted this information below on the TV & Movies Forum when the question came up. I don't usually watch local news or sports, so don't miss them....

"Cut the cable tv cord awhile back and now pay $78 (includes taxes) for internet only. Use an Amazon FireStick purchased through QVC for $30 a many years ago to easily download free apps such as PBS and Kanopy. And, set up and own my equipment (no monthly rental fee for a modem/router).

I have not enrolled in the streaming PBS Passport programming $60+ per year, so no binging PBS shows. But, I can watch for free many of the latest episodes for PBS programming. Shows such as All Creatures Great & Small, Miss Scarlet & The Duke, Finding Your Roots, etc.

Kanopy is a free app used in conjunction with my local library system. I've been able to binge watch old tv series, movies, and documentaries with Kanopy. It is not an unlimited number per month unless you are viewing the kids programming. But, I'm happy to find this free service that granted my property tax dollars help pay as a library card holder.

Other free platforms such as QVC are of course readily available streaming. All the local news and weather if/when I want to watch are accessed through various internet platforms.

It was an adjustment, but I'm happy not to pay almost $200 monthly to Xfinity."

Re: Dumping Cable

kaydee50 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:53:04 GMT

Call them and ask for the "customer retention" department. Every year RCN/Astound raises the bill by $80/90, I call and they find a "special deal" that reduces it dramatically.

I am not eager to drop our cable/internet/phone package for any sort of "streaming" services which, I understand, are also becoming more expensive.

Good luck!

Re: Dumping Cable

qvcfreak — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:55:31 GMT

I did it many years ago (Directv). I streamline, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock. And added free Tubi, Freevee and Xumo. I love it.

Re: Dumping Cable

ahoymate — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:57:17 GMT

Good luck with getting Comcast/Xfinity to help with lower your costs. They R the worst. Their service is good, but customer service, retention etc is NOT!!!!

Not many choices to switch to as this business is very competitive if you want same type of service for less $$.

Re: Dumping Cable

CelticCrafter — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:58:02 GMT

@spumoni99 I'm not sure about TVLand but you will get the rest you mentioned on YouTubeTV.

Re: Dumping Cable

89135 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:03:43 GMT

@kaydee50 That's exactly what I do every year...helps alot IMO...I also call the newspaper if it goes up every year...I save on both..

Re: Dumping Cable

Laura14 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:11:32 GMT

We dumped Comcast for AT&T fiber and Youtube TV.

Check out Pluto Tv on the internet. It's free and might have what you are looking for if you're not married to current tv.

Re: Dumping Cable

spumoni99 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:14:48 GMT

Thank you I did try to search but was using the wrong keyword. I figured this has come up....thanks again!

Re: Dumping Cable

MoJoV — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:20:19 GMT

We dumped cable and have YouTube TV...its great. Sooo many options. But I still have Xfinity WiFi so they're still ripping me off for that. They are such robbers.

Re: Dumping Cable

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:26:44 GMT

We bundle our cable/internet/phone access. When I researched the most cost-effective non-cable options that still include our desired channels we get with cable, the cost was higher. I was told that the cost of streaming can be more expensive depending on your choices.

Guess I'll keep on looking for a cheaper alternative to our cable package.

Re: Dumping Cable

magicmoodz — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 21:32:49 GMT

I just called Xfinity last week when I received my bill with a $26 increase--now over $252 a month. They were willing to give me a $20 discount. How very generous of them.

So neighbors just urged us to cut the cord. We have fiber optic in our condo building for $20 a month. Then if we add their recommendation of streaming through YouTube, our monthly total will be around $100. That is quite a savings. Now I feel like a fool for dragging my feet on this.

Re: Dumping Cable

Skyegirl21 — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:56:30 GMT

We just got a Roku (3 days ago), and are dumping Xfinity soon ( same reasons, prices are nuts and many channels play garbage- ! Roku is good, but a few things I do miss...

Re: Dumping Cable

Shelbelle — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:51:49 GMT

We have had Comcast for over 40 years, I will never switch, we have Triple Play, cable, internet and my landline which is a must for me. They give me free Netflix and free Peacock, works for me !!! I pay 239 per month. but I dont have HBO or Showtime, do have 3 boxes.

Re: Dumping Cable

gidgetgh — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:18:00 GMT

I haven't been on a vacation since 2017.

I don't own a 2nd home at the beach or a cabin in the mountains.

No RV or boat or anything like that.

I love to watch the Atlanta Braves and to do that, I need cable, so I will keep regular old Comcast cable.

Re: Dumping Cable

Effie54 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:21:08 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
Call them and ask for the "customer retention" department. Every year RCN/Astound raises the bill by $80/90, I call and they find a "special deal" that reduces it dramatically.

I am not eager to drop our cable/internet/phone package for any sort of "streaming" services which, I understand, are also becoming more expensive.

Good luck!

Comcast won't reduce the bill. We've talked to the Retention Department and even supervisors. They refuse to give any perks or discounts. The supervisor tried to sell us in a really crummy plan for only $30.00 less a month. Ugh! They're pricing themselves out of business.

Re: Dumping Cable

AZfem — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:24:58 GMT

@spumoni99 The channels you mentioned are available on our Hulu live stream tv. On the live stream tv services, you don't have all the unnecessary infomercial, etc. channels no one watches. You can Google live stream options & try them out for free before you decide.

As far as I know, there's you tube tv, Hulu live stream, sling & a couple more. You can go to their websites & check the channels they offer but I'm sure the ones you like would be on most of them.

Re: Dumping Cable

Kachina624 — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:26:39 GMT

I get everything and more I need or want to watch on YouTubeTV, at a considerable savings over my previous satellite service. There is a ton of content on demand if you can't find something live to watch.

I also subscribed to Peacock just to watch On Patrol Live. After several good months, they stopped streaming it live which is deceptive. There's nothing else there I care to watch so will be canceling it.

Re: Dumping Cable

SilleeMee — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:32:06 GMT

I just went to Directv STREAM. It's almost like never cutting the old satellite service b/c they have a Directv Stream box with the remote to go with it so surfing is very user friendly. You don't have to keep searching for a program or a channel b/c they have a guide that goes with the remote which also has a microphone so you can search with voice command. I love it so far.

Directv STREAM is a streaming service for people who still want the cable experience w/o the high cost of cable. No contract and no hidden fees.