Alternatives to basic cable.

[TNDemo]

I pay $48 a month for basic cable. It just keeps going up and I am sick of paying it. I know the first answer is to have no cable but with a family here that isn't going to fly. How much are satellites or what are the other options?

[burythehatchet]

1. unfortunately the other options are no cheaper

but the reason I keep Dish Network is because they have FSTV and WorldLink, two liberal channels. The 80 bucks a month is barely worth it though

[Melsky]

2. Other options are don't watch tv

we got rid of cable to save money and also because we spent too much time watching snl reruns and forensics documentaries. It cuts into my productivity.

[dweller]

3. other options

rent movies from a local non-corporated video outlet
check your neighborhood for free movies at universities and gathering spots
board games/family nite
family meet ups to discuss ways to involve each other that has nothing to do with spending money, but instead makes $:
yard sales
bake sales
volunteer at local food banks, thrift shops, churches of your choice, homes for the elder and destitute.
get together with friends and neighbors to organize for the upcoming primaries

You can learn just enough news from your local channels, newsgroups, more than enough from DU especially, and support them and still have $ left over for other fun times that have more value in excercise alone, or keep on paying the cable and vegging out in front of the tube.

might not be the answer to your question, but this worked for me. A bit over a yr now with NO Cable, and with 2 kids, no problems. A trip to the video store is an outing no one wants to miss...

good luck, give it some time.
dp

[Shanty Oilish]

7. You said it dweller

It doesn't answer the question and I hadn't the guts to say it. Glad you did.
Cable tv is something you can live without, especially with a big family. $48/mo is outrageous. (We pay $20 here for basic, and sometimes I feel pretty silly spending that for almost nothing but Laci Peterson coverage and Mr. Ed reruns.)
BTW, libraries offer free video rentals. Some libraries will even borrow movies for you, from other libraries.

[Deja Q]

4. My parents didn't get cable and with me, we were a family

'course, I'm 31 now and tried cable but got sick of paying for it, especially when there wasn't enough being aired that I liked.

I ditched it and found other things to do.

Have a family game night, that'll anger repukes everywhere (they claim to be pro-family, but the only thing they're "pro-for" is money and greed.)

[Wcross]

5. 43.25 for digital quality sat

Check out Direct-tv, I won't go back to comcast anytime soon! The "weather" problem is Bullscat, the only time it goes out is severe weather- when your getting hail or tornado's.

[BiggJawn]

6. Get a Shortwave Radio...

Good one will cost you abour 3 month's cable bill and can be a great new family activity ("Hey Dad! Listen! Radio Habana Cuba, and they sound like some of those web sites we go to!")Lots of NEWS, too, the kind of news you won't get from the Murkan "Liberal" Media...

[hlthe2b]

8. If all you care about is seeing network and maybe a little more

you can demand the bare bone basic cable (which they won't tell you about unless you insist). FCC requires them to have this sub-basic level which for me, includes a few cable stations (MTV, some shopping channels, TVLAND and Hallmark, Turner superstation, etc., and network) and runs about $13/MONTH.

No Cnn, mSnbc or any othe premium stuff, but it does suffice.

[AmandaRuth]

9. This is what we do

As mentioned basic barebones runs $13-$14.00 and they WILL NOT offer it, you must ask.

In my family, we have the bare basic plus a net flix subscription, which it terrific, we love it. We have the 19.99 deal so what we spend on TV now is around 34.00 a month and we get way more use and freedom out of it than cable.

Netflix takes some getting use to the system, but once you do, it cannot be beat. No running to the video store, no late fees, I just love it.