The New TV: Cutting Your Cable Ties

There TiVo sits, gathering dust. Our cable connection is starting to question its purpose in life. What happened? We used to celebrate our TiVo/cable combo and the freedom and variety it brought to our TV watching. But now, it's a relic of a past media era. These days our programming arrives via other channels: we watch House on Hulu, we download Mad Men from iTunes, and we watch movies from Netflix, either the DVDs that arrive in the mail or streamed to our computers. All of this is punctuated with the odd "sneezing panda" and Justin Chance video on YouTube.

So why are we still paying for TiVo and cable?

There's no good answer. There's just the fear of cutting the link to our old way of watching TV. The channel flipping. The communal chatting about last night's episode of Seinfeld. The watching of recorded shows that only had one way into our house...through the cable connection we pay for -- handsomely -- every month.

My attachment to the old TV model makes no sense. I barely watch TV, and I certainly don't miss commercials. Our kids watch maybe one or two cable shows, and they're available on Netflix. But somehow there's comfort in knowing it's there. TV has always been a common social link: shared information, entertainment, passive diversion. Plus, I finally figured out how to operate the universal remote.

But, gradually, the Internet has replaced TV as my go-to place for downtime. I can forget the TV for days. But strand me with no Wi-Fi and I feel the pain. The writing's on the screen. It's time to cut the cable!

If you're ready for (or curious about) life without your cable/DVR you've probably already got most of the hardware necessary to make the switch:

* An HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input-equipped television

* A computer with a video card (easiest with a laptop)

* An HDMI cable (buy one long enough to reach)

* A high-speed Internet connection with Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port near your TV

Once you're all hooked up, you can watch favorite shows on Hulu.com, network TV websites, and even YouTube. Plus, you now have TV access to Web-only video clips and webisodes. Check out OVGuide.com for options.

* (Optional) A Netflix subscription

Netflix is now much more than a DVD-mailing service. Hundreds of movies are instantly available through Netflix Streaming. Access Netflix Streaming by logging into your Netflix account and starting an Instant Queue, or take advantage of the more sophisticated browsing interface available when you connect Netflix with your videogame system (see below).

* (Optional) Internet-connected devices

You can buy a device made specifically for streaming (such as the Roku Player), but odds are good you've already got a gaming system, blu-ray player or computer connected to your TV and the Internet. With a little setup, Netflix can stream to your TV through these devices. See NetflixReadyDevices for details.

I'll skip the detailed how-to as others more qualified than I have already done a fine job.

See:

CancelCable.com
Any concept with its own domain name qualifies as a movement, don't you think?

Save Money by Connecting Your Computer to Your Television
Three-part series (with photos).

Cable Freedom Is A Click Away
This New York Times article from 2009 is a bit outdated, but its so well-written and approachable it's still worth a read.

BrightHub: Electronics/Home Theater/Media Sharing
Tons of excellent info on how to remake your home theater into a media-streaming center.

No doubt, making the switch will get easier as new technologies come onto the scene. It's a matter of deciding when the balance between the monthly cable bill and the ease of setup tips in your favor.

What about you? I'd love to hear from folks who've replaced cable TV with other forms of media. Share your pros, cons and tips!


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