Cable service

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

Here is my gripe. Cable (and TV programming in general) is absolutely awful right now. I really am considering dropping my cable cause there is nothing on. There are times my channel does not change for a week. It stays on ESPN HD. That's all I can ever find to watch. It seems like everything on TV now is reality based or a crime and law drama. Even the sports selection is getting bad. For example, tonight, instead of the Sens/Sabres game on my HD station (which usually broadcasts hockey), I get to watch two guys talk about today's golfing. To get any of the decent stations, it's all extra. Lots extra. I used to pay $100+ a month for thier lowest tier (bundled with my cable internet). Lowest tier. No HBO, Cinamax, etc. Thier gold tier bundled with internet was over $150 a month. I would look at a dish, but I can't have it, due to me renting.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[alison]

But of course - I have all too many gripes with TWC, but alas, thanks to our HOA (which in turn gives us dirt cheap cable service, at least compared to the going rate), no dish for us, so we're stuck :(

[Caniac]

With the exception of sports programming, tv is a wasteland with the exception of The Office, Scrubs and reruns of Seinfeld.

[RangersCanesFan]

As soon as the Sopranos finish up on HBO, we're dropping cable, going to DirecTV, and getting all the sports programming, but pretty much getting rid of everything else. Sports is about the only thing we can watch without becoming bored or insulted.

TWC really ticks me off that I can't PAY EXTRA for ESPNU or the NFL Network for example, but I get innane channels that I can't imagine anyone watches, and I'm paying nearly $85 a month for it.

People are watching less TV. It's a fact. I read something the other day online that execs are going nuts that ratings are down across the board. Excuses are being made about Daylight Savings Time starting earlier, and other really lame excuses. Maybe the fact is TV, for the most part, just plain sucks, and people pass their time online or with Ipods, etc.? Is it that everything's been done before, or is the writing that bad? Reality TV is just so f----g stupid, I won't even go there.

Outside of news (Fox or CNN), sports, the Sopranos, and the occassional Seinfeld re-run, I rarely watch TV any more. When I try to watch other things, I'm made to feel like a 3 year old. Even local news is written to scare people.

[alison]

TWC has been "in contract negotiations" to get ESPNU on the channel lineup for what seems like years - heck, we just got ESPN2HD a month or so ago.

Honestly, I would probably be fine with just picking up the HD channels over the air (gotta have my ABC shows - I'm a Lost/Grey's Anatomy/Desperate Housewives junkie!), but since cable "comes" with my monthly HOA dues, we added on the HD Suite, DVR, etc. Otherwise, we'd be doing the same and getting a dish.

[IceSun]

I would look at a dish, but I can't have it, due to me renting.
But of course - I have all too many gripes with TWC, but alas, thanks to our HOA (which in turn gives us dirt cheap cable service, at least compared to the going rate), no dish for us, so we're stuck

Don't assume you can't have a dish - check out the FCC rules at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

PCF - if you have a balcony or other private area that faces the right direction, they can't prevent you from installing one in that private area.
See the question "Q: If I live in a condominium or an apartment building, does this rule apply to me? "

Alison - I'm not sure if you fall under the central antenna rule, but there are exceptions even there so check out the question "Q: If my association, building management, landlord, or property owner provides a central antenna, may I install an individual antenna? "

[alison]

Good info to have - it's too bad that my cable fees are built into my monthly dues.

[jeffbear]

If you really can't find anything you want to watch on the tube ... be it satellite or cable ... might I suggest a DVR? Tivo is my personal brand, but Time Warner rents DVRs for their service as well. That alllows you to record and store stuff you actually want to watch, so you can watch it when you have time or interest. Plus, the pause and rewind features on these things make them ideal for the sports fan.