I didn’t know that I had a limit until I reached it. When the cable bill came this month it had jumped $40/month to $200/month. I thought, “$2,400/year to watch TV, HELL NO!” Time to learn from my kids about streaming shows on the cheap.
We stream cheap. Cut cable couple years ago. 
Have not had TV in 20 years don’t miss it a bit
Dang like no TV at all. Good for you. I would miss my sports. The rest of it I could probably live without.
Every time I get ready to go streaming only, they mess around with what you have to pay or what service you have to have to get FSN.
Grouse
Cable TV is one of the biggest rackets out there. Big money, crappy programming, and tons of commercials. I’ve virtually abandoned TV also and don’t really miss it (since I can watch IDO and Hermantown state hockey tournaments online).
saved $4800 in last 4 years by cutting cable and still get any show on the planet. fishing is more funner anyway so just get the internet and stream all you can!
Switched from satellite to YouTube tv for 1/3 the price. Still get fsn.
jumped $40/month to $200/month
Noticed that yesterday as well. Mine went up $48 to $210. My kids watch a lot of movies and cartoons and stuff but this is getting ridiculous.
I always set a Siri reminder on my phone to call Direct TV the day that my rate is set to increase/ go out of the promotion. Before I call in I will usually pull up some of the competitor’s pricing and have a few cheaper options to explain my cancellation reason. I then call and prompt the automated secretary that I would like to cancel my service. That usually gets you somebody on the phone pretty quick that is willing to negotiate. They seem to always come down quite a bit to keep you as a customer and usually get free NFL Sunday Ticket out of the deal. I am still waiting for the day this game of chicken doesn’t turn in my favor, but it has yet to happen.
I always set a Siri reminder on my phone to call Direct TV the day that my rate is set to increase/ go out of the promotion. Before I call in I will usually pull up some of the competitor’s pricing and have a few cheaper options to explain my cancellation reason. I then call and prompt the automated secretary that I would like to cancel my service. That usually gets you somebody on the phone pretty quick that is willing to negotiate. They seem to always come down quite a bit to keep you as a customer and usually get free NFL Sunday Ticket out of the deal. I am still waiting for the day this game of chicken doesn’t turn in my favor, but it has yet to happen.
This is what I do too! When I call they transfer me to the loyalty dept who always knocks an amount of my bill so that it goes back or close to the promotional price. I haven’t paid for NFL Sunday Ticket in over 5 years either and the retail cost of that is $340/season.
Billshark works too. They negotiate for you and whatever amount they save you, they’ll charge 50% of that. So if they save you 1000 bucks over the course of 12 months, your bill to them is 500 bucks. But hey you still save 500 bucks and if the company raises your rates anytime in the next 12 months, Billshark takes care of it as their guarantee.
Signed up for Netflix, GetPlugTV and we are already Amazon Prime members. Now we have hundreds of channels for $38/month. I’m sure that the learning curve will be long but hopefully we get used to it. If the Fire Stick works at the lake it will be a win, win.
I was a DirecTV customer for 11 years and switched to YouTube TV last fall. Absolutely ZERO regrets, only wish I would’ve done it sooner. Plus you can take it with you on a laptop, phone, etc.
For those that have to have their sports you’re just like me and I watch a TON of sports between pro and college football, hockey, baseball, etc. That means to get the Twins, Wild, Gopher football/hockey, and all the channels the NFL could have the Vikings play on, I need a lot of channels, and I don’t think I’ve missed a game yet.
Some good advice from others on here about getting your bill lowered a bit for those that do have a satellite/contract service. One thing I did as well was call in to DirecTV a few years ago and when the automated voice says to state the reason for your call I just said “cancel.” Obviously they don’t just transfer you to someone who will simply process your cancel request, they’ll want to keep you, so that can help too.
Yup, only thing with streaming is I wish I had done it sooner.
The problem is that you can’t get NFL Sunday Ticket through streaming…or can you?
Had dish network for 6 years and they kept jacking up my rates so I cancelled them and went to antenna only for around 3 years with local channels only. Had Hulu live for about a year and they jacked the price up and cancelled them. Recently switched to YouTube tv and like it. $55 a month
For all you streamers, I have a question.
Are all of your TVs smart TV where you have the apps on your TV already? If not Do they all offer some kind of box or stick to plug in for there service.
I trialed YouiTube TV. It was okay. I would consider it a viable option.
I’d recommend playing hardball with DirecTV. I did so and my bill is $70/month with one of the mid-tier sports package and Outdoor Network added. I’d take that over YouTube at $55/month any day, not only for functionality but for a better signal connection.
The problem is that you can’t get NFL Sunday Ticket through streaming…or can you?
I will have every major sport game in the country available for the $25/month with GetPlugTV.
For all you streamers, I have a question.
Are all of your TVs smart TV where you have the apps on your TV already? If not Do they all offer some kind of box or stick to plug in for there service.
Yep your two best options would be a Roku stick, or amazon fire stick. I have both. I find the roku a little easier to navigate.
Just called directv. Whole call lasted 6:58 which is a miracle in its self. Asked why my bill went up $48 she said because promotion ended. She offered a new promo of $76 off a month for a year should have fought but was just to quick and easy.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
The problem is that you can’t get NFL Sunday Ticket through streaming…or can you?I will have every major sport game in the country available for the $25/month with GetPlugTV.
What the heck is GetPlugTV? I thought Direct TV had a copyright contract to exclusively offer out-of-region live NFL games that no one else had?
Add me to the list. 15+ year Directv customer, dumped it and went to YouTube TV a few months ago. Would and will not ever go back.
Im at $200 a month but $55 is internet which we need for our jobs. We are using 3 TV’s. I like flipping through channels so its still worth it to me.
The problem is that you can’t get NFL Sunday Ticket through streaming…or can you?
Not true. There are a bunch of “verified” streamers that post games…..every game, any sport, even PPV UFC, boxing, you name it. You just need to look past front page of google.
I pull it up on my desktop and watch it there, or cast it to my big screen. Works 90% of the time, all the time and costs nothing.
UFC 249 is first sport back and it was an awesome showing, all in HD and free. Stream went down briefly but was back up again. There are a lot of pirates out on the interwebz
For all you streamers, I have a question.
Are all of your TVs smart TV where you have the apps on your TV already? If not Do they all offer some kind of box or stick to plug in for there service.
Firestick much better choice because it’s easier to “modify”.
Yeah I’ve been actually going to the comcast store. I’ve found the people are way more receptive and actually try to help you out in there. Always get me back to what I was paying before it went up.
Typically include the line “I’ve been a Comcast customer for 15 years and all that earns me is a higher bill?”
If you go in there respectful but stern they take care of what you need.
Works well.
Bartering and negotiating a Cable bill is BS. If they can settle at that price why can’t they offer or keep it there. To me, it’s like getting a pay raise offer when you give your notice to quit. I’m worth it but you wanted to see if you could rip me off without noticing first.
We were doing the regular call-and-complain exercise with DirecTV for some time, but when AT&T acquired them they were much less willing to play along, so we cancelled and went the streaming route. What was really bugging me about SAT TV was all those ridiculous shopping channels I was paying for. One other thing about streaming to consider, is that there is no public television. So if you’re a fan of the Down And Out Abbey shows, you have to get your fix some other way.
Try YouTubeTV. I watch it through my FireStick and Roku. Free DVR. Has most channels.
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