Cut the Cord: a survival guide (episode 6)

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Welcome back to "No-Pay-TV" Island and to another episode of Cut the Cord Survivor!  If you have just arrived, you can start at Episode 1 here.  Our challenge for today:

Episode #6 - Miss your DVR yet?  Choosing the best "box" for cutting the cord!

Like many of you, I've become addicted to the features of my Digital Video Recorder (DVR).  I first got one of these beauties years ago back when Tivo was first getting popular.  At the time I was a Direct TV subscriber and loved the fact that I could record two programs at once.  Later, when HD arrived, I switched over to Cable for a variety of reasons.  I appreciated that they "gave" me (rented is more like it) a similar DVR which could record in HD.  The years passed and I became more and more frustrated that the features in my Cable DVR never improved (and yet the prices increased).  This story should sound familiar to many of you!

Nevertheless, if cutting the cord meant living without a DVR it would be a tough sell indeed.   Fortunately, that isn't the case.  Also, the point I like to make is that cutting the cord is about taking advantage of both free broadcast TV (if you can) and Internet video.   The two services combined really do make a compelling alternative to Pay TV.  To fully enjoy either service (and more), you will need much more than a simple DVR.

Not everyone's requirements or needs are the same, so let's go over some of the features that you might look for in a "box" that would help you cut the cord!

Cut the Cord: a survival guide (episode 5)

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Welcome back everyone to "No-Pay-TV" Island and to another episode of Cut the Cord Survivor!  If you have just arrived, you can start at Episode 1 here.  Our challenge for today:

Episode #5 - Keeping your inner sports fan happy

There is no doubt that Pay TV's major weapon against cord cutting is sports.  If you are a big sports fan and are constantly watching sports of all kinds on TV, you might be stuck with Pay TV for now.  However, don't give up hope just yet (things are constantly changing).  If you are like me, you could be surprised by what is available now.  It pays to keep an open mind!

Let's start with a quick review of broadcast sports (and the advantages), then I'll review some of the Internet sports options.  I've blogged about some of this before here, so I'll also cover some new features that I've discovered with Windows Media Center that I think you'll appreciate.  Yet more reasons why using a Media PC to watch TV (and sports) is really cool.

Cut the Cord: a survival guide (episode 4)

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Welcome back everyone to "No-Pay-TV" Island and to another episode of Cut the Cord Survivor!  If you have just arrived, you can start at Episode 1 here.  Our challenge for today:

Episode #4 - Winning the kids' hearts and minds

Fans of the movie "Lilo & Stitch" might recall this scene:

[Nani is taking Stitch outside]
Lilo: He was an orphan and we adopted him! What about "ohana"?
Nani: He hasn't been here that long!
Lilo: Neither have I. Dad said "ohana" means family.
[Nani stops]
Lilo: "Ohana" means family. Family means...
Lilo, Nani: ...nobody gets left behind.
Lilo: Or...?
Nani: ...or forgotten. I know, I know. I hate it when you use "ohana" against me.

Anyone with more than one person in their household knows that for cutting the cord to be successful you have to make sure the entire family is happy...  especially your children.   Ohana means nobody gets left behind!  However, merely keeping your kids occupied with TV shouldn't be your goal (although any parent can appreciate how useful this is!).  Just recently I had an interesting experience that I'll share with you about educational television that might just change your perspective about kids and TV.

Yes, your kids have been patiently waiting for you to give up this cutting the cord foolishness so they can get back to their favorite shows.   We are almost halfway through the "Cutting the Cord" survivor season, let's see if we can win over the kids too!

Let me first start with the experience that truly surprised me as a parent, then I'll go into some great sources of (more traditional) entertainment for the kids

Cut the Cord: a survival guide (episode 3)

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Aloha fellow Islanders!

Well it is time for dessert here on "No-Pay-TV" Island!  Welcome back to Cut the Cord Survivor!  If you have just arrived, you can start at Episode 1 here.  Our challenge for today:

Episode #3 - Enjoying dessert:  premium streaming TV and rentals

In the previous two episodes we have combined both broadcast TV and free internet TV to try and "kick" our pay-TV habit.  While the two together may make a nearly complete entertainment "meal", we can't skip what I consider the best part.  I'm referring to watching premium movies and streaming TV.  I don't know about you, but I really enjoy movies.  In fact, I probably watch movies more than broadcast TV or anything else.  Movies are my dessert and I love dessert!

So, what kind of Movies are available to cord cutters?  While you can certainly find quite a few among the free sources we just went over, it is a pretty slim selection.  In this episode we open up our pocketbooks a bit and consider some pay services that deliver movies and premium TV.

Cut the Cord: a survival guide (episode 2)

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Aloha fellow Islanders!

It is so nice to see so many eager faces here on "No-Pay-TV" Island!  Welcome back to Cut the Cord Survivor!  You can find the previous Episode 1 here.  Our challenge for today:

Episode 2:  Foraging for free Internet TV

For those of you who just joined us, we are on this Island to isolate us from the evil temptations of Pay TV. Over the past week we have learned to survive on a simple, yet nutritious diet of free broadcast TV.  It literally is in the air all around us.  Contrary to your fears, we have not starved!  We have discovered high quality television, news and sports (all for free).  Hopefully we now appreciate that we were paying for content that was simply repackaged by the Cable and Satellite Companies.  Getting mad yet?  Good!

But wait, I see some unhappy faces in the growing crowd.  I'll bet some of you are tired of the same meal every day.   Ready for a little more variety?  Great!, the challenge for today is to find free Internet TV.  Why free?  We'll get to pay Internet services soon enough.  You've paid for Cable bills for years; now it is time to see what is available for free (you've earned it).

A couple of announcements first.  First, our Island is in the US territories, so you'll find mostly US content reviewed below.   Hopefully our International visitors will hang in there until sharing content cross borders is no longer a problem (read more about that problem here).  Second, we are looking for free content, not illegal content.

We'll also be skipping Kids and Sports content for now.  Each of those easily deserves their own dedicated Episode.  All you need is broadband and a computer to start the hunt!

Now let's head off the beach and let's see what our Island offers!

Cut the Cord: a survival guide

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Would you like to be a cutting the cord survivor?

Are you tempted by those monthly savings, but think they are too good to be true?  Tired of poor customer service and endless Cable bill increases?  Do you hate being bled to death by those "extra" monthly charges: what? you want HD, a DVR, and multiple rooms with TV?  Are you annoyed that the one channel that you want to watch always seems to be in the most expensive channel package (along with 100s of other channels you could care less about)?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you might just have what it takes to join me on "No-Pay-TV" Island for a little game of "Cut the Cord" Survivor.  Don't worry, I'll walk you through the process starting with a risk-free trial cutting and finishing up as a full-fledged cord cutting advocate!

We have just started season one and casting is about to start.  Before you say yes, let me tell you what you are in for.  Not everyone has the courage and motivation to make it.  Many have dreamed of this and more than a few have failed.  If you ask your friends they might laugh; if you read the news reports they will say it can't be done.  Pay no attention to the nay-sayers.  I'll share all of the secrets and we'll see who laughs last!

Here is a quick outline of the Season:

Episode #1 - Surviving on a crash diet of broadcast TV (this post)
Episode #2 - Foraging for free Internet TV
Episode #3 - Enjoying dessert:  premium streaming TV and rentals
Episode #4 - Winning the kids' hearts and minds
Episode #5 - Keeping your inner sports fan happy
Episode #6 - Miss your DVR yet?  Choosing the best "box" for cutting the cord
Episode #7 - Just say yes to place-shifting
Episode #8 - Dealing with annoying Cable addicts and cord cutting jokes
Episode #9 - Cancel your Cable bill in under 30 minutes

Finally, there is the problem of what to do with your monthly savings.  Sadly, for that, you are on your own.

Still interested?  Think you are up for the challenge?  No ticket is necessary, just follow along.

Feel free to forward to your disbelieving friends.  Let's make this a big party!

Episode #1 has just started and the Island awaits you!