Now I know what you’re thinking, “Who’s this crazy Matt guy telling readers of theTVaddict.com to cut back on TV of all things. The nerve!”
Well, I am. And listen up, because this could mean hundreds, possibly thousand of dollars in savings to your bottom line every year. After all, being a TV addict has nothing to do with how much you pay for TV, so why not be a TV addict with a bit more coin in your pocket?
Did you know that a long time ago, in what seemed like a galaxy far, far away ALL television was FREE. No really. Before cable and satellite, there was actually a time when people had these crazy-contraptions called “antennas” on their rooftops that allowed them to pull in something called “local broadcasts.” You know these today as “the networks.”
I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. Take a long hard look at what you watch on TV. Grab the list of every channel you subscribe to in your package, and circle the ones you frequently watch. What may surprise you is how much of it is available from local networks, like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, etc.
Now ask yourself, if 90% of what you’re watching is available from local broadcast over the air via antenna (not to mention legitimate online viewing options like Hulu.com)… why are you spending $80 a month for 150 channels you don’t watch?
Worried about quality? Don’t. With TV now broadcast in all-digital form, you can get high-quality HDTV from that old, rickety antenna rotting in the attic. Don’t want to give up your DVR? No need. TiVo owners can still DVR their favorite shows, or if you really want to go no monthly route, you can build your own DVR/PVR using a properly configured PC.
Not willing to give up cable entirely? At the very least consider dropping some premium channels or going for a smaller package. You may be able to shave off $30 to $40 bucks from your cable bill and wind up not missing a thing. In fact, premium stations are ripe for cutting out. You can easily drop $20 or more by cutting a few premium stations, like HBO and Cinemax, and replacing it with a subscription to Netflix. Sure, you’ll have to wait for some shows like DEXTER and WEEDS to hit DVD before you can watch them, but movies are pretty much available right away.
What does this mean to your bottom line? Assuming you can at least shave off $10 from your monthly bill, we’re talking $120 to $1,440 per year. 
Do you know how much technology is costing you? See my 15 Ways to Stop Technology From Emptying Your Wallet at TechLore.com
Satisfy your inner geek while fueling your TV addiction… TV Tech Fix is a column by Matt Whitlock, editor of the TechLore.com Consumer Electronics Community (plus several other gadget-focused community websites), and lover of both technology and TV. In this column, he’ll cover a wide variety of tech topics aimed squarely at the TV addicts of the world – from tips and tricks to help you better your TV experience, to gear recommendations, to the impact technology is having on the TV shows we love.