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Cutting the cord: How to snag free HDTV [Sun Sentinel :: BC-TS-TVSAVINGS:FL](South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) In March, our cable bill nearly doubled. For reasons that will likely remain a mystery, Comcast started billing us $64 a month for Internet service we never ordered. AT&T is and always has been our provider. So every month, we call. We complain. Bills are adjusted. Promises are made. While waiting for a supervisor to call, I've been using the time to look into cutting the cord. It may be time to go retro and set up a pair of rabbit ears to snag some free HDTV. That flat-screen in the bedroom is a good candidate for the test. There are many shows to watch, according to program listings on TitanTV.com. Since a clear picture is a must, I checked the digital-television reception maps on the Federal Communication Commission's website (go to SunSentinel.com/FCC). The site calculates how close you live to broadcast towers based on your ZIP code or address and lists over-the-air networks and public stations by signal strength. It listed 25 broadcast channels with strong reception near my house. I'm going to buy a cheap antenna and see what it tunes in. The FCC website and AntennaWeb.org have info on brands of outdoor and indoor models sold at electronic and drug stores. I think we can get along without cable in the bedroom because we spend a lot of time watching Netflix, which streams movies and series via Wi-Fi on our $100 Apple TV streaming media player. Other proprietary players include Google Chromecast ($35), Roku ($50 to $88), Amazon Fire TV ($99), Wii and Xbox gaming consoles stream, too. As of June, Xbox Live Gold pay subscriptions are no longer needed to tune in content. The players deliver lots of video-on-demand options, including just-released movies through Apple iTunes or Walmart's VUDU.com. Hook up a set-top box and you'll soon be binge-watching Netflix and Hulu Plus, which are bargains at $7.99 a month. Amazon Prime members ($99 a year) can watch a bazillion free movies and TV shows, including newly added HBO and Showtime series and movies. Most services offer free trials and walk you through the set-up process. Of course, if you do cut the cord, say goodbye to "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, which could be a deal-breaker for sports fanatics. Withdrawals from Bravo's "Real Housewives" will be a problem for me, so that's partly why I haven't pulled the plug. Perhaps this month's bill will motivate me. ___ Keep up with the latest deals: "Like" the Sentinel Deals page on Facebook or follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter @PrettyGoodIdeas. ___ (c)2014 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services _____ TO SUBSCRIBE TO TRENDS AND SHOPPING Items in the Trends and Shopping package are not included in your MCT News Service subscription. You can subscribe to the Trends and Shopping package or purchase the items a la carte on MCT Direct at www.mctdirect.com. To subscribe, please call Rick DeChantal at 866-280-5210 or [email protected]. Outside the United States, call +1-312-222-8682 or email Ryan Stephens at [email protected]. KeyWords:: BC-TS-TVSAVINGS:FL BC TS TVSAVINGS FL |