[June 10, 2013] Many saying 'good-bye' to cable or satellite services Tweet Jun 10, 2013 (Norwalk Reflector - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Due mainly to rising prices, more and more consumers are scrapping their cable and satellite dish plans and going with other options. For starters, many are buying a streaming device that can transport the Internet to their television. Two of the more popular streaming devices are the Roku and Apple TV which come with an initial purchase cost. The Roku can range in price from $49 to $99 while the Apple TV starts at $99 and up. Many televisions and Blu-Ray players have the ability built-in to connect to the Internet. "My family got rid of our cable last fall and so far we can't complain. We have the Roku and it is an Internet streaming device and we also use our computer for certain shows that we are unable to watch for whatever reason through our Roku," said Amanda Ward via email. The popularity of streaming subscriptions is rising. Services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant as three of the main choices. Netflix has 36 million subscribers in 40 countries. "We have Netflix and Play-on for our paid channels. Netflix is $8 a month and well worth the price for our family of three. Play-on was a onetime fee of $80 and we also received a free Roku with the purchase. We are able to get many cable channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, BIO, Animal Planet, MTV, Discovery, TLC, etc. with Play-on," Ward said. "The only few downfalls are that you may have to wait a day to watch something that just aired and there aren't too many live shows including sports games. Neither my husband or myself are big into watching sports, so that is not an issue for us. We have a 3-year-old son and he is happy enough with cartoons and other content we have found on our Roku. You do have to have a good computer and a good Internet to use the Play-on service," Ward added. "I have a Roku and stream Netflix through it. It sure beats paying for cable," said Josh Villa via Facebook. "Cable? What's that?" said Maranda Dean. "LOL, we do Netflix at $7.99 a month and good ole antenna." Many are going that route with the old-fashioned antenna and tuner, while other watch television on their computers. "Yep -- got rid of cable three years ago and opted for a $20 antenna -- works great and we get all the prime channels and a total of about 35 other channels, but we don't live in Norwalk anymore. It helps being closer to Cleveland. And we stream Netflix through a Roku device. (The) only downfall is when it's windy or rainy, we lose signal, but I love not paying for cable," said Amber Hiszem via Facebook. "I got rid of satellite a year ago and I have the Internet on a computer. I bought the cord that connects my modem to my TV And I watch every single show I love off the Internet! ABC, CBS, NBC, AMC, TLC, they are all there," said Missy Mellott via Facebook. "We just watch DVDs," said Heather Barnett Adams on Facebook. "I use Netflix and Hulu on my PlayStation 3, iPhone and computer. I no longer have any desire to watch network or cable television. I've found the BBC shows on Netflix far more entertaining than American television," Michael Hershberger said on Facebook. Hershberger said using the antenna for television is trickier than it used to be. "Digital terrestrial television in the Norwalk area is not very practical, unless you're willing to spend a good amount of money procuring the proper equipment, such as a long-range outdoor antenna attached to a decent tower/mast, a rotor and a signal amplifier," Hershberger said. "We just live too far from Cleveland and Toledo for strong reception without this equipment. In the past, a weaker analog signal was tolerable, as no one minded a little fuzz in their picture from time to time, but a digital broadcast requires a clear signal to maintain a constant picture. With digital, it's perfect or nothing, no tolerable fuzz in between," Hershberger added. Some people said they are willing to pay the cable price. One of the biggest benefits of cable or dish is the DVR service. "I pay $160 a month for Time Warner that's TV, Internet, DVR, which I can't live without! I hate it! But I hate dish, too!" said Chassity and Steve Gibson on Facebook. ___ (c)2013 the Norwalk Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Visit the Norwalk Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) at www.norwalkreflector.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]