ATT/DirecTV

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I recently switched my cellphone package on AT&T to one based on a dataplan rather than minutes and they reduced my bill even further when I got this gizmo from them.  It's like an "extra mobile phone" except you can't make or receive calls with it, but you can connect anything via Wifi to it.  It even has a meter on it so you can see how much data used during the billing month so you avoid going over plan.  My kids are happy because they can connect their iPods in the car now and I've connected my laptop to it.

[Hards Alumni]

Yes. That's kind of my thinking if I ever had to pay for more. Maybe I should do it anyway. It seems like it might be a hassle to set up and I'm not sure I want to rely on it if I'm calling in to a meeting from home.

My FIL uses his cell phone hotspot as his way of using the internet.  I guess a lot of it depends on your connectivity.  4G?  Reliable connection... that sort of thing.

[keefe]

So no one cares about watching the NBA or NHL playoffs?  Or your local baseball team?

I pay $185 / month for my bundle.  What do you cord cutters play for your stand along internet?

My CPA pays the routine household bills but I think it's around $30 a month. Cutting the cord was not an economic decision though I was becoming concerned about the political and social ramifications of sky rocketing costs. A lot of sports programming, for instance, is now found on pay tv and is therefore inaccessible for many in this once great Republic.

I cut the cord because I would rather read than watch tv. The vast majority of programming, including the news channels, is crap. All anyone needs to keep fully informed is right here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world/

[River rat]

Well clearly Chicos approved it, you will recall he owns directv

[Benny B]

I don't think Chico's is going anywhere.  He has said he is moving for the better part of a decade now.  I think deep down he really likes all that CA has to offer. 

Wow... you know it's a dark day at DTV HQ when Chicos isn't even bothering to be creative with his shadow avatar names anymore.

[Benny B]

So no one cares about watching the NBA or NHL playoffs?  Or your local baseball team?

I pay $185 / month for my bundle.  What do you cord cutters play for your stand along internet?

$45/mo. + $8/mo Netflix + $8 Hulu + $99/yr (at renewal) Amazon Prime + $125/yr MLB.tv + $100/mo iPhone talk/data.

Works out to the same ~ $180/mo.; however, my "cable package" includes a cell phone and 2-day shipping.

[The Lens]

$45/mo. + $8/mo Netflix + $8 Hulu + $99/yr (at renewal) Amazon Prime + $125/yr MLB.tv + $100/mo iPhone talk/data.

Works out to the same ~ $180/mo.; however, my "cable package" includes a cell phone and 2-day shipping.

My problem is I live in market.  I'm a MLB.tv sub too but I can't watch any Brewers games when I'm in MKE (where I live).  If I lived in Chicago, I would be much more apt to try that. 

College football, NBA playoffs, MU hoops and Brewer baseball makes it really tough for me to cord cut.

[jesmu84]

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Prices-Have-Risen-Four-Times-the-Price-of-Inflation-129012

Another shock. I'm guessing this is Comcast's business model: "Quick! Siphon as much $ as possible out of boomer generation before they're gone. Next, spend that money on lobbyists to ensure continued control over internet service because that's where TV is headed. Finally, use the absence of net neutrality to gouge TV content providers. Yay!"

[ChicosBailBonds]

Well clearly Chicos approved it, you will recall he owns directv

You were called out by just about everyone here the last time you went down this path. 

Refresher

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=42055.25

[Benny B]

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Prices-Have-Risen-Four-Times-the-Price-of-Inflation-129012

Another shock. I'm guessing this is Comcast's business model: "Quick! Siphon as much $ as possible out of boomer generation before they're gone. Next, spend that money on lobbyists to ensure continued control over internet service because that's where TV is headed. Finally, use the absence of net neutrality to gouge TV content providers. Yay!"

That first part is every companies' business model right now.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't think Chico's is going anywhere.  He has said he is moving for the better part of a decade now.  I think deep down he really likes all that CA has to offer.  

LOL.  As explained earlier, certain familial things have made that difficult...death of wife's mother, death of wife's brother, kids schooling, etc. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow... you know it's a dark day at DTV HQ when Chicos isn't even bothering to be creative with his shadow avatar names anymore.

????  SoCalEagle is a moderator here.

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Prices-Have-Risen-Four-Times-the-Price-of-Inflation-129012

Programming costs have risen close to 7 times the price of inflation.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

????  SoCalEagle is a moderator here.

socalwarrior is the moderator.

SoCalEagle is hoopaloop's mailman.

[keefe]

socalwarrior is the moderator.

SoCalEagle is hoopaloop's mailman.

And he always rings twice...

[brandx]

Programming costs have risen close to 7 times the price of inflation.

And.... the whole Dodger/Time Warner deal may end up being the straw that broke the camel's back. It may very well be the 1st huge blow for the a la carte model.

[source?]

And.... the whole Dodger/Time Warner deal may end up being the straw that broke the camel's back. It may very well be the 1st huge blow for the a la carte model.

That's awful large for a "straw," even a proverbial one.

[SoCalEagle]

LOL.  As explained earlier, certain familial things have made that difficult...death of wife's mother, death of wife's brother, kids schooling, etc. 

Who knows, maybe if you stay around long enough things will change for the better. You'll probably end up staying in CA after all. Could happen ...

[MU82]

My problem is that I actually like to watch good stuff on TV.

I have never seen one second of one reality TV show and I haven't watched any college football bowl game for nearly a decade.

But I love playoff basketball and hockey, enjoy watching the NFL and college hoops, like being able to watch baseball, and thoroughly enjoy the best shows on HBO, SHO, AMC and FX. And I don't want to watch Breaking Bad 2 years after it's over; I want to watch each new episode that night (or at least that week)!

So to me, it's about entertainment choices, like going to the movies or a sporting event or reading or just taking long walks with my wife and dog (which have the best price - $0).

I will say that I would rather drop $85 for a month of TV than go to one big-arena concert or NFL game.

I admire those who can cut the cord. I have tried but I have missed it too much. Maybe in the not-too-distant future I'll figure out a way to cut the cord and still be able to watch stuff I enjoy when I want to watch it.

[brandx]

My problem is that I actually like to watch good stuff on TV.

I have never seen one second of one reality TV show and I haven't watched any college football bowl game for nearly a decade.

But I love playoff basketball and hockey, enjoy watching the NFL and college hoops, like being able to watch baseball, and thoroughly enjoy the best shows on HBO, SHO, AMC and FX. And I don't want to watch Breaking Bad 2 years after it's over; I want to watch each new episode that night (or at least that week)!

So to me, it's about entertainment choices, like going to the movies or a sporting event or reading or just taking long walks with my wife and dog (which have the best price - $0).

I will say that I would rather drop $85 for a month of TV than go to one big-arena concert or NFL game.

I admire those who can cut the cord. I have tried but I have missed it too much. Maybe in the not-too-distant future I'll figure out a way to cut the cord and still be able to watch stuff I enjoy when I want to watch it.

Same here. If it wasn't for the Sports channels, tho', I would cut cable. No interest in "News" shows or anything on network TV. Enjoy watching the sports I played my whole life - baseball, basketball, football, golf. Don't watch a minute of the NHL during the regular season, but make up for it during the playoffs.

I wouldn't mind waiting 8 months and watching the HBO, Showtime, AMC, FX, etc. shows over the course of a few days. Kinda like reading a book when you can watch 10 - 12 hours of a show in a few sittings.

If and when Sports go a la carte, cable is gone. But I'm sure there are millions that feel the same way, so until the contract holders can recoup their money without all-or-nothing cable deals with customers, we are stuck.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And.... the whole Dodger/Time Warner deal may end up being the straw that broke the camel's back. It may very well be the 1st huge blow for the a la carte model.

How so, please explain

[ChicosBailBonds]

Who knows, maybe if you stay around long enough things will change for the better. You'll probably end up staying in CA after all. Could happen ...

Things were better in the 1970's and 1980's here, that's why so many people have moved out and why so many companies have.  Based on the trends, very unlikely to get better.  Smart money left...

[brandx]

Things were better in the 1970's and 1980's here, that's why so many people have moved out and why so many companies have.  Based on the trends, very unlikely to get better.  Smart money left...

Ahem.... California is the 8th largest economy in the WORLD.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ahem.... California is the 8th largest economy in the WORLD.

Yup, it was as high as #5 in the 1980's and 90's.  It reached it's highest share level of the total US GDP in 1992 at 13.8% and then declined below 12% during the 1990's...it has since been flat for the last 13 years.   Progress.  Forward. 

Then you look at GDP growth since 2008....California...WE'RE #44, WE'RE #44 with a negative GDP growth.  Woohoo.  Texas #2, by the way.  On a per capita level, even worse.


http://www.bloomberg.com/visual-data/best-and-worst/highest-gdp-growth-states

[muwarrior69]

Chicos, do you thinks the Feds will approve this merger/sale?