When TV Was Free

[Nyboy]

I just called cable company about TV at country house. First quote was $149 a month I told saleman not going to happen I remember when TV was free everyone had antenna on roof. He asked if I was around when only black and white TV . Settled on $65 a month.

 

[flowerbug]

I just called cable company about TV at country house. First quote was $149 a month I told saleman not going to happen I remember when TV was free everyone had antenna on roof. He asked if I was around when only black and white TV . Settled on $65 a month.

it still is.

we have antenna and tv. no cable. not connected to internet.

just depends upon who is still broadcasting in your area that you can get. we can pull in several PBS stations and some other local channels. not great stuff, but good enough for us.

we supplement this with DVDs from the library.

i rarely watch tv myself, but i listen to it when Mom has it on.

 

[digitS']

On the advice of several Millennials, we went back to the antenna about 3 years ago. I have to switch to the rabbit ears when we want to watch 1 broadcast commercial channel and have a limited choice of about 7 or 8, anyway.

There are cable programs that I miss but I was so frustrated with Comcast over the internet service that it was a relief to say goodbye to them! One of 2 PBS stations were on the cable and we can't get it as broadcast. That disappoints me. I didn't realize that PBS shows vary so much, station to station. If you want to see, take a look at a few shows on these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PBS_member_stations Sure, there are the popular ones and one should expect local programing but there are many coast to coast syndicated shows that individual stations have to choose from - probably based partly on funds to purchase. Anyway, I wouldn't have that many to watch with only 2 PBS channels but there would be several more.

No, I don't watch much television. Movies are not very much fun with the need for captioning. Dramas or comedies - the spontaneity and artistry in acting is all but absent when it's necessary to read what is being said.

Black & White? Sure. One television station in town? Sure. The first television show seen? Sure. Could NOT figure out what I was seeing on the screen the first time! I was even familiar standard 8 mm home movies before I saw a television. Broadcast and reception must have been really poor ...

olde Steve

 

[Carol Dee]

Same here @flowerbug DH says it is called *Country Air* when people ask what T.V. service we have. We really do not watch all that much television and get plenty of JUNK to watch on the dozen or so channels we get. @Nyboy you could not be home enough to watch to many hours of T.V. anyway. Might want to try an antenna before putting out money for a lot of channels you won't even watch.

 

[Carol Dee]

I just called cable company about TV at country house. First quote was $149 a month I told saleman not going to happen I remember when TV was free everyone had antenna on roof. He asked if I was around when only black and white TV . Settled on $65 a month.

Wise guy. And YES, I do remember only 3 stations and black and white only. Stations signed off air about midnight too!

 

[seedcorn]

Unfortunately I remember first color TV’s. If it wasn’t for my addiction to college football & basketball, we would go back to antenna. $1200 addiction....

 

[thistlebloom]

Our tv is free. If I ever had to pay to watch I'd just take it out in the woods and shoot it.

Our neighbors next door have dish and get 150 channels. They end up watching the same programs we do on broadcast OTA tv.

We also have a 16 year old tv that is a square box. We are so out of style!

 

[Beekissed]

Haven't had a TV for so long can't remember when it was, but I too remember 3 channels that were only in B and W, and all stations went off the air at night with that annoying sound from then on to morning. I remember having to dial a dial to get the lines out of the picture or to keep the picture from jumping.

The best shows on TV then were Saturday morning cartoons. That was pretty much the height of the era...after that it was all downhill.

 

[thistlebloom]

after that it was all downhill.

Getting steeper and picking up speed!

 

[catjac1975]

I just called cable company about TV at country house. First quote was $149 a month I told saleman not going to happen I remember when TV was free everyone had antenna on roof. He asked if I was around when only black and white TV . Settled on $65 a month.

People are putting antennas in their attics and just buying internet. Between the 2 it is a cheap way to get great quality TV for cheap. You can see so much through your computer. We are Connecticut Huskie women's Basketball fans. When it is not being broadcast we have a gizmo that attaches to the TV and we can watch it. Great picture just terrible announcers. We do have cable for way too much money. Too lazy to figure out the cheap way.