There was a time when television programming was free. The biggest expense was the purchase prices of the television its self. To receive programming, the television was attached to rabbit ears or for rural areas, an outdoor television antenna. Then came cable television. Today, in many areas basic cable costs about 30 dollars per month. Extended basic plus the premium movie channels can easily cost over 100 dollars per month. That means over 1200 dollars per year for a service that you may not need. Here is some good news. If you want the absolute cheapest TV programming, cut the cable.

In the days of analog television, cable television gained a following because images from antennas were often unclear. Many people do not realize that this is no longer true with digital television. In digital television, if the signal is strong enough to be received in your home, the picture will be perfect every time. If the picture cannot be shown perfectly in your home, there will be no picture. Many people find that a pair of inexpensive rabbit ears are all the antenna that is needed for their home television. If you have an older analog television, you can still qualify for a free coupon from the United States Government that will allow you 40 dollars credit toward the purchase of the converter, and the government will send you up to two of these coupons.

Free, local television broadcasts will allow you to see many of your favorite daytime or nighttime shows at no cost. Most local stations also offer local as well as national news.

If you are afraid that you will miss your favorite movie channels, try joining Netflix or Blockbuster online. Membership starts at 5 dollars per month and there is a two to three day turnaround for most movies. You will be able to see more movies than are offered on movie channels and can set your own viewing schedule. In addition, if you are an older movie fan, many of these can be downloaded to your computer for immediate viewing.

Some of the online movie rentals offer you the ability to download older movies immediately for viewing. This is included in your monthly agreement.

If you family is watching less television, then you may find that cable is very expensive on an hourly basis.

Think of what you can do with all the money saved by cutting the cable. In a few months time you will have saved enough to buy the big screen you have been wanting.

If you find that pulling the cable gives you an occasional evening with no shows to watch, then do not forget there is always the option to turn the set off. They you can spend time getting to know the other people who live in your home. Visit with family. Take a trip to the park or simply play a game together.

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