Cut TV Cord, How to Get News

First of all the Internet is a must for streaming. 2 years ago I dropped satellite and got slingtv at the basic cost of $20.00 plus tax. It is not sling box, just want to clarify that. We signed up for a family plan on Netflix, 12.48 divided by 4 = 3.12 a month. It hits my credit card so all family members have to pay me a year in advance, no nickel and dimeing me. I also purchased a channel master DVR for off air recording to record off our antenna. The DVR is the size of small tablet and we have at times taken it with us to camp. Florida being flat and all is an advantage and we take advantage of that. Plus I have 2 roku that I use for my media player. There are all kinds of free channels on the roku, some are hidden but a quick internet search solves that. My initial investment paid for itself in about 6 months and we plenty of tv to watch. We don't miss direct nor dish, especially the monthly payment. Lots of options out there now.

Tomorrow will be my 77th birthday and I for one miss the OTA programming we used to have. Yesterday I ran a scan on the front TV and was amazed at how many stations we can pull in where we live in L.A. I was prepping the rig for a little two week trip with the DGD, OMG there are more foreign language channels OTA than we had local and national stations ten years ago. I was busy and didn't see how many stations were detected during the scan but even Santa Barbara(used to be Ch. 6) comes in beautifully, San Diego comes in great too.

So what's the problem for me, I can't find the old stations with the new numbering system. This Ch. 4-0 thru 4-27 is ridicules. Thank goodness the DW and I enjoy each others company and the great outdoors. The DGKs would rather be outside except when they are hungry, and at 15.74 yo and 17.5 yo that's pretty good for the boy and the girl. We watch a few movies on disc or just sit and talk.

We 'cut' the cord 3 years ago and haven't looked back, nor miss it. It was as has been said, a lot of garbage that cost a lot of money every month. Now we just have HS Internet and stream whatever shows we want to watch. In effect, we make up our own entertainment instead of having the cable co. say what we can watch and when.
We can watch all the latest show, if we want on the TV companies web site, they stream them a day or two later after airing. We can even watch the local and National (CBC) news this way, live. When it comes to news, i use mostly Reddit as that has feeds from all around the world and has interesting discussions about the stories that you can partake in.

The problem with any of the streaming services is that they eat a lot of data - especially if you get your internet through your cellular provider. We read most of our news on-line (read numerous news sites and filter for bias, etc.). In many locations we can get all the major broadcast networks over the air (very high quality digital signals) plus a dozen more by just cranking up the antenna.

Rob

Internet and an iPad will give whatever news you like to read or hear fake and real.

I trust REAL news, just hard to differentiate the lies and misdirections.

GordonThree wrote:

Chris Bryant wrote:
Umm, with a tv antenna? I get 60 channels over the air for free.

X2 ... Even PBS has morning and evening news programming.

X3
Was watching PBS news and the BBC news tonight and they were reporting on important white house government news and the wars with live video that we are in involved in in the middle east and elsewhere......

.....while the whole time the US National Broadcast TV channels were reporting on Kardasians arse. :R :(

You would be surprised just all WHERE the US is fighting and bombing because the local stations do 'not' report on it anymore.
I learn more about what is going on in MY Country by watching PBS, BBC and the Japan news channels. Real sad that our country has chosen to keep us in the dark about our local and world news.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
I read a lot about cutting the cord (TV). Don't completely understand it, but I spend a lot of money on cable, dish for the RV, etc, and rarely watch the TV. Don't trust any of the news anymore, sitcoms seem to have outdated me, etc. But how do they get news?

I guess if you don't trust the news, why try to get the news:h

I cancelled my Dish earlier this year due to the cost. I got an OTA antenna similar to this one:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ematic-HD-TV-Motorized-Outdoor-Antenna-with-150-Mile-Range/46998188

The last place I camped I pulled 45 channels. I always get at least a few channels even in very remote places. The only issue with this antenna is that it is very delicate. Has a gust of wind knock over my tripod last year. Broke one of the elements. But it still works just as good as before.

X2 on news apps. Pick and choose whichever ones suit your views.
I would also consider getting an iPad or other comparable tablet. Some have cellular capabilities and others are wifi only. I find them much easier to read than a phone.