As televisions themselves continue to get bigger and sharper, the options for programming seem to grow as well. Everything, it seems, is getting more expensive.
But for those looking for a simple, affordable alternative, there are still plenty of ways to make sure you can settle in front of the tube for a relaxing night of family viewing.
It used to be you could just plunk a pair of bunny ears on top of your set and pick up a few local stations. But with the digital changeover (effective June 12, 2009, you now either have to purchase a converter box for your old television or purchase a newer television with the converter built-in. Plenty of information regarding the digital changeover is available from the federal government. (See Reference 1.)
Either of those solutions allows you to pick up whatever basic channels are available in your area without purchasing cable service, though there is often a very limited selection. In extremely rural areas, there may be none at all.
The cable industry has long been attacked for soaring prices at the expense of the average customer. But if one is looking for an affordable cable connection to ensure better reception on regional channels, such a quest can often be fulfilled for less than $20 a month.
Comcast, the dominant regional cable company in New England and much of the Northeast, for instance, offers its most basic package at $29.99 per month, and ran a promotion in October of 2008 to provide basic cable to new customers not wishing for any other services for just $10 per month for a full year. For more information on pricing at Comcast, see Reference 2.
Satellite providers have also blitzed consumers recently with claims of the least expensive rates available. Companies like DIRECTV and Dish Network are challenging cable companies by offering lower-priced alternatives. Dish Network, for example, offered basic service for $24.99 per month as of mid-December. (See Reference 3.)
Technology has allowed television to be available for everyone's favorite price--free--provided you have a computer and a reliable Internet connection. Websites such as www.hulu.com offer a variety of programming from major networks for free, streamed directly to your computer.
The options may indeed appear daunting, but for those without the budget for a 60-inch plasma television there are still ways to make programming affordable, even free. With a little bit of research and knowledge, anyone can gather the family around for a fun night of viewing without worrying about the bottom line.