Alternatives to Cable...

[shil]

Got tired of paying $100 a month for cable TV so that’s gone. We’ve got Netflix and Apple TV so it’s not too hard to take. News is on the radio and weather’s on the internet and going to bed without the tube on means I fall asleep quicker.

But what about the Olympics? I see that CTV is going to offer live streaming during the big show. What’s the best way to stream this feed to the television?

Apple says to use AirPlay, but the iPad won’t do Flash and, as far as I can tell, that’s how CTV’s streaming.

Ideas? Invest in a dedicated Windows PC? An xBox? Something else?

TIA, shil

[shil]

Solution: Antenna on the roof. HD for free (well, almost).

[Cablebandit]

Solution: Antenna on the roof. HD for free (well, almost).

Unless you're in the sticks.

[zer0netgain]

Unless you're in the sticks.

I'm in the sticks and the antenna is the only options unless you want to get ass raped for satellite.

[Cablebandit]

No antennae stations here.  Perhaps you're not far enough into the sticks.

[black hills]

sell the TV's and associated equipment and use the money for a dirt  bike or supermoto you life will be alot better

[rgbeard]

Buy used DVDs on eBay.  $2 each give or take, and with the price of a few months of cable service, you have an impressive collection.

Satellite Radio is affordable, and even less expensive to add additional radios.  We find it keeps "background noise" on in the house, without the visual draw of T.V.  (as in - spend time with each other, and on your projects instead of sitting in front of the tube.)

[misanthropist]

The best alternative to cable I have ever found was a solution I ran across about 15 or 20 years ago...not having it and not caring.

But my solution for hockey games, which are legally required viewing here, has been to simply plug my laptop in to the TV with an HDMI cable when necessary.

[Cablebandit]

Where are you getting the Hockey online?  The few legal solutions I looked at were only out of area games. ie. no home team.  It's like they want you to pirate stuff.

[misanthropist]

Well, don't forget I live in Canada, and not just anywhere in Canada...Vancouver, where hockey is the single biggest religion by far.  We have the national champion football team here, and easily the best Canadian soccer team...and Vancouverites are vaguely aware these sports are played here, possibly at a professional level.  The average 80-year-old woman can, however, tell you exactly what our backup-backup goalie's GAA was in his last three seasons in the minors.  So there may be greater coverage here than elsewhere.

My team's website gives me a couple of options: CBC's Hockey Night In Canada covers a lot of the games for free, and Rogers' Sportsnet covers almost all the others.  I can buy either the entire season for something like $40, or games by the 10-pack, or pay $3/game individually.

[JReazor]

Well, don't forget I live in Canada, and not just anywhere in Canada...Vancouver, where hockey is the single biggest religion by far.  We have the national champion football team here, and easily the best Canadian soccer team...and Vancouverites are vaguely aware these sports are played here, possibly at a professional level.  The average 80-year-old woman can, however, tell you exactly what our backup-backup goalie's GAA was in his last three seasons in the minors.  So there may be greater coverage here than elsewhere.

My team's website gives me a couple of options: CBC's Hockey Night In Canada covers a lot of the games for free, and Rogers' Sportsnet covers almost all the others.  I can buy either the entire season for something like $40, or games by the 10-pack, or pay $3/game individually.

That's how it should work. Content providers in the U.S. could learn a thing or two.

[Cablebandit]

That's how it should work. Content providers in the U.S. could learn a thing or two.

And there in lies the problem.  I could get a Roku with NHL Gamecenter, yet the games you're offered live are out of market games.  I wonder if you can register the device on the opposite coast and get the local (even though it's not local) Pittsburgh games here in Pedovania.

[JReazor]

And there in lies the problem.  I could get a Roku with NHL Gamecenter, yet the games you're offered live are out of market games.  I wonder if you can register the device on the opposite coast and get the local (even though it's not local) Pittsburgh games here in Pedovania.

You'd probably have to set up a VPN or find some other way to present an IP address from a different location. That's how people manage to get access to BBC programing out side of the UK.

[Giaka]

Solution: Antenna on the roof. HD for free (well, almost).

Works for me too.  

[sammyseaman]

And there in lies the problem.  I could get a Roku with NHL Gamecenter, yet the games you're offered live are out of market games.  I wonder if you can register the device on the opposite coast and get the local (even though it's not local) Pittsburgh games here in Pedovania.

We're doing Roku and an antenna and so far it's working out great. But, this fall is gonna be tough when the NHL season starts. I'm kinda glad the NHL Gamecenter doesn't allow "local" games to be seen as I'd hate to give those fuckwads my moneys. My solution will be to watch the games I really want to watch at a bar with a couple buds (buds as in friends not the swill Budweiser) and when I can't stands it anymore I'll search around for the best introductory $ for cable. Either that or hope for a lockout  

[CMS_Sprint]

All you need is:www.justin.tv

Point your web browser there and I'm sure you'll be able to get all the Olympics you need.

I don't know how they get around copy rights etc, but when I travel and want to watch something it's always on.

[sammyseaman]

All you need is:www.justin.tv

Point your web browser there and I'm sure you'll be able to get all the Olympics you need.

I don't know how they get around copy rights etc, but when I travel and want to watch something it's always on.

I've watched hockey games on there but the resolution is haaaarrible  

[Bounce]

Where are you getting the Hockey online?  The few legal solutions I looked at were only out of area games. ie. no home team.  It's like they want you to pirate stuff.

or... perhaps... buy tickets and go to the game?

[Cablebandit]

Um, there is no local team.  Well, we are getting a new state of the art rink built here at Penn State.  But that still isn't NHL.

[ApeDel]

i was planning to go to just a Roku and antenna.  tired of the $98/month directv.  (two recievers, hd, dvr, channels package including speed, bbcamerica, etc.)

called to cancel directv and they are a little scared of losing customers due to the Viacom blackout thing (http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/viacom-directv-standoff-affecting-20-million-customers-heads-into-uncharted-territory)  so they offered me a deal i couldn't refuse.  drop down one notch on programming, they give me credits every month to lower my bill to $5.99, and put an additional $102 credit on my account.  no new contract!  plus free encore, showtime, amc for 6 months.  no bill and lots of movies for nothing for a while.  

if you've got Directv, call and try to cancel