The 'news' today will be a good example of why I dumped cable TV

[ixion]

In 2003, I had grown so sick of screaming at my television that I decided to re-introduce some peace and quiet into my life. I made the call, and dropped cable. There were many reasons, ultimately, but the two primary reasons were 'news' and commercials.

I'll start with commercials:
-- Here's an telling bit of data: I bought the 'Night Stalker' series, as Kolchak was one my favorite characters from that era. These were hour long programs. The average run time on each episode is 53 to 54 minutes. That means that there were 6 or 7 minutes worth of commercials back in 1974.

Now take a more recent series, like the X-Files. Also an hour program, but the run times are 41-42 minutes, which means that in the late 90's you were now getting 18 or 19 minutes of commercials.

I personally find commercials wildly annoying and invasive, so it was with great glee that I cast them out of my house. When I watch an X-Files now (on DVD) it takes 42 minutes. That means I've reclaimed 18 minutes of my life, and spend far less time being annoyed.


-- And then there's the 'news'. Ah, yes. Here was my Number One reason to drop cable.

Disclaimer: I am a news junkie. It was something I picked up when while I was a journalism major, or perhaps because of it. In any case, I read many articles each day. I love the Internet for that, but I digress.

The state of broadcast journalism has been in steady decline for decades. Watch the movie "Broadcast News" some time. Holly Hunter's character, Jane, is an 'old school' editor who is horrified at what she (correctly) sees as migration towards news as entertainment. The response from her colleagues is cool, at best.

I find this observation spot on, and ahead of it's time.

Broadcast journalism, once a respectable field, has become tabloid media. Infotainment has been the meme, although I believe that using the prefix 'info' lends too much credibility. Propatainment, perhaps, would be more appropriate.

Collectively speaking, we have given up all pretense of honest debate. Thanks to the ever-present din that is broadcast news, not only does no real news ever cross the airwaves, but no real discussion of issues. So-called 'debates' are tightly framed and never cross the boundaries of the accepted narrative.

The result of this cacophony is an actual deterioration of the deep structure of language. By this, I mean that having intelligent conversation is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible.

Today the news will be slathered with remembrances and tributes to an event that occurred on this day. There will be very little actually substance in these endless hours or reporting. There will be little to no debate on the many questions that remain unanswered. There will be much historical revision, as the myth continues to solidify in the collective psyche.

And it's sad, because the Real Truth will probably never be known, thanks in large part to Broadcast News, the enablers of the Decline and Fall of America.

Thanks for listening.

[Berry Cool]

1. So, I gather you think you're morally superior to all those cable news people, do you?

You're willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Ignore whatever actual news or information there may be in what they say so as not to taint yourself with that "lack of substance" you fear.

You, a journalism major.

I majored in journalism too. And I loved Broadcast News, too. And I hate most of the commercials, too. But my solution to the cable news dilemma has always been to take the time to look for, and find, the substance within the garbage, and appreciate it.

And I know the difference between "it's" (it is) and "its" (possessive). Just saying.

[luvspeas]

2. gosh you are whiny!

I suppose just because someone chooses to get their news from another source other than a paid service (which is, by the way, not news, but just more advertising), you think they are not getting "actual news" (?) Go gaze into your garbage can and let me know when you find the diamonds among the excrement, OK?

I dumped cable 5 years ago and it's the best thing I've ever done.

[ixion]

3. I don't tell lies for a living, so yeah, I do

believe that I am on a more ethical footing than most broadcast media personalities.

And I know the difference as well. Fair enough on the call, but the snark was unnecessary.

[luvspeas]

5. ?...

relax, will ya?

[ixion]

7. heh heh heh

sorry... I get passionate about this stuff. :hi:

[tabatha]

8. I dumped cable about 7 years ago.

My neighbor still watches cable.

I know more about what is going on than they do.

And for the same reasons mentioned above - time wasted by commercials, and shallow news coverage.

I have also saved $50 x 12 x 7 = $4200.

I have also gotten out more into the sun, and coincidentally not had a single bout of flu in those years.

Have taken classes, and learned a lot.

All because I gave up TV.

[Orsino]

9. I would bet on almost any longtime DUer...

...over almost any cable news person, if we're looking for moral superiority.

While I find occasional value in TV news coverage, cutting the cable completely can be liberating.

[Statistical]

4. When dumping cable the first 6 months are the hardest.

Dumped digital cable, lowered internet speed (5 mbps from 10 mpbs), dropped home phone = $120+

$120 per month * 12 mo = $1440 per year. If I live another 40 years that is $57,600. I am putting that money aside to save for solar panels when the price gets cheaper or I can get financing at close to by electrical bill so I can cut that bill too.

First couple months are hard but now I don't even miss it. TV is for entertainment. Tivo + good antenna = unlimited shows in HD when I want to watch them.

[ixion]

6. agreed

In the six years since I dumped cable, I've saved $8640.

Regarding the solar: Yeah, they're going to be coming down in price considerably over the next couple years. We're already seeing a slight decrease, but as soon as the improved (and cheaper to produce) technology makes it way into production, solar collection devices will be pervasive and cheap.

I have a small solar system (64 watt). It has been useful for power outages and the like. I can run most of the items I have in the house on 3 deep-cycle batteries and a 1k watt inverter.

For your money, you might want to look into wind generators. You can pick up a 400 watt generator for about $500. More bang for your buck.