[driven]

Since I'm paying $130+ a month for DirectTV I'm wondering if an AppleTV could be a viable replacement? The savings would pay for an awful lot of (commercial free) shows.

Any thoughts?

[turtle777]

It all depends on how much TV you watch.

I dumped cable TV completely, using only Netflix. Can't beat $9 / month.

-t

[Cold Warrior]

Depends on what you watch and how much it costs on iTunes. Availability is also a concern -- if the shows you want are available quickly or if you have to wait a week or so (assuming that's important to you).

Can you get tv broadcast reception? That would at least get you network tv stuff.

With appletv you'd also lose channel surfing, random movies and sports, and niche channels you may watch more than you realize.

[turtle777]

YEah, channel surfing is an important thing to consider.

I don't do that, so it was an easy decision for me to dump cable.
Heck, I tried to remember when I watched TV last time. I think it was Craig Ferguson sometime in May. That's the last time I watched TV. That made me cancel cable.

-t

[driven]

I think my bigger concern is the kids. They watch lots of kids shows, that said: Many are available on YouTube (Mickey Mouse) and/or Netflix (which we have ...)

Good feedback guys!

[ghporter]

How many different TVs do you have getting DirecTV? I have the biggest Choice package there is that does NOT include "premium" channels. I only have one TV, and I spend less than half what you quote for my DirecTV bill. I get all the Disney channels, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nick (all of 'em), I get Discovery, Science, Planet Green...tons of stuff that doesn't require any premium channels.

Getting the kids to watch TV in the living room with the rest of the family is a Good Idea. It helps build cohesiveness, it provides support and context to the viewers ("Daddy, could Goofy really fall that far and not get hurt?"), and it helps with expenses too.

If the kids really need their own shows, separate from everyone else, that's a good application for a DVD player or something that gets Netflix/YouTube, etc. My Samsung TV gets both without any added hardware.

[driven]

I have 4 TVs and 3 DVRs. Had Direct for a number of years. Way out of contract now. I can get the same thing with Dish for $74 under current prices. Even better is that the new systems allow multi-room streaming for DVRs ...

Changes are coming, even if I don't go AppleTV. But, any change requires a contract with *someone*. (Even our local overpriced cable company wants a contract now.) So, if I can find a way to do this without a contract then all the better.