Americans Get Hundreds Of TV Channels, Can Still Only Handle 17

Wall Street Journal ^ | 05/07/2014 | Steven Perlberg

[Grams A]

I opted out of cable and only access what the antenna provides. 20 channels in Spanish, 2 in Indian, 15 religious stations, 10 shopping channels, ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS. Only one I watch on occasion is ION except for NCIS on one of the local channels once a week. Just not much out there. I put a sign on the front of my frig that says: “Remember how much money you are saving” which I look at frequently.

[discostu]

I doubt I even hit 17. Maybe a dozen, recently managed to add FX into my world, but I think somebody else dropped out. Of course thanks to the DVR some shows stay in my view list without the rest of the network, I don’t even realize a show is coming back then all of a sudden it shows up.

[Fresh Wind]

I cut the cable late in 2012, and saved about $1500 to date. I don’t miss it at all.

[oh8eleven]

It was another 2 minutes before I realized that she was giving the weather.
What ..... weather?

On the other hand, those of us who watch Fox News ...

... hoochie mama.

[WilliamRobert]

Crazy hairdo guy is weird!

[Gay State Conservative]

I watch,at most,a dozen of the 300+ channels I have,a third of which,it seems,are shopping channels.I very much want a la carte,even if it means that channels that I like are hit hard enough by it that they disappear.For the first 35 years of my life I did just fine with 4 channels (actually,it was closer to 10 in the 80’s).I think I could do it again.

[ponygirl]

I just got one of those little antennas from Radio Shack.

[Nea Wood]

Thanks, ponygirl!

[ponygirl]

You’re welcome. I forgot to mention that if you have an older analog tv, you might need an little adapter box since local channels have gone digital. The guys at Radio Shack could help you with that if needed. I bought a new flat screen last year and just plug the little antenna straight into it, no adapter necessary. The only problem I have is if the dog stands in front of it and blocks the signal! Easily remedied.

[Nea Wood]

As a matter of fact, I do have an older analog! Thanks for the info! :-)

[ops33]

Back in those days my father had a remote control that never needed batteries. He’d call out to me or my brother, “Hey, get up and change the channel.”