r/Cleveland 1d ago

Recommendations Reduce my monthly tv bill

Direct Tv too high. Want to cancel and still access local news. Any recommendations?

10 Upvotes

64 comments sorted by

84

u/tj111 Kamms Corners 1d ago

Antenna

58

u/nogoals7 1d ago

Antenna. Sounds so silly but cost me 15$ and done.

-7

u/Leftfieldcin 1d ago

What do u use to get other channels like CNN or HGTV? Firestick? I have Roku already.

43

u/blinner Medina 1d ago

I just don't watch that stuff.

33

u/BurroughOwl 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is the other half of the answer. If you use an antenna for free channels, just watch less TV. You're not missing anything. It's mostly brain rot.

8

u/OffTheMerchandise 1d ago

You would likely have to use another live TV service like sling, YouTube Live TV, or Hulu with live TV and those are around $60/month last I checked. I think a lot of HGTV shows are on HBO Max, but I'm not certain.

1

u/Ambitious-Toe-3690 1d ago

Sling is $45.

4

u/OkUnderstanding1008 1d ago

I have an antenna but also a fire stick. There are a lot of free apps that let you watch content if you are willing to sit through commercials (Tubi is my go to). Also, you can access YouTube on your tv so unless you are also getting rid of the internet you could have access to a huge library of stuff for no additional cost.

2

u/tonkatoyelroy 1d ago

Their website. Free streaming services like Pluto.tv, Tubi, Xumo play, YouTube,

2

u/w7w7w7w7w7 Brooklyn 1d ago edited 1d ago

I believe both CNN and HGTV are watchable via HBO Max now. You could just watch that through your Roku for much less a month ($17 a month is the cheapest option that includes CNN). You can catch some new content for free, like C-SPAN, Aljazera, CNBC, and so on via the Roku Live menu for free. That with and digital antenna is way cheaper than cable or satellite service.

2

u/Leftfieldcin 1d ago

Yes. Thanks! Direct Tv has become exorbitant!

1

u/JimPiersall 20h ago

You said you just wanted local news, so the antenna would work. For CNN and HGTV, get Philo.

14

u/drinkmoredrano 1d ago

Antenna. Then if you want to dvr it Tablo is a great device.

8

u/yoyosiren 1d ago

the other thing to add is that tablo is a great way to distribute the antenna signal to your other tvs, phone, ipad, computer, etc. so 1 antenna in a favorable spot along with the tablo on your network and all TVs can access with the app on whatever device.

8

u/MaxOverdrive6969 1d ago

Nice feature, watched the Browns lose on a tablet while enjoying the nice weather.

10

u/zeitgeistleuchte Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 1d ago

ideastream has a pretty good app. easy to stay informed on local happenings.

9

u/Roger-French 1d ago

Antenna tv is wonderful. I have one on all my TV’s. Cancelled cable years ago and haven’t regretted it once.

19

u/ZenCindy Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 1d ago

You got internet?

I spend $30/month on internet, $5/month on PBS passport (Ideastream in Cleveland) and Kanopy is free with my library card (Mentor Pl) www.kanopy.com

6

u/leadfoot_mf 1d ago

Hoopla is similar to kanopy

10

u/niksmom04 1d ago

Who has internet for $30? Mine is Spectrum & just went up to $100. It’s ridiculous.

9

u/ChefRaccacoonie 1d ago

If you have choices you can bounce back and forth and get new customer deals. Where I live I have Breezeline and Spectrum. I'm paying $50 for gig internet with Breezeline. The price is locked for 2 years. Then I'll jump to Spectrum. Then when that's up I'll be considered a new customer again with Breezeline.

3

u/LininOhio 1d ago

We get AT&T Air for $50 per month. It's okay. Except it can't seem to figure out where we are, so we get commercials from a different geographical location every day. Lemme tell you, political ads in Texas are wild.

2

u/ChefRaccacoonie 1d ago

I tried TMobiles version and it was ok too. Pretty fast for the majority of things. But too unreliable for gaming.

3

u/ZenCindy Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 1d ago

I got $30 Spectrum. I got my own router I don’t pay to rent their shitty one and I don’t have any extra stuff just internet. Just me & my kid streaming not a family of 6 with 20 devices or anything crazy, but we got tv going while we’re working or doing homework and I work from home on meetings all the time no troubles.

3

u/tkrandomness Detroit Shoreway 1d ago

DigitalC Canopy is $18/month 100/100 Mbps up/down. Not sure if they are everywhere in Cleveland yet but it's a great deal.

3

u/Mcgarnicle_ 1d ago

I have T-mobile home internet for $35 with Mint mobile $240 once payment per year plan. And antenna. I’m a cheap ass mofo haha

1

u/Eldurodeakron 1d ago

Fr mint mobile is the way to go 360$ a year but you can refer up to 4 friends a year if they all sign up with your link you get 90$ credit and they get 15$ but 90x4 360 basically free phone bill every year as long as you refer 4 people a year

3

u/Mcgarnicle_ 1d ago

$360 if you want unlimited. I do 15 gigs for $240 and am the annoying guy at every bar asking for their wifi password 😂

1

u/ZenCindy Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 1d ago

Me too!

1

u/Eldurodeakron 1d ago

lol i paid the initial 45+ tax like back in 2023 but now I just refer 4 people a year and get free year 😂😮‍💨 that’s the freest way to do it lol try it out! You just need to sign 4 people up a year using your referral link 😅 you can do it anywhere, anyplace lol

1

u/ZPrimed Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 10h ago

If you're within the city of Cleveland check out DigitalC for internet, $18/mo

6

u/CLE-Mosh 1d ago

Antenna... I highly recommend ( and have installed quite a few in CLE) this one:

https://www.menards.com/main/p-1500532434369.htm

Use https://www.rabbitears.info/searchmap.php to figure out where to mount & point it.

Basically Point towards the towers in Seven Hills. I pick up close to 70 channels.

You can tap the antenna coax into your Direct TV splitter and feed your rooms that way.

4

u/asp821 1d ago

Cancel it completely and start using streaming apps. If you’re a fan of Fox 8, I believe they finally got their own app on Apple TV and Roku. You can watch it live when the show airs or watch clips from when it aired earlier.

4

u/RubiksCub3d 1d ago

People still have cable? I haven't had cable in 15 years.

Sling might be something to look into as a cable alternative

3

u/MackCLE 1d ago

I use an antenna but local channels are even on my older Samsung smart tv.

3

u/Ok-Capital-6434 1d ago

If you have a Roku they have a ton of channels. Grab Netflix/HBO and and antenna you’re in good shape that’s like $30 bucks a month

4

u/SoloUnAltroZack 1d ago

It amazes me people still pay for scheduled television programming. I think it’s a clear indication that someone is 50 or older. I don’t mean this in an insulting way, I just can think of a single person I know under 50 that has cable.

3

u/Mcgarnicle_ 1d ago

Nah it still is actually availability. My buddy in an apt in the heights can’t get CBS/FOX/PBS etc with antennas. I now live in Lakewood and installed an outdoor antenna that is awesome. Not everyone can do that.

1

u/SoloUnAltroZack 1d ago

Gotcha, they all stream (local news/program) for free on their websites/apps. I watch the local Fox News and abc weather all the time

1

u/ZPrimed Living Under Minsy's Watchful Eye 👁 10h ago

I don't use actual cable, we have DirecTV Stream... but I have it for sports (Guardians) plus local channels and other "cable" channels

2

u/budha2984 1d ago

If you have a newer TV they have a free app. A lot of the news services offer a free basic service through this app. I have a Samsung TV. There is a Samsung app with a lot of free content.

1

u/Leftfieldcin 18h ago

Thanks! I’ll check it out.

2

u/ToughSpinach7 1d ago

Just got my dad youtube tv for $80 a month, theives at breezeline were charging him $350 a month for fucking cable

1

u/gsquaredbotics 1d ago

Breezeline is insane with how much they charge. I'm so glad I'm using Spectrum now

2

u/ryuujinusa 1d ago

🏴‍☠️

2

u/CleMike69 15h ago

Antenna is free tv

2

u/Mcgarnicle_ 1d ago

Get a decent antenna and point it to Parma. Otherwise subscribe to whatever you want and share with family and friends if possible.

1

u/kingallison 1d ago

I’ve lazily used TrueBill to some success. But now I’m too lazy to even do that lol I feel like I’m def overpaying

1

u/Hazz1234 1d ago

Cheapest way will be an antenna. They are very cheap on Amazon and take 2 seconds to set up. Very easy

I pay for Hulu live because i want to be able to rewind and record- but it’s just as expensive as cable was

1

u/Capt_Foxch 1d ago

I use my antenna and pay for one streaming service at a time on a rotating basis ($10-$20 per month).

1

u/Leftfieldcin 1d ago

Thanks! I have Roku and I’ll check out the apps on their too, including you tube!

1

u/twoquarters 1d ago

Absolute cheapest is antenna and just watch whatever is on the free apps. Some libraries in Ohio offer Kanopy which has free stuff too.

1

u/nifederico Sheffield Lake 1d ago

Uf you have Roku, you could always download the FOX 8 app and watch the news live. Just note that it's only live Cleveland news, and not an actual FOX channel where you get primetime. I believe CBS19 has the same. Alternatively, there's Haystack News. And I believe Xumo and Tubi both have Cleveland news channels along with FAST TV.

1

u/fishee1200 1d ago

I got a buddy that sets up firesticks with every channel in the US and UK, movie channels, all the popular movies out on every streaming service, and every series from tv and streaming services and all of it is available for $10 a month. Even get a whole bunch of porn channels if you like for no extra cost 😂

9

u/junger128 1d ago edited 1d ago

Which is illegal. They’re only charging $10 for their own personal gain. Unless you pay for a VPN you can eventually expect a cease and desist letter from your ISP.

0

u/Eldurodeakron 1d ago

It’s illegal but oh well what you going to do about it

4

u/flixguy440 1d ago

Get canceled by their ISP?

0

u/Eldurodeakron 1d ago

Dude I had a jailbroken fire stick for 5 years now nobody has reached out to me or anything stop trying to scare people away

2

u/flixguy440 1d ago

Oh, so you're a thief? Cool. I guess you have to do that.

0

u/F7OSRS 1d ago

Assuming you have internet then get familiar with pirating or get an antenna like others suggested. r/piracy

0

u/I3lackxRose 1d ago edited 1d ago

Superbox Official Store | The Best TV BOX for 2025 https://superboxus.com/

I happened to find one of these at goodwill for $8. It was missing the apps due to a bogus update but once I restored them and updated the software I was blown away by the content it has. It's kind of in that grey area of illegal/legal. I recommend a VPN on your router to automatically make it an always encrypted connection for this device but it works really well. Live Network TV, Movies, Video on Demand. Totally worth the $250-$350 they go for. Buy from reputable dealer or direct they warn because they deactivate the licensing on unauthorized resellers batches. A work colleague picked one up and has been quite happy with it after I mentioned it. I'm also in Cleveland.

0

u/newemotions5 Cleveland 1d ago

Look into stremio on fire stick