From: nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com   
      
   On Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:06:53 -0600, super70s   
    wrote:   
      
   >Looking over my TV/internet/phone bill, I saw I was paying $145/mo. for   
   >the video package alone. Beginning Jan. 1 I downgraded to basic cable   
   >which brings it down to $67/mo.   
   >   
   >As far as the expanded channels go, I found I was spending most of the   
   >time watching CNN, MS NOW, TV Land, Sci-Fi, TCM and ESPN from their 100+   
   >channel package.   
   >   
   >CNN - I have subscribed to the Roku CNN app for $45/yr. ($69/yr. after   
   >the first year) to stream this channel live. One benefit is I no longer   
   >have to endure the hokey local commercials that my provider would show   
   >on the Expanded package (just a message that says "CNN will resume   
   >shortly"). CNN does show their own commercials but it's just for their   
   >other programming.   
   >   
   >MS NOW - This channel doesn't offer an app to stream the channel live   
   >(yet), you have to connect it to their expanded package channel. But you   
   >can stream the "highlights" of all their shows with a delay of a few   
   >hours. This is just about as good as getting the channel live, and you   
   >don't have to endure any commercials between the segments.   
      
   I would say it's better. When I used to check in on MSNBC regularly I   
   got to the point where I would tune in for about ten minutes to catch   
   up on the highlights and then turn it off because they would start   
   repeating points. I also learned not to turn on the morning or other   
   fluff shows unless I wanted background noise. Instead I would check in   
   on the actual news shows that focused on the news and not just   
   opinions. Did the same with the other news channels when checking them   
   out.   
      
   >TV Land - I would watch some of my favorite sitcoms on TV Land, but all   
   >those shows are also offered by MeTV which is included in my basic   
   >package.   
   >   
   >Sci-Fi - I only watched this for Twilight Zone reruns, which MeTV also   
   >shows every evening.   
      
   Sadly this used to be the main network channel for me but now there's   
   nothing that holds my interest.   
      
   >TCM - I have found a good substitute for this is the "Cinevault   
   >Classics" channel on the Roku Live app. Of course you have to endure   
   >commercials unlike TCM. I'm not that crazy about movies from the '30s   
   >and '40s anyway which is what TCM devotes a whole lot of their   
   >programming to.   
   >   
   >ESPN - I would watch this (and their sister sports channels) often   
   >during college football season, but most of the "must see" major sports   
   >events are on the major networks which I get in the basic package.   
   >   
   >To sum up, I think it's going to work out and save me a lot of money. At   
   >some point in the not too distant future I think all of these channels   
   >will be forced to let people subscribe them individually -- people are   
   >sick and tired of paying for a lot of filler channels they never watch.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)