Cable television a rip-off

As I shared my thoughts last night on the dismal status of the air travel industry, I started thinking about other industries and companies I don't like. One of the first that came to mind was cable television.

I don't have any cable channels — and, by extension, no network channels either — and that's completely fine with me. I read all of my local, national, and world news online, and if there is a televised event I genuinely want to watch — for example, the presidential debates of this fall — I can easily stream it live on the Internet. Other television programs that I watch, such as "The Office" or "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," can also be viewed online.

There's good reason why I decline cable service providers: They're generally a waste of money, and they must think their customers are idiots. I routinely receive offers in the mail from Comcast, proclaiming some excellent deal in big, bold print, such as four months of service for only $24.99. Of course, what isn't in giant font is the microscopic print at the bottom of the card, which notes that after the four months have expired, the price is hiked somewhere to the ballpark of $50 or higher. That's a classic bait-and-switch tactic that must work well, because they use it all the time. I don't want them telling me the price they'll use to lure me to purchase their lousy service; I want to know the standard price I'll be forced to pay after the introductory period is over, which is usually a rip-off, especially when I won't even watch most of the included channels. It might be a different story if channels could be purchased individually — but, of course, cable providers wouldn't earn nearly as much money that way.

A much better deal for my money is a combination of online viewing and Netflix, a service to which I've subscribed for more than three years. Recently, Netflix developed streaming devices that can be connected to one's television and the Internet. Mine is pictured above. I can use it to stream movies and programs directly from Netflix's instant online viewing service to my television. The service contains an ever-improving selection of TV series and movies, both new and old. The Roku device, as it's called, costs $99 to purchase and comes with the cables necessary to connect it to a television. Thereafter, it's just a matter of paying your monthly Netflix subscription fee. Mine is $15, which also continues to provide me with two DVDs at a time on an unlimited basis per month. The instant viewing service is also unlimited. With such a deal provided by Netflix, why would I bother with cable — or, for that matter, even a satellite dish?

Of course, I have to note that none of the services described above affords me access to the Lifetime Movie Network. I consider that to be a serious drawback. I'm sure several others who read this would as well.