The Low-Tech Times

Americans collectively spend billions of dollars for cable and satellite television reception each year. In some localities, cable bills are $80-$100 per month. It is not unusual for a family to spend over $1000 per year on cable TV bills.

Since a large majority of people have chosen to subscribe to cable or satellite TV, at first the situation appears to be an affirmation of Chris Anderson’s Long Tail Theory. Cable and satellite television companies are offering hundreds of channels with niche content and people are willing to pay for it. But what are people really watching? The next time you open your checkbook to pay for cable or satellite service, think about the channels you mainly watch. You just might find that you are paying a corporation to watch programs that are broadcast completely free-of-charge!

Each of the top ten shows on free over-the-air TV channels are typically more watched than the top rated cable program. The age of broadcast television is clearly not over, as the Super Bowl was the second most watched program of all time (second only to the season finale of M-A-S-H).

The Top 10 Broadcast Shows (1/28-2/3)

1. FOX’s Super Bowl–97.4 million viewers
2. FOX’s Super Bowl Post-Game–63.9 million viewers
3. FOX’s American Idol (Tuesday)–28.2 million viewers
4. FOX’s House (Sunday)–29.0 million viewers
5. FOX’s American Idol (Wednesday)–25.6 million viewers
6. FOX’s House (Tuesday)–22.6 million viewers
7. FOX’s Moment of Truth–17.6 million viewers
8. ABC’s Lost (9:00 pm)–16.1 million viewers
9. ABC’s Lost (8:00 pm)–13.2 million viewers
10. CBS’s NCIS–11.8 million viewers

© 2007 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Number 1 Cable Show (1/28-2/3)

1. CNN’s California Democratic Debate–8.3 milion viewers

© 2007 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

While the number 1 subscription program , the CNN Democratic debate with 8.3 million viewers, attracted less audience than did the 10th ranked free program (CBS’s NCIS with 11.8 million viewers), I do not doubt that some people get their money’s worth from cable or satellite. If you have a strong niche interest satisfied by the history channel or ESPN sports channels, it probably makes sense to continue paying for your cable or satellite subscription. However, I believe that there are a lot of people other than myself that can get along just fine with free over-the-air TV. Do you really need the weather channel or 24 hours-a-day news when you have Internet access?

Additionally, consumers can afford to purchase the occasional popular program produced by HBO through Amazon.com and still spend a lot less than they would on annual cable or satellite subscription fees. Check out these hits offered by Amazon.com:

Finally, you might be interested in one of these top-selling antennae from Amazon.com. The first is for an old-fashioned television set; the second is for an HDTV. Join the Low-Tech movement and give free TV a try. Just think of all the money you’ll save!

Here are four reasons to choose free radio over satellite radio:

1. COST–There’s plenty of quality programming transmitted across AM and FM radio bands free of charge. Satellite radio involves monthly subscription fees. Why add an unnecessary utility bill?
2. LOCAL PROGRAMMING–I sincerely doubt I could get localized traffic and weather information for Winchester, Virginia over satellite radio. This information is freely transmitted on 92.5 WINC FM. Is it on Sirius or XM satellite radio?
3. FAVORITE SHOWS–My favorite programs are on free radio. For example, one of my favorite programs, Eddie Stubbs’s Way Back Wednesdays, is broadcast absolutely free on WSM 650 AM. I get good reception of this program from some 500 miles away!
4. STATIC–A couple friends of mine do subscribe to satellite radio. When listening to it in their cars, without auxiliary-in ports, they rebroadcast the satellite radio onto FM radio. Despite using an unused channel, the transmission is negatively impacted by occasional static.

Here are the top selling antennae from Amazon.com you can use to improve your free radio reception at home: