[digitalprimate]

I moved recently, that why I don't have internet of my own and I don't have cable (or satellite) TV. One or two providers here offer both. But as I was comparing, I kept asking myself: Do I really need this channel or that one?
Plus, because of the particularity of the place where I live, I can't get combo-packs which combine the two services.
(I won't bore you with all the details of how things are run in this small, oligopolized market).

But, as I like to find things out, I'd like to know who of you pay money to have additional channels, other than available over the airwaves (which, by the way, are two channels + two french language ones). And have you chosen extra channels other than the standard pack (whatever it may contain)?

By the way, I'm considering a subscription, which would mean 150 euro/yr for thirty channels.
HD-tv is available, but that would mean a purchase of a set-top box of 299 euros.

[Eugene]

I get a small discount for having both internet and TV, but here's a rough breakdown.

$53 8000/768 kbps internet
$10 4 additional IPs
$56 standard cable
$15 digital classic (lowest cost digital package)
$14 HDTV DVR
$21 additional HDTV DVR

Kinda ridiculous...

[remlemasi]

We subscribe to Verizon FiOS Triple Play:

Local and Long Distance Phone (caller ID, call-waiting, three-way, etc.)
+ 5/2 Mbps FiOS Internet
+ FiOS TV Premier Package (cheapest option but still has over 200 channels; no extra channels; includes 1 standard def. STB)
= $99

+ $12.99 for extra HD DVR

= $111.99

Not at bad deal. Not a bad deal at all.

[DMBand0026]

Not a bad deal in the least bit. You're lucky enough to be one of the few people in the country with access to FiOS right now though. I still can't get it in my area

[Capella]

I have cable in my dorm through Optimum, as well as Internet. Rutgers provides it in the cost of the housing so I can't gripe. We get about 50 channels, which is more than I get at home.

[Windswept]

I have cable tv plus a high-speed broadband internet connection from the same cable company for $90 total per month, so $1,080 per year for everything.

The cable tv tier I'm paying for is just basic cable, with no premium movie channels. I think my basic cable offers approx. 70 channels to which I have access.

For the longest time, my cable tv line-up made people pay extra for the next tier up, which included the home and garden channel and the history channel - two I would like to have had.

But no way was I paying extra for anything!

Home and garden and history are now included in my lowest tier basic cable offering, but BBC America is in the next tier up, which I will never pay for.

They offer 300 channels in that next tier, but...hello!!!... *all* I want of those 300 is that 'one' BBC channel. Grrrrrr.

150 Euros per year?!! Wow. My cable tv is probably $550-600 per year on its own. But I hardly ever watch the 'free' airwave channels, except for PBS.

[SKMDC]

I pay 135 a month for landline, DSL, DishNetwork HD and premium movie packages. (which means everything but all the international packages and smut)
I would never ever ever have cable again.

[digitalprimate]

Originally Posted by Windswept Home and garden and history are now included in my lowest tier basic cable offering, but BBC America is in the next tier up, which I will never pay for. They offer 300 channels in that next tier, but...hello!!!... *all* I want of those 300 is that 'one' BBC channel. Grrrrrr. 150 Euros per year?!! Wow. My cable tv is probably $550-600 per year on its own. But I hardly ever watch the 'free' airwave channels, except for PBS.

150 euros yes, but only for like 30 channels. I know how you feel though about them bundles. I'm actually considering buying that set-top box somewhere next year, so that I can finally watch BBC Three and BBC Four, both of which seem to have very interesting programming.

DSL-costs about 40-60 euros a month (depending on the speed-level and data transfer volume), so in total, cable+internet would cost me about 750-900 a year. Ouch.

[Eugene]

Originally Posted by digitalprimate 150 euros yes, but only for like 30 channels. I know how you feel though about them bundles. I'm actually considering buying that set-top box somewhere next year, so that I can finally watch BBC Three and BBC Four, both of which seem to have very interesting programming. DSL-costs about 40-60 euros a month (depending on the speed-level and data transfer volume), so in total, cable+internet would cost me about 750-900 a year. Ouch.

In my are there's basic cable for $11/month, but most of the channels are otherwise free over the air. The next package is up is "standard" cable for $54/month, but you get more than 30 channels... There's nothing in between unfortunately.

[atomicbartbeans]

We get ~10,000k/1000k cable internet (excellent quality connection), unlimited domestic digital phone service (quality isn't great though), and digital cable (300+ channels on a convertor box, plus like 70 analog CATV) for about $110 USD per month via Time Warner.

Not too bad.

[turbulentfurball]

I get 2Mbps Cable Internet, 90 or so channels, and unlimited land-line calls with line rental included for £30 per month. I'm pretty happy with it.

[spotcatbug]

I have rabbit ears... $0/month

With over-the-air digital TV, it's actually very nice.

Of course, I still have to pay separate for Internet access: $20/month for DSL.

[rasmits]

29€ per month for HD cable, fixed phone and DSL.

I can't believe in Belgium you don't have similar package deals as we do.