Posts Tagged ‘over the air TV’

Las Vegas Locals Use Antennas To Get Programming

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

According to Cox Cable, approximately 20 percent of Las Vegas residents still watch over-the-air programming, which is higher than the national 5 percent to 10 percent reported by the Consumer Electronics Association . A new antenna installation company, Free Vegas TV, plans to educate those over-the-air TV consumers about the 41 high-definition channels that are available without a monthly subscription fee.

Free Vegas TV owner, Karlo Maalou, provides an outdoor antenna and installation.
Maalouf is committed to over-the-air programming, including in his own home.

“There’s really no need to spend $50 or $60 a month for programming when local networks seem to do a pretty good job.” he said.

Maalouf declined to say how many customers he has seen since launching Free Vegas TV Dec. 1, but said he has received numerous phone calls since he started advertising on KTNV-TV, Channel 13 and KGNG-TV, Channel 47. The most common phrase from prospective customers: “I thought free TV was gone.”

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Verizon Expands ESPN Streaming Deal

Friday, February 18th, 2011
FiOS TV Users Now Get ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU Online

Verizon this week announced that they’ve expanded their licensing deal with Disney Corporation, and as a result will now offer more ESPN content streamed via broadband. In addition to the ESPN3 service (which requires that your ISP strikes special deals with ESPN to view) Verizon FiOS customers will be able to watch ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Buzzer Beater content live online beginning Thursday, February 17. This is all part of the cable and telcoTV industry’s TV Everywhere initiative, which stems from the belief that by offering paying TV customers a variety of broadband video options, they’ll be able to prevent TV cord cutting down the road. As with all TV Everywhere efforts, regular vanilla FiOS broadband customers who don’t have FiOS TV service won’t get this additional content — though they’ll still be able to view ESPN3.

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Microsoft Has “Mind Blowing” 360 TV Programming Plans For The Future

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

According to Jeff Ross, executive producer of Conan O’Brien’s Conan show on TBS, Microsoft has some big plans for Xbox Live and streaming television.

There have been rumblings of Microsoft wooing several companies to acquire content for a pay-television service that would stream through the Xbox 360 console. Would original programming like something from a big name like Conan O’Brien make you think about cutting the cord from your current cable provider?

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Antennas Direct’s DB4 in Action

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Today a fan on our facebook page posted a video showing just how easy it was install a DB4 antenna and test it. Notice how they make good use of the satellite dish!

* Range: Up to 55 miles
* Strong performance across UHF spectrum (Channels 14-69)
* Versatile high gain multi – bay antenna
* Efficient design allows tremendous gain in a compact size 13.7 dBi gain
* Versatile HD antenna, succeeds in difficultareas where other antennas fail
* All weather Balun included
* Designed to resist extreme wind loading
* Works great in attics. Fits easily & high gain can help overcome loss from roofing materials
* Dimensions 29″ H x 19″ W x 4″ Deep
* Product Weight: 4.5 pounds

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Getting More Channels for Free

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Recently, it was released that the cable industry shrank for the first time ever in the second quarter, losing 711,000 subscribers. The cable companies which credit the problem to the current economy are partially right, people are leaving because of the price…because they are finding a better way to receive their TV somewhere else through what is called multicasting.

Because of multicasting, you may have noticed a lot more channels than you remember being available in your local market. In fact, in some markets, they have up to 40 channels available for free, more than many basic cable packages carry. Broadcasters are doing this through what is called multicasting, splitting their digital streams into two, three or even four different channels showing up on your digital tuner looking like 5.1, 5.2 and so on.

The additional channels range from extra local news, sports, weather, to regular network programming. Multicasting also has the capability to continue coverage of a live sporting event on one of the additional channels if coverage is interrupted because of a breaking news story. And as over-the-air television continues its growth, broadcasters are sweetening the deal, by expanding their multicast stations.

Broadcasters are able to do so by being more efficient with the spectrum though digital television. Now the packages they send out containing pictures, sound and other information are much smaller, meaning they can send more out.

This also means that many local broadcasting stations will have a channel that broadcasts in high definition for prime time programming and second station that broadcasts in standard definition. When broadcasters send out their high definition signal, they are uncompressed, giving the best picture possible. But when cable sends out the same picture it is compressed to fit their tiny bandwidth, leaving viewers with a lower quality picture.

You may have heard a lot of commercials lately from pay TV providers, saying that they’re going to bring you more of your favorite channels…at no additional cost. Which yes, you won’t pay up front for the channels, but will instead incur the cost later. Why else would people be leaving in such great numbers? Stick with over-the-air television where you will not need to pay for channels you don’t want and a picture that is inadequate.

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Micron Featured in Barron’s for Signal Strength

Friday, August 27th, 2010

The Micron is once again featured for its strength and size. Jay Palmer of Barron’s tested the Micron in New Jersey bringing in channels from greater distances and “near-perfect high-definition picture” from several local channels. He was impressed that he could simply plug in the antenna and even with trees and buildings in the way, receive a quality signal.

IN THIS AGE OF CABLE AND satellite TV, it’s easy to forget that signals are still being sent the old-fashioned way: over the air. It’s a lot cheaper than the alternatives, and the picture quality is a whole lot better than in the days of analog signals and set-top rabbit ears. It also can be a smart option if your cable service has frequent service disruptions or if you want a TV in a room that isn’t wired.

I have been testing a couple of highly regarded antennas, the ClearStream Micron and the ClearStream 2, both designed for ultra-high-frequency reception and available from a private company called Antennas Direct. Both pick up digital broadcast signals and help deliver surprisingly crisp pictures, but there are important differences between the two.

Follow the link to continue reading: Good bye, Rabbit Ears

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Certified Adult Free Over-the-Air TV

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

If we could imagine the inside of Comcast’s headquarters, I am guessing it would look a little something like Barry White’s bedroom, with shag carpets, low lighting, velvet walls and one of his silky love songs playing softly in the background. While that sounds great for “the love walrus,” we’re assuming parents wouldn’t want their kids hanging around that environment.

Why would we expect Comcast’s headquarters to look like a “love dungeon?” It might have something to do with the amount of money they make selling pornography every year, and they are not the only cable or satellite provider racking in the X-rated dollars.

In fact companies like Porncast…I mean Comcast have so much porn it seems they can’t even keep it off regular programming. For example, the small mix up during Super Bowl XLIII, where Arizona fans were subjected to 30 seconds of porn instead of their home team in the final seconds of the game, is disgusting. But don’t worry Comcast made it up to their customers as they always do with $10 off their next cable bill coupon. Even worse, they previously made the same “mistake” twice during children’s programming.

Comcast like many others, does not disclose how much they make every year from their adult only sales. It is expected to be an exorbitant amount, considering their cut of sales is estimated at 95 percent.

In this case over-the-air television really is free, free of porn that is. Protected by FCC laws, broadcasters are held to stricter standards, where porn is not just a click away. Broadcasters need to go through a character check when applying for their licenses, since airwaves are public. So next time your children are looking for something to watch, you won’t be afraid if they are using an over-the-air television antenna, because programs are safe and “mistakes” won’t happen.

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How to Save Money on TV with an Antenna

Friday, August 13th, 2010

People across the nation are finding that a great way to save money is by NOT paying for cable and receiving over-the-air digital reception for FREE. A family in Portland, Oregon switched to using an antenna and is enjoying saving money each month while enjoying a crystal clear picture and more family fun. Watch the news clip from KGW here:

Click here to read more about How to Save Money on TV with an Antenna.

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Death, Taxes and Your Cable Bill

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

There are only a few certainties in life, like death, taxes and your cable bill going up.  But there is one big difference between the three, cable is certain to raise its rates multiple times a year and it comes every month. Just ask California residents, who last October were slammed by Comcast with a 1.5 percent rate increase only to be blindsided the next August with a whopping 3.8 percent increase. And what do they claim as the reason for the raise in rates? To pay for more programming choices, new features, faster Internet speeds and improvements to customer service.

Well that’s understandable, as they do need some upgrading. But didn’t they post huge profits with fewer cable subscribers last year? Hmmm interesting, I also suppose the rate increases will go to help their new customer service initiative. It must be hard to service those California residents who are paying a measly $60.76 to $63.25 a month.

Or maybe the cable companies just see the writing on the wall. As their prices increase, more people are making the switch to over-the-air TV. Last week we saw a statistic that according to Nielsen, only .5-percent of U.S. households lacked TVs capable of tuning into digital broadcasts, down from an already small 2.5 percent in June. And as compliment to over-the-air TV, 161 million Internet users in the U.S. viewed Internet based content during August, with the average viewer spending 10 hours online.

While cable prices are rising at an ever increasing rate, over-the-air TV will continue to be $0.00 every month. And you can count on that. Maybe there are four certain things in life, death, taxes, your cable bill going up and over-the-air TV continuing to be free.

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You Don’t Have to Pay for Cable TV

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

A year after the digital TV conversion, we continue to hear customers tell us how they canceled their cable provider and now use over-the-air TV. One such person is Dan Schointuch, VP of Money Talks Interactive who wrote an article called  You Don’t Have to Pay for Cable TV, which also appeared Yahoo! Finance.

Almost a year ago I moved into a new apartment and did something revolutionary: I didn’t set up cable or satellite TV. I was frustrated by the lack of choice (only one provider), lengthy contracts, and inexplicably high price. As someone who watches a lot of television, this seemed like a truly difficult problem, but I resolved to find a way to see my favorite shows without paying a cable or satellite bill. Fortunately, it was much easier than I thought.

You might not know it, but you can watch HDTV with an antenna.

Over 99% of U.S. TV households can receive at least one local sation over the air, while 89% can watch five or more. The picture is perfectly clear thanks to the switch to digital TV completed on June 12, 2009. You’ll either see a crisp, beautiful image or no image at all (static is a thing of the past). And the best part? All your favorite programming will still be in HD.

Click here to continue reading, You Don’t Have to Pay For Cable.

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