Gloss How-To: Ditch Your Cable And Get TV From The Internet

Hi, my name is Jennifer and I’ve been cable-free since January 1, 2010.

Since cutting out cable nine months ago, I’ve not only been able to keep up with my favorite TV programs, but I’ve saved more than $1000 to boot, thanks to a number of the digital innovations now available. But even without the ol’ cable box stand-by, TV diet rich in streaming video and online content can still be just as satisfying, and necessary for anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere.

Despite a long and colorful history of fighting to suppress new devices and technology in the consumer market (Congressional hearings about the “savagery and the ravages of” the VCR ring a bell?), TV and film studios have finally relented to allow users to watch their content online… but with a few restrictions, of course, until they decide whether streaming services are friends or foes. Case in point: The newest seasons of HBO shows like “True Blood” aren’t even made available on Amazon or iTunes until after the DVDs are released, and some programs like live awards shows are downright impossible to find streaming (legally) online.

As to be expected, few things in life are truly free (or at least without some strings attached), so after rental fees, new equipment and the aforementioned strings, is making the switch really worth it? Check out the breakdown below and decide for yourself — you might discover a whole new way to watch your favorite TV shows, and save a few bucks while you’re at it!

Watch Your Favorite Shows Online

Free Service: Hulu

Has your roommate commandeered the TV to watch the “Rock of Love” marathon on VH1? Hulu’s got you covered. The streaming service offers same-day availability for your favorite NBC, FOX and ABC shows, as well as exclusives like behind-the-scenes clips and interviews, and even some original programming. Commercials are unavoidable but with Hulu, you at least have the option to watch a show with either limited commercial interruption, or a full-length 2-3 minute version beforehand. Click “yes” or “no” to tell Hulu whether a commercial is relevant to you or not – if you are forced

Only a handful of the most recent episodes are usually available for free, but for users who want access to the entire season, past and present, there’s Hulu Plus for only $10 a month.

One major caveat: While “30 Rock,” “Glee” and “Modern Family” fans will rejoice, “True Blood” and “Mad Men” addicts will be thoroughly disappointed.

Paid Services: Netflix, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, Blockbuster On Demand

To complement Hulu’s free albeit somewhat limited service, I love Netflix‘s “Watch Instantly” video streaming. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix subscribers enjoy DVD rentals-by-mail, as well as unlimited hours of commercial-free streaming media on your computer, smartphone or Apple iPad. The newest episodes may not be immediately available, but with a huge library of over 17,000 titles, ”Watch Instantly” is perfect for catching up on past seasons, or TV shows you’ve been meaning to check out for some time. Interestingly, the service also offers a sizable collection of British comedies like “Keeping Up Appearances,” “The I.T. Crowd,” and original “The Office.” Bonus: Netflix “Watch Instantly” is poised to take on HBO and other premium channels after making a deal last month to stream more than 3,000 films from three major studios.

Priced at $1.99 each, $2.99 for HD, episodes on Amazon and iTunes aren’t as cheap as Netflix but there are savings if you buy full seasons at a time instead of individual episodes. Even with the slightly higher cost, it may be worth it depending on how eager you are to watch the newest episodes. And since these are purchased to buy and not just to rent, fans of “Mad Men” and “Entourage” will be able to watch each episode over and over again.

If you need to catch up on Showtimes series like “Weeds,” “Dexter” and “The Tudors,” Blockbuster On Demand offers $1.99 rentals for the entire season – yup, that’s less than $2 for all 542 scandalous minutes of “The Tudors” Season 2, a bargain in any book.

Network Websites

In the past, networks have been notoriously uncool about their shows being available online, but nowadays, network Websites can be a surprisingly decent resource for free content. The price is right but these sites are at most, just a complement to another service as only a handful of shows from select shows are usually available in full. Another drawback: Web-exclusive interactive features. I applaud MTV.com’s efforts to encourage audience participation, but for those of us who just want to watch “Jersey Shore” in secret, the real-time chat windows and “Like” options that flank the screen are annoying distractions.

From the Internet To Your 90″ Flatscreen

Even if you lose the monthly cable subscription, that doesn’t mean you’ll watch to ditch the new LCD flatscreen you splurged on this summer. Instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV including movies and shows, music playlists and more using any one of these Internet connected devices:

Game Consoles

Not only do they play games and DVDs, but the Playstation 3, Wii, and XBox 360 also stream thousands of HD movies and episodes from Netflix on your TV at the touch of a button.

Stand-Alone Boxes

Stand-alone boxes like the new Apple TV, Roku Streaming Player, TiVo Premiere, and the soon-to-be-released Google TV tap into specific services in order to stream content on your TV:

With the compact Apple TV, users can stream shows or movies from they’ve rented from iTunes and Netflix on their TV,  iPad, the new iPod Touch, iPhone, and Mac computer.

By connecting wirelessly to your high-speed Internet connection, Roku does not require a computer for streaming and works with existing subscriptions like Netflix or free and on-demand content like Amazon VOD. Roku is available in a few models ($60 – $100), including the XDS, which works with any TV up to 1080p for the biggest streaming experience you can get.

The TiVO Premiere ($299) is an all-in-one cable box, movie box, web box, and music box that connects to your cable service and offers full HD support. Users have access to a massive content library from TiVO partners including Netflix, Amazon VOD and Blockbuster On Demand, as well as shows on cable channels and over-the-air digital TV. Schedule recordings online or your mobile phone and record up to 45 hours of content – or 150 hours with the Premiere XL ($499).

Not much about the Google TV has been confirmed but as we told you earlier, reports say it will stream video from Netflix, free online content like YouTube and DISH Network for current subscribers.

In the market for a new TV or Blu-Ray player? A growing number of Internet connected TVs and Blu-Ray players are now pre-loaded with software tap into services likes Netflix, Amazon VOD and more.

Get Your TV Listings Online

Updated 09/28/10 12:35p EST: Ditching the cable doesn’t mean you have to lose those handy-dandy TV listings, too.  Online programming guide Clicker.com is easy to navigate, whether you’re looking for a new episode of “House” or browsing through Web-exclusive videos like Revision3′s “Totally Rad Show” (one of my favorites). Manage your “Clicker Playlist” or get your social networkin’ on by following friends to see what they’re watching. You can even check-in to favorite shows à la Foursquare to earn badges for show loyalty — that “Party Down” badge is so mine!

Turn Your Mac or PC Into a TV/DVR Combo

With a USB TV tuner like the EyeTV Hybrid by Elgato ($150), users can watch and record basic cable channels as well as free over-the-air digital TV on their Mac or PC — no fancy flatscreen TV required. Award-winning software lets you set up schedules to record favorite shows in HD, watch, pause or rewind live TV, edit out unwanted content like commercials, and even export to your iPod, iPhone or iPad. Score!

The EyeTV Hybrid by Elgato

Cutting Cable, By The Numbers

According to the Time Warner website, a year of digital cable including Choice Tier channels, HBO and Showtime On Demand, Movies Pass, an HD DVR Box and monthly service would cost me $1151.76, before taxes. What do I pay now? By sticking to Hulu, Netflix ($8.99 a month, and an array of Websites, my yearly cost is somewhere around $107. Even the occasional Amazon VOD purchase (one $1.99 episode every week) only bumps my grand yearly total to $203.40. As I have no fancy TV or “Mad Men” addiction to speak of, my costs may be significantly lower but even taking into account equipment costs and nightly purchases on Amazon or iTunes, you may be surprised to find how much money you can save.

What do you think about a cable-free existence? Would you make the switch?