This doesn't sound like good news for anone on a budget...

**miss_cas** · 12-30-2009, 12:25 AM

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=449307&gt1=28103

**Luckybustert** · 12-30-2009, 02:21 AM

I don't know....we could always go back to reading, playing board games, crafts, physical exercise, and other activities that don't have us sitting in front of the TVs for hours. I can see people actually spending more quality time with each other and perhaps the high rate of obesity in our country would decline if people could no longer afford to veg out in front of the TV. Is it really a bad thing? I guess it all depends on perspective and priorities.

duva1080 · 12-30-2009, 08:09 AM

I used to work in broadcasting, and they were talking about this ten years ago. There are arguments for and against, yes maybe it might happen, there was even talk about actually charging per tv like they do in the UK.

Dont forget there is PBS...

**AmyBoz** · 12-30-2009, 08:22 AM

Unfortunately, I have no doubt that if tv becomes "pay tv" there will be millions willing to pay it. Not casting any aspersions against anyone here, but look at how many people continue to smoke despite the fact that they know it is killing them and the fact that the cost for cigarettes has gone through the roof. You think people won't pay for their tv? I think many people are just as addicted (although, not medically) to tv and will give up other things to make sure they can watch their shows.

I love my tv, but if this happened, I'd be perfectly happy to ditch regular programming for reading, board games, and if we wanted some mindless entertainment (which, lets face it, we do) we still have our Netflix subscription.

I'd be interested to see what this would mean for websites like Hulu.com or even the network stations who show their shows online.

Food for thought...thanks for sharing!

**Josephhgoins** · 12-30-2009, 08:23 AM

and there is Hulu.com for TV shows and some movies and the library for free DVD's. For special occasions there is the red boxes for $1 movies.

**nuisance26** · 12-30-2009, 08:47 AM

~I disagree with the statement that "Good TV programs are expensive". Was "I Love Lucy" expensive? Or "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" or "The Carol Burnett Show" or "The Cosby Show"?
Program execs only seem to want to make made-for-tv movies disguised as regular programing anymore. Whatever happened to simple shows with simple themes and sets that were incredibly popular like "Frasier", "The Brady Bunch" and "Dragnet"?
We've long passed the days in which the industry was full of people who wished to entertain and is now full of people who are too full of themselves.
The good news is that we all can live without what they have to offer.

~

**MRAHoffman** · 12-30-2009, 11:10 AM

how will people get "local" news (newspapers are going, radio is going)? I don't get it...

**pollypurebred39** · 12-30-2009, 11:34 AM

Hmmm...Well if that does happen like Duva said there will be PBS and the Christian network channels. I get about 5 of them, 2 in Spanish. The Christain channels have movies and music videos. PBS has lots of good programing, Love, Love, Love the Korean dramas! PBS has news from the USA and around the world, as does the Christian network, so I'm guessing we would not be totally in the dark.

Pay Radio? That's proably coming, however there has to be one free channel open for broadcasting that is for emergencies, weather and evacuations. Most regular radios do not pick up this station and you need a special radio that does. Didn't know this till we had a major emergency in our area and the only way to get information was this radio station and our radio did not pick up the signal.

I think we'd find something to do with ourselves. This household is one that will NOT be paying for TV.

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

We've long passed the days in which the industry was full of people who wished to entertain and is now full of people who are too full of themselves.
The good news is that we all can live without what they have to offer.

~

You said it perfectly.

**itlw8** · 12-30-2009, 12:02 PM

there already is pay radio XM and sirius are both pay radio

and most tv stations charge cable companies to carry their signal

**NikoSan999** · 12-30-2009, 12:18 PM

In the news a couple months ago it said Hulu is going to start charging for some of it's shows come early 2010.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_331380.html

**Neeley** · 12-30-2009, 12:25 PM

I'm the oddball.

I love watching TV and would not consider going without it. I could not imagine not having cable television and if the rates go up or I have to pay more for one reason or another, I will. Going TV free is not for me.

I use to think sirrius XM radio was silly. But, last week, we rented a Jeep Commander to take our trip in that had sirrius radio and I fell in love. I am now seriously considering getting it for my car, DD's car and DH's truck.

**pollypurebred39** · 12-30-2009, 12:26 PM

I heard this about Hulu too

**JanieD** · 12-30-2009, 01:37 PM

This isn't the first time I've heard we'd have to pay to watch tv. My dad has been saying it for awhile. I mentioned the article to dh & he said we wouldn't pay for it. Maybe if its $5 a month, but not $30 & he is the one that usually turns it on. Besides, we have lots of dvds (tv series) that we watch all the time since "nothings" on most nights anyway. I wouldn't mind more time to read, do crafts & other things, but sometimes my eyes are just too tried after work. Honestly, I'd miss it some but could adjust.