Marco.org

Goodbye, cable TV

Tomorrow, I’m calling Cablevision to cancel my TV service. I’ve been waffling about this for many months, but now, I’m ready to do it — and I’m committing to do it by writing it here.

It’s not that I have bad service. I have a nice digital/HDTV/HD-DVR package with hundreds of channels.

It’s not that I can’t afford it, although it will be nice to send Cablevision about $80 less every month. (I’m keeping the cable internet service because it’s awesome.)

In the spirit of Bill’s unresolutions that I intend to adopt, TV just isn’t a net gain in my life. The only benefit it gives me is to help consume time in which I can’t figure out anything else to do.

Not only should I be minimizing those occasions, but when they do occur, I have plenty of great alternatives.

• I can read worthwhile, informative writing on the internet.
• I can read a book from my giant, neglected book queue.
• I can create photos (and soon, videos).
• I can go to sleep early.
• I can exercise.
• I can work on a programming side-project.

Any of those would benefit me.

TV wouldn’t.

Decision made.