I’d like to help you save money by canceling cable TV and replacing it with free and cheap alternatives. It’s called “cord cutting” and the techniques I present in this site are completely legal!
The average cable customer spends $100 a month on cable. That’s $1,200 per year for the rest of your life, or about $60,000 in your lifetime! Why pay when you can watch many of the same shows for much less or free?
Part of the solution to the ridiculous cost of cable and satellite TV is to switch to FREE broadcast digital TV using an antenna like one of the ones below. If you live near or in a decent-sized metropolitan area, you should be able to get most of the network channels (ABC, CBS, NBS, Fox) plus PBS and local stations with an inexpensive indoor antenna.
You can also connect your TV to a device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV to get additional free and pay TV and movie services using your Internet connection. I explain all of this on DisableMyCable™.
Start with Free Broadcast Digital TV
Did you know that people in or near big cities can receive most of the major network channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW), plus PBS and local stations in hi-def for free? It’s called broadcast digital TV. I was able to get thirty channels total in Providence, RI, and over 100 in Los Angeles, CA. It takes a little work to set up, but I’ll guide you through it.
To see which channels YOU can get using an antenna, click the big Station Finder button below and enter your zip code.
You will see a map of your area like the one to the right. Wait a few seconds for the colored list of stations to appear on the left. You should be able to pick up the green and yellow channels with a good indoor flat antenna. The ones in orange will probably require an outdoor antenna. The list is not exact but will give you a ballpark idea of the number of channels you should be able to get.
If the stations you want are available, then keep going! If not, skip down to other options.
Test Your TV’s Reception Now – No Antenna Required!
If you have a modern flat-panel TV (the kind that you can hang on a wall), all you need is an antenna to get these channels, and you’ll be getting most of them in high-definition, with better picture quality than you got with cable!
If you don’t have an antenna right now, here is a quick-and-dirty way to test your TV to see if it will work:
For detailed instructions on how to hook up your antenna and configure your TV, go to the antenna setup page on this site!
If You Have an Old Analog Tube TV
If you have an old analog tube TV like the one above, you can still get free TV using an antenna. You’ll need to get a converter box to do it.
My Favorite Indoor TV Antenna
A rooftop outdoor antenna will get you the most channels. For those of you who are not able to install a rooftop antenna, I’ve done extensive testing of indoor antennas to come up with the one which brings in the most channels. Read more about the indoor TV antenna I chose!
How to Record Broadcast TV Shows
Many people ask me if they can record the shows from free broadcast TV. The answer is a resounding “yes”!
If you love the Amazon family of products like the Echo and Fire TV, I recommend the Fire TV Recast. If you don’t use Amazon products, I would recommend Tablo.
How to Get Cable TV Channels Without Cable/Satellite
Using an antenna is great for getting your local stations plus the major networks and PBS. But what if you need certain cable TV channels like AMC, ESPN, or HGTV?
Happily, there are now more than a few companies offering live cable-TV-like streaming services over the Internet. Cost is a lot less than cable or satellite, and you can watch the shows on your computer, tablet, or phone, or on your TV using a streaming device.
One of my recommended streaming services is Sling TV (affiliate link), which has plans starting at $30 per month. You can get all of the channels below for $45 per month:
So, by using an antenna to get the networks and local channels for free, combined with a low-cost streaming service like Sling TV or Philo TV, you have an impressive package of channels for a fraction of the cost of cable! And there is no contract, and no dealing with the cable company!
If you can’t get the networks using an antenna, don’t fret, there are services that offer live TV channels for you. For more information on all of the options, check out my page on streaming services.
My Favorite Way to Watch Streaming Services on My TV
If you want to watch streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Sling TV on your TV, you’ll need to get a streaming media player. These connect to your TV and require an Internet connection.
There are many streaming devices available, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast. But the one that I am recommending for most people is Roku. It offers the most channels, voice search across many content providers, and headphone output, all at a reasonable price. Read my full Roku review here.
Watch TV and Movies on Your Computer for FREE
People have asked me for an easy way to watch their favorite TV shows on the Internet. Here it is: your Free Internet Video Links! I’ve assembled the best sources of free TV on the Internet and put them on one easy-to-use page – you Internet “Remote Control”!
Note, these sites mostly work on desktop and laptop computers, not phones or tablets.
My Story
I was a loyal cable TV customer for all of my adult life, paying about $34/month for basic cable (which sounds ludicrously cheap now). Then I moved to a different city where the cost was $52/month for basic cable. I paid it and figured, “well, that’s just the cost of getting TV”. More and more, however, I realized that I wasn’t getting good TV. I was just surfing through the channels over and over looking for good TV. Then, my 6-month “introductory cable rate” ended and my cable bill went up to $57/month. Sure, it was only a few dollars more, but that was the last straw. After a few months of putting up with the higher cost and lack of good shows, I decided to “Disable My Cable” and try broadcast digital TV. The first thing I tried was an old rabbit-ear antenna that I had from the pre-digital TV days… Read the rest of my story here.
Press
DisableMyCable.com has been featured in many news publications and websites including these:
Hey Brian!
I was wondering, I am thinking about switching to Sling, and was wanting to know if there is an external hard drive that will work with Slings cable-oriented channels? I am asking because I am a huge auto racing fan and would like to record and keep a whole season to watch in the off-season to tie me over till the next one. Thank you for your time and attention. Michael :)
Hi Michael,
Your best bet might be to just use Sling TV’s cloud recording feature. Sling TV comes with 50 hours of recording, but you can buy 200 hours for just $5/month.
If you really want to record to a hard drive, you could use one of those HDMI recording boxes that gamers use:
https://amzn.to/3LYZr5M
But, you’d need to somehow get an HDMI signal with Sling TV feeding into it. Not sure how to do that unless your TV has an HDMI out (most don’t as far as I know). Or, you could get Sling on a computer browser and go out HDMI that way.
There’s a recording service called PlayOn that records to your computer, but unfortunately that doesn’t work with Sling TV.
Best,
Brian
Hi please send me an disable cable box please thank you and have an bless day and it tv free send that to
Hi Nathan,
You don’t need a cable box if you have a modern TV. Just plug an antenna directly into your TV!
Best,
Brian
I’m an high functioning autism 25 years old man, who are currently living with my parents house, and going to be move in an apartment soon. How do I watch TV without cable or satellite while living in an the apartment?
Hi Glen,
Thanks for writing! Start by entering your zip code into the Station Finder to see how many free channels you could get using an antenna:
https://www.disablemycable.com/station-finder/
If you get any green channels, those are the ones you should be able to pick up using an indoor antenna like the Mohu Leaf (assuming you have a relatively modern TV made after 2006). More info here:
https://www.disablemycable.com/antennas/
On top of that, if you have a smart TV and Internet at home, you can use apps like Pluto TV to watch free TV shows. If your TV isn’t “smart”, then you can buy a Roku to watch lots of free channels like Pluto TV:
https://www.disablemycable.com/roku/
Hope this helps!
Best,
Brian
I loved when you said that if you live near or in a decent-sized metropolitan area, you should be able to get most of the network channels (ABC, CBS, NBS, Fox) plus PBS and local stations with an inexpensive indoor antenna. We have had cable tv connections for five years. Just yesterday, we are noticed that our subscription has been terminated. Maybe it’s time to apply for a new cable tv provider. I will follow your advice.
Hi Jeff,
Great! Enter your zip code into the FCC’s Station Finder to see how many channels are available in your area:
https://www.disablemycable.com/station-finder/
Hope it goes well!
Brian
Hello..
I just had direct TV out in my home. I can afford only one box at this time, however, I really want to watch TV in my bedroom. What do you suggest I use to also get TV in my room? I watch HIST, TLC, DIScovery, Investigation Dis, Tru Tv…
THANKS!
Hi Amanda,
With cable and satellite, you’re kind of stuck; you’ll have to pay for a separate receiver for each TV. Generally they are at least $100 to buy and even more to rent over the long run.
These Internet streaming services offer a lot of the same channels for less:
https://www.disablemycable.com/streaming-services/
These require a streaming box such as a Roku, which starts at $29.95.
Best,
Brian
Hello
Let’s do it
what
I want to receive OTA independent stations that are out of range of my external antenna with a preamp. These stations do not have an online service or feed. Is there any way to watch these stations. A new antenna isn’t the answer as the old one is already a long range antenna. I am wanting to watch UHF stations 80 to 120 miles away over flat terrain.
Hi Joe,
I don’t know of a solution; in fact, getting UHF signals from that far away may be nearly impossible due to the curvature of the earth. Check out this article to better estimate the transmitter’s range:
https://www.disablemycable.com/blog/estimate-tv-reception/
Best,
Brian
I found this site name in AARP magazine. So glad I did. I am preparing to start using my tv as my PC monitor allowing me to stream content on a bigger screen. Thank you for all the advice about the local antenna. I got 6 green hits for local stations only 6 miles away so that part should be ok. Here’s my question. As a member of Amazon Prime already, do I need Fire TV also? And if I understand correctly, the stick or the box is simply a choice. Thank you for making all this understandable.
Hi Christine,
I’m so glad you found my site and that it was useful to you!
Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV have the Amazon app on them, so you could get any one of them to watch Amazon Prime on your TV. I would probably go with a Roku due to the uncertainties of getting YouTube on Fire TV. If that doesn’t matter to you, then either is fine.
Regarding the Amazon Fire TV stick, vs. the “box”, the box has 4K whereas the stick does not. If your TV is not 4K, then you can go with the stick.
Best,
Brian