Wow.... satellite and cable TV are getting way too rich for me....
After looking at what programming I watch, I initially downgraded from the Top 200 package to the Welcome Pack about seven months ago. Then, I discovered I really wasn't watching much more besides my local stations and The Daily Show (ok, when I had the Top 200 I watched more, but what I watched was mostly junk). Missed the HD versions of the cable networks, but it was a lot cheaper.
So, because I have a great view to Mt. Wilson in Los Angeles, I put up an off-the-air antenna and bought a used Tivo Premiere with Lifetime service, and a Roku four months ago. Also already had an Apple TV laying around.
Then, I started using the Tivo, Apple TV and Roku as my primary methods for watching TV. Yeah, I had the Dish DVR as a backup for any programming I might not be able to get through one of the above devices... but in FOUR MONTHS, I never had to turn the Dish receiver on.
So today, thanks to the $5 price increase for the Welcome Pack, I called Dish and disconnected my Dish service. My new monthly bill for TV? $7.99 for Hulu Plus (mostly to watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report on the Roku). And since Charter includes Epix Online for free with their 30mb internet service package (which is only $29.99 a month for the first year, and then $44 after that) I can watch Epix via the Roku also. I also get espn3 included with the cablemodem service for free.
Besides that, I'll have to pay $15 or so one-time for a season pass of Dr. Who when it comes back in April.
Darn lot cheaper than paying for Dish when I consider that I really don't watch much in the way of sports outside of the occasional Dodger game (and I can definitely go to a few more games at the stadium with the money I'll save). And really, almost anything else I would care to watch will be available from the iPad app for History Channel, or on the Roku, or on Apple TV, etc. Even if I spend $5 a month on iTunes purchases (which I haven't so far), I'll be way ahead of the game.....
Will still hang out here to see what's going on with Dish, but not as an active subscriber....
Robert