5 Reasons I Don’t Miss Satellite TV

This summer we cancelled our DirecTV subscription. My wife and I have been married 20 years and this is the first time we’re without cable or satellite TV. Initially the kids were sad about missing out on a couple shows they used to watch on Disney and Disney Jr. They got over it quickly and now we don’t miss it. In fact, I’m feeling great about the decision.

Here are a handful of the reasons I don’t miss it:

1. I’m suddenly saving $106.81 each month. That’s $1,281.72 in a year. That adds up to a couple weeks of freedom each year!
2. I’m sitting here blogging instead watching a show right now. Not sure where this will lead, but I’m sure it’s going to be a more productive result than watching another episode of Mike & Molly. I have a ton of stuff I’d like to do. I don’t need to watch so much TV.
3. We still have access to plenty of video that we want to see. Netflix streaming is cheap and offers thousands of options. We also have Apple TV that lets us wirelessly connect our devices. That means we can watch anything we can access on the internet…yahoo video, youtube, network show replays, etc.
4. I enjoy other forms of entertainment that seem to be more educational. I’m subscribed to several podcasts that are fantastic. I have more time for books and audiobooks. I also subscribe to several youtube channels that are very positive and educational. More time for The Greatest Investment in the World.
5. I think we’re showing our kids an alternative to mindless tv watching as a family habit. We still enjoy a movie together now and then…but it’s an intentional choice rather than a daily habit.

Speaking of daily habit–I recently saw a statistic that Americans watch something like four hours of television per day. I know that once I sit down it’s easy to turn my mind off and be passively entertained.

My wife compares watching tv to eating potato chips. You sit down to enjoy one or two and the next thing you know the bag is empty! Or you’ve watched the whole season in one sitting—pick your poison.

What do you think? Is television a guilty pleasure or a legitimate learning source for you?