the running reverend

Throughout our married life, Crystal and I have elected to forgo television to practice focus our time and attention elsewhere. A few years ago, however, we decided to take the plunge and once again “tune in.” Not wanting to pay a lot and hoping not to become TV junkies, we checked to see if it might be possible to get an antenna.

Research revealed that an antenna was not a viable option, thus we were left weighing the pros and cons of the cable/satellite debate. In the end satellite won out on the basis of price and programming.

A little over two and half years into our contract, I can honestly say that satellite was a good option. We were able to watch sporting events, stay abreast of the latest news, and enjoy some mindless entertainment when it was needed.

Sadly, our satellite package that initially cost $31 now costs almost $50. Our satellite provider, after a number of phone calls agreed to lower our bill by $10 if we would be willing to stay with them.

Yet, at the end of the day, we couldn’t do it.

We knew that the price would eventually go up (they could only guarantee it for a year).

Continuing with our satellite provider would mean paying for lots of program that: a) we didn’t view and, b) we could get elsewhere.

What we’ve decided to do is purchase a Roku player. We can stream Netflix and instant videos that are available free through Amazon Instant Video to Amazon Prime members through the device. For a mere $7.99 per month (and currently without sales tax, service fees, and governmental fees) we are able to subscribe to Hulu+ and have on-demand access to most of the television programs that we enjoy.

The big downside of what we’re attempting is that we will have limited access to live sports.

The upside: lower cost (even with Hulu+ we’ll end up saving around $40 per month); fewer commercials; and access to both current and previous episodes of many television shows.

Thus far, after a week of experimentation, we have found that we are using the Roku more than our satellite service. The selection of programs has been fantastic and streaming quality is as good as our satellite feed.

Another benefit: there are a number of new apps springing up daily for the Roku. The TED conference has a nice little app that allows us to watch videos from the 1000+ TED talks that are now available. Churches, such as Elevation Church, have apps available so that you can stream their services (if that’s what floats your boat). There are also a number of apps related to news, weather, and indie films.