Globe & Mail Article - Save $ with OTA

[57]

Interesting article today:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...=cable+turning

Too bad he wasn't a bit more balanced. He says cable costs $100/mo, however, that's for a premium package. An equivalent to OTA package would be only about $30-40/mo. He also neglected to mention the initial capital cost of OTA (which may be equal to, or more than, an HD STB from Rogers). He also didn't mention how he plans to watch TSN, etc.

[stampeder]

Ya, that article strikes me as more of a "found money" financial savings tip rather than an attempt to list all the pros and cons.

[Pedroff]

Actually he did mention it: "I'm probably saving about $100 a month - the cost of a premium package".

I think he has a very good point.

[El Gran Chico]

Originally Posted by Pedroff

Actually he did mention it: "I'm probably saving about $100 a month - the cost of a premium package".

I think he has a very good point.

Isn't HD a premium package? The reason I went OTA was because I was told I'd have to pay an amount I wasn't willing to pay for the HD channels I could get ota.

I'm sure that 57 is more learned than I on pricing these days and maybe it has changed in the last 18 months or so, but the Rogers CSR I spoke to gave me a price well over $30-40 /month for the most basic HD service. But I'm also pretty sure it was less than $100 so 57's point is well taken.

[57]

Actually he did mention it:

Yeah, he mentioned it, but the article is misleading in that it implies a $100/mo saving by going to OTA (neglecting capital and maintenance cost for OTA as well), while you could save about $60-70/month simply by going to a basic package and still getting 20 HD channels on Rogers, along with several others. Or perhaps save $40-50 and go with Digital VIP and get 225 channels with 20 HD ones, or save about $30-40 and get over 30 HD channels...

It's the implication that bothers me since he compared apples and oranges. Also, only a small percentage of people have OTA only, they usually have a service provider to get specialty channels and augment via OTA.

If all he wanted to talk about was the future value of $100/month, then why not do that, or do a fair comparison. He got the car example much better.

El Gran Chico Here are the roughly 20 HD channels you get with the Rogers Basic plus an HD STB:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76073 A list that would be very similar to his OTA list.

[Pedroff]

Still, OTA is a one time cost where cable you have to pay all the time.

[El Gran Chico]

For what it's worth, it seems like the Globe and Mail has some OTA enthusiasts on staff...

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...&postcount=199

in this thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=40900