I'm finally doing it. I'm saying goodbye to pay TV. I just got a used Tivo Premiere with lifetime on Ebay, and will be getting my programming almost exclusively from OTA, DVDs/Blu-Ray's from the library and my own collection, and Amazon Instant video.
Prices keep going up, and the quality of cable programming mostly keeps going down. It's a vast wasteland of reality shows and "edgy" (read: excessively violent) shows these days. Most of my programming is on the networks. And the networks keep adding decent subchannels, like Antenna TV, MeTV, This TV, Grit TV, GetTV, and so on. There are only a few shows I grew attached to watching: Mostly Doctor Who and Mad Men.
With my Tivo, I'll be able to download these shows on Amazon Instant Video. Note I didn't say stream. As I see no more point in a hefty internet bill than a hefty TV bill, I keep my internet at TWC's "Everyday Low Price" internet for $15/month for 2mbps. Not enough to stream even DVD quality. So, no, I do not plan to use Hulu Plus or Netflix.
There will be times I'll miss you, Dish. Grand slam tennis that has moved mostly to ESPN. Shows I'd decided to live without like The Daily Show and The Soup. But for saving $82/month, it is worth it.
If it were the old days, with Voom, or HD Absolute, I might stay. But even the welcome pack is too much. I hold no hard feelings to dish. Charlie has fought hard to keep rates low, but he is losing the battle. In a few years, I think the programmers will lose the war as more and more like me leave the paid TV ranks.
Until then, thanks for 8 years of entertainment, Dish. Maybe we'll see you around someday.