How To Survive Without TV: The Fan's Dilemma

by Isabella King on Sep 27, 2009 9:58 PM PDT in Random fun Comment 35 comments

The pre-season is drawing to a close and I'm constantly reminded that, in order to save money now that I'm living on my own, I decided to forego cable TV and just sign up for really, really jacked internet.

But now that hockey's back on, even if it's just the pre-season, I find myself wondering at how I'm going to make it through the next 82 games (even CBC's offlimits; I don't have a line that connects my TV to the cable outlet, and no antenna since, well, it's 2009). Is this even possible? I've never not had cable before, and all of a sudden I'm without CBC, TSN, SNet... holy slapshot, what the hell have I done?

I'm not going to cave. Paying an insane amount of money to essentially watch 3 channels goes against my belief of Good God Stop Wasting Your Money. So this is the year of my tentatively-titled Suck This, Shaw experiment.

There must be other people in this boat, so for all of you who are cable-less, and I'm sure that there must be more than one hockey fan out there who is, a preliminary list of ways to survive the hockey season.

Go to the Bar. Always my favourite option. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but hockey has turned me into a drinker (my first drink was when I was 19 and a Canucks vs Colorado game was going very, very badly). Fortunately, I'm still a small enough person where a double vodka 7 will be enough to keep me buzzing happily along until the final buzzer goes.

Pros: You're paying anywhere between $5 and $20 to watch a game, but hell, you get to at least ingest your experience. And it's still better than an $8 beer at GM place.
Cons: You're paying anywhere between $5 and $20 to watch a game, and you might be remembering that experience through a hangover the next day.
Go to a Friend's Place. This is another great option if you have friends who are hockey fans. And who are we kidding--of course you have friends who are hockey fans. This is fucking Canada we're talking about. But don't be a freeloader, always BYOB and maybe a bag of chips or something for the host.

Pros: Who doesn't love hanging out with their friends? And you can usually make a ritual out of it. And if your friend is hot or hangs out with hot people, eye candy never hurts.
Cons: Not always the most convenient option when it's mid-week and, well, spending too much time with someone can get pretty grating after a while.
Stream that Sucker. I'm not talking about the illegal feeds that keep popping up, which tends to have really, really bad quality (and at that point, why don't you just sit by a window with a pair of binoculars watching the game into someone else's apartment and hope that they don't call the cops?). But if you're willing to search for it, there are some games that are streamed live from NHL.com or Yahoo! and the like. I find you can usually find the feeds somewhere on Canucks.com, if it is an option.

Additionally, there's also the other option of NHL GameCentre Live. It's $24.99 a month, or $199 until April 2010. Canadian.

Pros: Not only do you get to watch Canucks games, but for the truly avid hockey fan, you can also watch non-market games and maybe pick a favourite Eastern Conference team for the season. All of this from your computer.
Cons: Are you fucking kidding me with $24.99 a month? And at this point, if you buy in October, I think $199 for the entire season actually comes out to be more expensive than the monthly option. Plus you're watching on your crappy laptop screen.
Radio + Highlights. My usual staple back when I had TV, but had something else to do that evening and couldn't sit and watch. Growing up, hockey games were usually interrupted by let's-pretend-to-go-to-church time, and my sister and I would sit in the car in the parking lot of the church while we listened to the game. Fond memories, that. And there's a lot of nostalgia for me whenever I listen to Shorthouse's play-by-play and Larscheid's... he's doing the games drunk now, right? With this, you get to imagine that they're doing much better than they actually are, and then only later, after you find out the final score, do you actually get to watch them fuck up.

Pros: Free. Plus there are some golden Larscheid moments that you really can't miss, i.e. "I just came back from the dressing room and Pavel's groin has never felt better!"
Cons: Fuck using my imagination.

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Fore-go cable? This is a terrible option. You can’t rely on internet feeds because they’ll crap out on you and you’ll drink even more in disgust. You can’t afford satellite with basics and just hand pick the sportsnet package? Can’t you cost cut in other areas?
This is hardly the year to miss Canucks games. The Canucks are going to make some noise! Do you accept charitable donations?

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 27, 2009 10:16 PM PDT reply actions

piggyback what you already do

if you’re planning to sit at home with a half sack of granville island for every game anyway then the bar option is a good value. pay a little more for your beers but the game experience will be great.

if you have canuck fan friends then mooching off them is a great option, and not i might add incompatible with option 1.

3 doesn’t make a lot of sense, for $24/mo you’re a long way to basic cable.

radio is the only option that really has the potential to save you some coin, but it’s like going back to the stone age. if you can hack roughing it like that though, more power to you.

if it was me it would be a combination of 1, 2 and 4, leaning heavily on option 1.

by bitterguy on Sep 27, 2009 10:28 PM PDT reply actions

I’d go with 1 and 2 if your situation is that dire. Isn’t 4 something you do when you are working late and/or driving home from a commute?
However, if you watch even half the Canucks games at a bar per month…that’s about 7 games. Do the math with the alcohol you consume and you’re pushing my recommended basic satellite package with a spots package option.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 27, 2009 10:35 PM PDT reply actions

If you want to save money, stop drinking. I did a 8 year stretch where I didnt have a drop, I saved thousands and jump-started my career. Now I have the odd beer and i’m a better man cause of it.

by Nuckels on Sep 27, 2009 10:58 PM PDT reply actions

Well, that would be the logical choice. But that’s asking a lot isn’t it?

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 27, 2009 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I’d rather cut off an ear.

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Sep 28, 2009 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Alright…welcome to my world…

1. Game times are generally 10am…and most bars are not open and if they are, there is the inconvenience of game time happening during working hours… However, this year, I have a new (pirate) sat dish that has a channel that promises live NHL games throughout the season. Having lived in Asia as long as I have…I’ll believe it when I see it. But, they have come through pretty well with college football,to date.
2. I have no friends. Heh. Seriously…see above.
3. Sigh…streaming is, sadly, slow and choppy on this side of the Pacific…especially when all internet connections from outside the Middle Kingdom flow through filter after filter of the great firewall. I can get some streaming in snippets…but its so frustrating, I don’t bother.
4. Radio. Hooray for Team 1040 and their live streams of the games…plus the podcasts of each period they throw up along the way. Very helpful when I want to hide and listen to the game during my long commutes to work.

You missed one for us folk stranded across the water…bit torrent. Thanks to anyone out there that helps poor suckers, like me, with a recorded game here and there.

by GZ Expat on Sep 27, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions

BT is a touchy subject, and I neither endorse nor condemn it (though you can probably guess which one I support).

It’s not an option for someone who doesn’t have cable but it is a good option for people without ready access to any Canucks games at all: SlingBox. If you already have friends or family who are watching the game, and the time difference isn’t too great, it’s another way to stream games in a reliable manner (well, reliable depending on your internet connection and, as I understand it, theirs).

by Isabella King on Sep 28, 2009 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Beat me to it

This is what I was going to suggest. My buddy moved to Grand Cayman and so I set up a slingbox on my cable box for him. The only thing is that you both need to upgrade your internet to the fastest speed available.

If you can’t find someone that is going to also be watching the games, you can just spring for an extra cable box for them (usually about $5 per month extra). If you wanted, you could make it a DVR instead of just a cable box (usually $10 instead of $5) and then you could record shows and watch them later – hockey included.

by treved on Sep 28, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I never thought of that…good to know if I ever move to Asia! I feel for you GZ…let us know how that sat dish works for you.

For our author…radio is good for the imagination too. But then you already know that too. A good play by play guy is crucial. If I had to listen to that guy doing it for the Oil tonight, I don’t think so.

But Shorty is good.

Ummm…I know that it is 2009, and they are going digital…but an antenna, or at least what passes for an antenna these days, should be able to pick up CBC….I know that is what I did when I was in the same economic boat in my younger days.

I believe the US was going total digital, but I don’t think that canada, with our wide rural areas, is doing quite the same.

I could be wrong…but if you had a kickass antenna, you should get CBC, CTV and maybe Global.

Better than nothing, and at least you get the HNIC games…

Peace

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Sep 27, 2009 11:41 PM PDT reply actions

Yes…there is no more analog signals available in the USA…everything has switched to digital.

Need an antenna? Just try this…

by GZ Expat on Sep 27, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I believe the US was going total digital, but I don’t think that canada, with our wide rural areas, is doing quite the same.

Nah. Up here we treat our elderly people with respect. I don’t think many old folks can work satellite remotes, haha

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 27, 2009 11:53 PM PDT reply actions

Watching in Tokyo

Center Ice is the best 200 bucks I spend a year. It’s great to roll out of bed at the crack of noon on weekends and start the day with a game.

by Japanicus Fanicus on Sep 28, 2009 12:03 AM PDT reply actions

Ahhh…I wish I had the internet of Japan here in Chiner. It’s like the difference between a Ferarri and a Lada.

by GZ Expat on Sep 28, 2009 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Lada Samara

Only new car I’ve ever owned… or ever will. Trucks and motorcycles from now on, enough of this “car” nonsense!

The Lada… sobs into beer It ruined me… glug glug

by Thursday on Sep 28, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I’m in Ontario so we don’t get the S-Pac games anyways. For this season, I’m gonna resort to CBC, online streaming, and Team 1040 (in that order). There’s also the option to download the full games, but watching it knowing the result isn’t fun.

One semester at school I had to suffer through without cable TV (it was either that or Internet) and there wasn’t too much streaming at the time. I resorted to Team 1040 for every game and actually liked it because I could listen while doing homework, whereas with TV my eyes would be diverted easily. Also, Shorty and Tommy were fun to listen to.

by cyxj on Sep 28, 2009 1:21 AM PDT reply actions

i agree, team1040 goes well with homework. i did that a lot last year in residence.

http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com

GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Sep 28, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Have to say…after listening to the lame play by play guys the Oilers had on the thread today, that we have one of the best teams here in Vancouver.

Who doesn’t love Tommy?

Really? Tommy’s great! Commie! Take that back

LOL

Most of the games are on SNet. Not sure if you get TSN…they’ll have some. I know with my TV package I can watch the Pacific….West…Ontario and East feeds.

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Sep 28, 2009 1:49 AM PDT reply actions

wow

wow, how much does basic cable cost right now (i have no idea)

all u really need are cbc and sportsnet, which are included in the cheapest package i believe (without tsn)

honestly, i dont think any of ur alternatives are that great lol, id just stick with basic cable.

option #1 if u go to a bar for a game, ur probably gonna eat there, even if u dont, assuming one drink lasts u thru the whole game (unlikely, but manageable) ur looking at 10 dollars after tax and tips, plus the cost of getting there (ur not gonna get a ride from a friend EVERY time right) also, u’ll need to find someone to go with u (unless u like going by urself and drinking by urself and watching the game by urself) I doubt ud have the energy to make a trip to the bar for EVERY canuck game. Bottom line, ur looking at 10 bucks a game, 12 games a month? even if u only go to half of these, ur looking at 60 dollars, plus the effort/energy needed of going to the bar.

option #2 Doable, but gonna take a lot of energy searching around friend’s places to go to everygame. Again, ur looking at the cost of transportation and would likely need to bring something for the host (nobody likes to go empty handed right?)

option #3 Like one of the poor souls above, I also work in china (and i fucking hate it) and yes, streaming (and going on A LOT of websites) is a pain in the ass. Not sure how the connection is over in north america, but if its anything like what we have in fucking chinaland here (yes i hate this place) then u’ll need to be a VERY VERY VERY patient man.

option #4 I guess its the cheapest?

again, im not sure how much basic cable costs these days, but i would really try to cut expenses somewhere else. Good luck to ya!

by alen h on Sep 28, 2009 2:16 AM PDT reply actions

I’ve been without cable for years now, and although that’s the equivalent of blasphemy to real hockey fans, I don’t mind it. Last season I got enough by cobbling together the options you’ve listed here.

Despite the complaints about streaming, I’ve found the online HNIC feed to be excellent on a fast web connection — reasonably good quality and fairly reliable (and free). The TSN streams are good too. Canucks.com feeds don’t tend to be quite as good, but it’s always a bonus to have those games…

by headspacej on Sep 28, 2009 8:05 AM PDT reply actions

TSN streams are actually the best, from my experience. I used to catch WJC feeds at work via TSN stream and it was great.

I don’t know if they’ve updated this or not, but I remember having to ‘line up’ to get a spot on the feed. If you tried to watch too late then the server would be at capacity and your stream just wouldn’t happen. Same deal a few times when Canucks broadcasts initially switched to 1040.

by Isabella King on Sep 28, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions

streams

I was just curious if anyone had any other links to streams? I know they are risky, so I figured I may as well share the ones I know, and hopefully if anyone else knows of a diamond in the rough out there, they can post it as well. I figure the more options that are out there, the more likely it is that us streamers will get lucky on game nights!

www.myp2p.eu
www.justin.tv (I know the games are under something like JTVsports…..)
And the best one I’ve seen so far: www.atdhe.net

Anyone know of any other stream sites? I have also found that the chatrooms in JustinTV are pretty useful- people are always asking for game links, and sometimes other users will post them.

by Dustin Timberlake on Sep 28, 2009 9:07 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

That’s pretty much all of my resources.

by cyxj on Sep 28, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

ATDHE

is by far the best. I watch from there.

Andrew Raycroft for backup? Does not compute.

by Woodinville_12thMan on Sep 28, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I went a few years without cable myself. How and why did I perform this magical feat? Well, the how is obvious. Why spend that much money when all the shows can be downloaded in higher quality for free and watched at my convenience? But when hockey season rolled around I realized I’d over looked something. So I went to a lot of bars mostly.

I also made the mistake of ordering NHL Game Center Live. This is completely useless unless you live OUTSIDE of Canada as they blackout any games that are televised on local channels. I essentially ended up $30 a month to watch everything but the one team I care about watching. So buyer beware with that. Sometimes you can bypass the restriction with a proxy, but I found this very hit and miss and not reliable.

So what happened in the end?
Bought a refurbed shaw HD box and I’m back on cable. Honestly, couldn’t live without Canucks games in HD anymore.

Burrows + Canucks = Stanley Cup!

by SpeakUp on Sep 28, 2009 12:00 PM PDT reply actions

free CBC

The CBC, Global and CTV, have free over the air HDTV in Vancouver.

All you need, is a HDTV, and a very basic hdantenna, I bought mine for $15 at, XScargo last year.
I used to work for the CBC in the transmission department and everyone there has their tv hooked up for free HDTV.

I watched the playoffs in HD and better quality then you get over a paid cable feed. you just need to be in sight of Mt, Seymour, where the transmission comes from

This wont help for sportsnet games but it is will help every Saturday.

As for me im, in europe until december, so im left with only 1040 online, but even then games are on at 5am.

by Dazed2 on Sep 28, 2009 12:29 PM PDT reply actions

Money or supporting your team?

Ok here are my two cents in case anyone cares. As one of the biggest Manchester United fans in Canada as well as a Canucks fan I have no option but to pay for the TV. I only make about 800 a pay check take home and I pay well over 100 dollars for my TV and internet. I have to pay for regular TV just so i have the option to get Setanta Canada as well which costs 15 bucks a month. That’s right I pay 15 bucks a month for one entire channel.

The thing is though, ask me if it’s worth it. The answer is 1,000 times yes. When I get up at 5 am to watch my beloved Manchester United and they win I am happy for days. There is no way I could go back to not watching the games live. I wouldn’t want to and I don’t think I could bring myself to put up with just getting the scores on my computer. And the same goes for the Canucks. I can remember a time when only about 15 games a year were on TV. Now I can watch all 82 if I so choose and I try to watch as many as possible. I just don’t think anyone can really call themselves a fan if they aren’t willing to sacrifice a night out a week, or cutting back on food, for the sake of supporting their team. That wasn’t a joke I really do feel that way. If you want to save money, then shop at Farmer’s Markets or take transit a couple times a week, there are a lot of ways you can save money so that you can still support your team. You can always cancel your TV when Hockey season is over and then turn it on for the first game of the regular season.

I used to go to a lot of Nucks games when I was living down south as my sister has had a half season ticket for the last 8 or 9 years and to me supporting your team is more important than saving money. I would find a way to go to 15 games a season even if it meant racking up my VISA and then paying it off during the off season.

If I lived in England I would be finding ways to travel with United to games all over Europe. Sometimes you have to sacrifice in order to support your team. I mean for some people it’s racing stock cars, hunting, or travelling that they spend their money on, but for me it’s watching and going to as many hockey and soccer games as I can and I am willing to spend my money in order to support my team. That’s just my two cents. Maybe I am too hardcore because of my roots in English football?

by Section 312 on Sep 28, 2009 1:30 PM PDT reply actions

So I'm not supporting my team if I only listen on the radio?

There ain't no turning back when our train is off its track, and there's nothing we can do but watch it crash (watch it crash)
And there ain't no right and wrong when we know it won't be long, and there's nothing we can do but watch it crash
-Tomas Kalnoky/Streetlight Manifesto, Watch It Crash

by kentcheesehead on Sep 28, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions

In my opinion there is a difference between a fan and a supporter. There is nothing wrong with either but if you only listen to games on the radio and I do something like last year when I went to game 2 against St Louis, including driving overnight 14 hours to the game and then right back home 14 more hours after the game, then I feel like I am supporting my team while you are more of a fan. That sounds a little arrogant or something and I don’t mean to sound like that but that’s how I feel.

by Section 312 on Sep 28, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it might be different based on how accessible a team is in your market. I remember that until recently, the Chicago (I believe) owner refused to broadcast any games on TV unless that game was sold out. He wanted that “support” at the cost of the fans.

I don’t remember when only few games were broadcast on TV, but I have heard many people say that in the early days that’s how it was. Vancouver’s a volatile market, but the Canucks are sitting pretty and I doubt that they’re really counting on television subscriptions to keep the team afloat. Still, it’s great that support has taken the number of games broadcast from 15 to 82.

I don’t mind not being called a “Canucks fan” if it means that I’m being responsible with my money and making sure that I allot the proper amount of cash for rent and food, at the expense of having cable TV. I personally can’t justify paying for cable just to watch hockey, since that’s the only thing I’d be really interested in seeing. And really, if I’m listening on the radio they’re counting those figures, and the more people who listen = the more ad dollars coming in = the more revenue for the Canucks through broadcast. Or even if I’m going out to the bar I’m at least contributing to the local economy, and if bars are ordering games to air for the fans who show up then I’m indirectly contributing the team’s financial support. There are many ways to financially support your team, I feel, than just shelling out cash for the channels.

by Isabella King on Sep 28, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Well that’s all true allthough when you go to a bar to watch a game that is on Sportsnet then the ratings for that game are not as high as they would be if you were at home, it’s different for PPV, but my point was just that I am too big of a Canuck fan to not watch the games when all it costs is 100 bucks a month. Maybe other people can justify not watching the games but I can’t. I pay over 100 bucks a year to watch Cubs games online as well. To me being able to watch the games is part of being a fan. Radio works when I can’t be at home to watch the game but I try to avoid those nights.

by Section 312 on Sep 28, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

There’s a lot to be said about VISUAL. I have to SEE these games. I’d hate to hear the Rypien-Carter fight on Team 1040 and not be able to see it. Fuck that.
I think driving the 14 hours there and back would make you more of a die-hard fan, for sure. How many people actually do that? But that doesn’t equate a fan and a supporter though. One person is just more die hard than the other.
Isabella: I suggest a possible 8-9 month FASTING is in order so you can watch the games, heheh. Now that’s die-hard!!! Woo! You’d be the Gandhi of hockey.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 28, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Just to be clear I am not judging anyone or how they relate to the team. And like I said there is a chance I am too hardcore about my teams. I was raised by an Enlgishman. They are crazy about their teams.

by Section 312 on Sep 28, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough. We’re all fans, otherwise why would we be on here? Some people go to all the games, some buy all the PPVs, some paint their faces, whatever. I get steamed when I’m accused of not being a fan. I almost went over 2 rows after a guy a couple of seasons ago, because he said our section “were shitty fans” . I guess to him, being drunk and obnoxious is what makes a ’ great ’ fan.

I’ve been there since day 1. From the excitement of getting an NHL team, through the lean times, the oases in the desert that ‘82 and ’94 were, to now, when expectations of play-off success( the Cup, maybe?) are a given. I’m just as much a fan as any face-painting, V-wearing, over priced beer-swilling doofus.

I just don’t have the debt-load to show it.

/end rant

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Sep 29, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions