Viewer skips paid streaming with a $20 antenna: 'That's worth a lot of groceries'

A $20 television antenna is helping one viewer enjoy sitcoms, documentaries, and sports without paying for streaming subscriptions, leaving more money for household essentials.

Here's what to know

In a post on Reddit, the viewer described finding plenty to watch on over-the-air television.

"I've found older sitcoms I never knew about, good documentaries, and of course I can watch a lot of sporting events with a $20 antenna," they wrote.

Their television also serves as a bigger screen for particular shows played on their phone, with an HDMI adapter linking the devices.

Neither home Wi-Fi nor paid streaming subscriptions are part of the setup in the poster's one-person household.

More background

One commenter described buying secondhand Samsung and Roku televisions and pairing them with an over-the-air antenna. They said Prime was the only streaming service they technically paid for.

Another pointed to free Paramount+ access through a Walmart+ membership as an option for people already paying for that membership.

What can be done?

For those looking to watch without a subscription bill, commenters suggested free streaming services like Pluto TV and Tubi.

"Pluto TV isn't terrible. Not the greatest, but it's free," one commenter wrote.

Libraries were another participant's suggestion for finding entertainment without a monthly expense. Some public libraries offer a multitude of freebies with a library card, including Wi-Fi pucks, movies, and television shows that viewers can stream for free.

The discussion also highlighted Black Friday as a time to buy annual subscriptions for paid services viewers want to keep. One said they use those deals to purchase plans for services they do not already receive through bundles, reporting discounts of more than half off.

The original poster also shared Spelunkr, a website that broadcasts older television programming around the clock and allows viewers to flip among specific channels.

"Saving what, like 100 something dollars a month with no Wi-Fi and paying for streaming? That's worth a lot of groceries."

Where can I learn more?

The viewer's $20 antenna setup is one response to the rising cost of watching TV. These stories cover expensive streaming bundles, subscription cancellations, and confusing cable pricing.

• U.S. cord-cutters ditched cable but ended up with a $139 monthly streaming bundle.

• Americans are canceling services over rising costs as streaming bills approach $120 monthly.

• A senior seeking to drop Xfinity TV received three differently priced contracts, ranging from $40 to $144.50.

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