I'm actually getting rid of my TV when I move. It's not worth the cost, plus 90% of what I watch is on Hulu the next day anyway. I've also thought about buying a Slingbox and hooking it up to my parents cable if I really miss some shows that aren't on Hulu. There are some amazing gems of entertainment on TV but the ridiculous cost is what bothers me ($42 for basic cable, WTF comcast).
I haven't had cable since 2005, and it's never been a problem. If you can't stream it somewhere, you can always torrent it.
I rarely watch shows, but still have a bit of a movie addiction. However, my total weekly watching of video might amount to 2-3 hours, so I'm ok with it. Video games are a much harder habit to kick in the interest of productivity.
"I've been watching my 'exempt' shows on my laptop for over a year"
I thought about this, but for me, this doesn't count. Even if the screen is part of a computer, it is still a "TV". Separating my dev and internet machines has made this a moot point.
Hulu is fundamentally a different video experience than a TV, though. Rather than passively watching channels and killing time, you're actively seeking out only your 'exempt' shows. It's a lot harder to fall into the couch potato trap.
"do you consider 'mindless internet surfing' watching TV?" No.
Activity Value Reasoning
------------------------- ----- -------------------------
watching TV 0 totally passive
mindless internet surfing 1 you do some initiating
actively working 9 usually produces benefits
reading Hacker News 10 basic research :-)
I have Comcast and pay -$2.09 (not a typo) for basic cable. I have internet from them (FiOS not in my town), and they give you $10 off internet if you also have a TV package. Their cheapest TV package is $7.91/month for "basic cable". Even if I never watched it, I'd buy it...
