Why do people pay to watch TV Cable, Direct TV, etc? Bonus question: Why do people watch TV period?
546188
It's awesome entertainment.  DirectTV and cable give you access to awesome channels like HBO (Sopranos) and Comedy Central (Daily Show, South Park) and National Geographic Channel (Supercoasters and Dog Whisperer) and Scifi Channel (Battlestar Galactica).\n\nTivo or a DVR makes it even better!  If you're very busy there is nothing like a good 1.5 hours of TV to lower the blood pressure and take your mind off your troubles!
524999
I went to a very conservative Christian college that didn't allow TV; when I came home for my first summer, I found that I couldn't handle watching many of the programs I used to watch without any problem.  I was suddenly aware of how much violence and innapropriate behavior is depicted on TV.  That being said, I would still choose regular TV over Christian TV only because Christian TV, in my mind, depicts a reality even further from the truth than what is on mainstream television.  I do, however, practice discretion in what I watch.
210612
I was addicted to TV until I got to college and had to go cold turkey when I lived in a dorm longtime ago. \n\nI found there was much more time to study, read for pelasure, socialize, participate in community and political activities, do sports, etc. \n\nI do watch TV now, but only very selectively. Most TV is junk.
138710
I like it.\nNot that I really have any alternative since I'm living in a dorm and can't buy some sort of cable sports package.\n\nBut it's nice. I like being able to watch my team. It's not quite as fun to just listen. It's not horribly expensive, and it's pretty good quality.\n\nMy only complaint is that you don't get to choose which broadcast you watch. It's annoying sometimes to have to listen to the announcers of a rival team.
323252
If I'm not mistaken, we pay Internet access now. The Internet isn't free now, I pay for my Internet connection. And if your talking about the web pages your viewing. I know plenty of sites you gota pay to get into. So will the Internet be free forever, no, cuz its not now!
1091482
I actually know two girls who tarvle the TV circuit doing such things, by doing so they get 800.00 each, free trip to NY and free hotel and services of dinner and everything connected. They do this for 1. MOney, 2. Free trips.3. and they are free to do as they please until time to tape the show they are are. So in the long run, they get a paid vacation and money back to play stupid, I guess they are not as stupid as I once thought of them.
980735
No but that may be the price your cable company wants you to pay for the facility.\nNothing's for nothing, mate,
789990
here's the deal, the signal that bring's ur cable tv, also bring's ur internet service.  u have 2 option's-u can have your cable company supply u with their cable modem n pay a monthly rental (pick up equipment at an office n do a self install, or schedual to have a cable tec. come n do the install)  or you can go to wal-mart, k-mart, anywhere that sell's electronic's and buy ur own cable modem.  if u only have 1 active cable outlet in your house u need a 2-way splitter, to run cable into your tv and into ur modem...call cust. serv. and give the mac address of ur modem to start ur acct. for internet. in some cable system's a tech. might have to come out if certian filter's (old-no longer used) are present outside.
338434
Although we live in the free country ,I totally support government intervene if too much sex or violence on TV.As parents,we can not watch or follow our kids 24 hours a day ,except throw the TV away.They have so many chances to learn bad things from those program ,movie and show.
936807
How many people pay to watch, a spelling bee, speech debate, or band concert. Parents, family and maybe some friends if there is not a sporting event.\n\nSports are entertaining and the vast majoirty of the world loves to watch sports. I still don't know why ESPN shows the spelling bee, it must be part of there Nerd Outreach Program.
865039
It brainwashes people!  I mean, why do you think they call it "programming"?!?  The corporations use television to crank out their propaganda which promotes the shallow materialism, run-away consumerism, and the need for instant gratification that already pervades our society.  And most of the "entertainment" on TV is merely brain-candy, laced with subtle messages, designed to provoke as little thought as possible.  It's sole purpose is to distract the sheep; to give them some sort of mind-numbing entertainment they can use to "tune out" so they don't pay attention to what's really going on!  Sad, eh?\nKILL YOUR TELEVISION!
1074778
Music for sure.  There are so many different types of music out there.  There's no way you could ever get bored.  With TV you have this many channels and what's on is on.  There are so many ways to listen to music to, tons of settings.  You can listen to it anywhere!  It's full of emotion, life answers, and good stories.  Face it, you can't sing along with the TV can you?
380215
Who the hell is "them"?  You could always move out and the money that is no doubt spent on keeping you fed and clothed could probably get "them" a pretty cool TV.  Fend for yourself you sub-human low-life.
83749
I would give up TV. I mean, you can listen to music, watch tv, chat with friends, and just have fun on the Internet! With TV, all we can do is watch what other people chose. The Internet gives us freedom!
572516
They cannot tell what you are watching, ratings are based on a Nielsen ratings, a private company that selects random people and installs special cable boxes that allow the Nielsen company to record what people watch, and the duration. The results are then downloaded by a phone line once a week and tallied every tuesday for the networks. Preliminary tallies are available daily to the networks. Find out more at www.nielsenratings.com.
481129
I have basic comcast cable with internet service and it costs me around $94.00/ month.  I never buy any movies or pay per view.
448456
Is it possible that your parents put a block on the TV on certain networks, ratings or programs.  Or is this an on-line problem.  Could be that you're trying to view a site that charges.