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[Vanillalite]

39-year-olds are millenials now?

No. She's clearly by all definitions a Gen Xer.

 

[Vimes]

Got one of these a few years ago and I seemed to be in some deadzone where no amount of configuration could get my local PBS station. Other channels were amazing quality but literally the only reason I want TV is PBS, so I returned it. Now I just watch the News Hour on Youtube every day, and the rest of my world is Twitch and Netflix.

I couldn't get the cable box TWC sent me when everything switched to digital to work at all, and I'm generally pretty good with tech. We just cancelled our tv yesterday after paying $20 a month for a service we weren't even using. TV is a pain in the ass. It's beyond me why anyone bothers with it anymore.

 

[n64coder]

I was going to say this. Most people I knew had rabbit ears on their sets and started to transition to cable by the mid 90's. I remember the old school cable boxes where you got scramble/static on the PPV channels. Some content came in watchable at that time where I could watch WWF and sometime the naughty channels.

It was in the early 80s that we switched from OTA to cable. It was great because we got more channels and the picture was much clearer.

Where are people putting external antennas? On the side of their house? Chimney? The old external antennas attached to the chimney were ugly as hell. If I were to do one now, I would put it up in this big pine tree in the side yard and run the cable down and bury it.

Also, what are people doing for DVRs? Other than the Super Bowl, I have no interest in watching anything in real time.

 

[Prophaniti]

Not knowing that something exists = dumb

kk

Not knowing how TV works in 2017 = dumb

 

[excelsiorlef]

I'm so fucking sick of "Millennial" articles

It's become a literal cottage industry for some journos...

 

[Peccavi]

I thought you had to have a digital converter box or something now.

No, the boxes were for TVs built before the switch. Current TVs don't need converters.

Supposedly its pretty easy to build your own antenna if you're really cheap.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Antenna TV is garbage and your local programming sucks.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Why is everything a "hack"? Like, is using a car to go to the grocery store instead of walking a "hack"? Printing out an article instead of hand copying it a "hack"? So nauseating to read that term over and over.

That's part of the joke.

 

[CazTGG]

-Would rather watch someone play a video game via Twitch/YouTube instead of play a game themselves.

-Will buy thousands of iPhones instead of health insurance*
*Applies to American Millennials only

 

[jtb]

OTA HD is fucking terrible.

 

[FUME5]

Not knowing that something exists = dumb

kk

Man, what a succinct rebuttal!

I fully expect to read an article in 15 years time about how the generation that comes after the millennials have discovered they can listen to music for free on the radio, without a streaming service subscription.

When I comment on that, I will be sure to say "People can't be getting more ignorant, can they?".

 

[Vanillalite]

Antenna TV is garbage and your local programming sucks.

OTA HD is fucking terrible.

Again it all depends on where you live and what you can pick up with whatever antenna type you have.

It ranges from OMG why am I paying for cable to I got this antenna and can't pick up shit.

 

[ascii42]

OTA HD is fucking terrible.

Compared to what?

 

[DizzyCaffeine]

OTA HD is fucking terrible.

Umm...why? Poor reception on your end? Because the quality is better than cable/satellite.

 

[shawnbuddy]

I live too far away from any TV stations to get a signal now, but a few years ago I did rock the HD antenna. Then I got cable internet and the first thing I did was run an extension to the TV to see if I could get QAM channels. And I could so hey, free cable!

 

[JettDash]

I'm a millennial and I know about free OTA channels. But where I live you can't get them.

 

[III-V]

Ridiculous. What a ridiculous hack. WTAF is happening.

OTA HD is fucking terrible.

Right, terrible, as in higher quality than what gets piped in, got it.

 

[KojiKnight]

For those saying you can't get channels... Are you hooked up for cable? Because they legally have to have the local channels available on the cable line even if you don't pay for cable.

 

[Zoe]

Thats if you have a old tube tv, especially during the digital transition period. There are a few HDTVs that didn't have it built in, but most tvs have it built in standard now so you just need the antenna. My old Samsung hdtv I still have from 2007 took my old rabbit ears without issues.

Yeah, for the most part modern HDTV's will have the tuner, but they might start moving away from that. Higher-end Vizios no longer have the tuner.

 

[sans_pants]

i used to live right under the mountain they broadcasted from in las vegas, picture was so clear and we got tons of weirdo old people/church/spanish stations



moved further into the city and the reception isn't as good and we have the very basic cable package that gets us all that stuff anyway

 

[Dishwalla]

For those saying you can't get channels... Are you hooked up for cable? Because they legally have to have the local channels available on the cable line even if you don't pay for cable.

Lots of cable companies are getting around that by requiring a box from them to receive the channels. The area here is served by Cox, and I can't simply plug a co-ax into the wall socket to my TV, nothing comes across. I would need to rent a box from Cox(because they won't let you simply buy one, they love getting that monthly fee), and I ain't doing that.

 

[ascii42]

Yeah, for the most part modern HDTV's will have the tuner, but they might start moving away from that. Higher-end Vizios no longer have the tuner.

Which I guess makes sense, especially since you'll need some sort of external thing anyway for ATSC 3.0 whenever that becomes a thing.

 

[led4lyfe]

I've had the same RCA antenna for the past 10 years or so, use it primarily for watching sports.

 

[besada]

If you knew what a cow looked like you could get free milk, but you're too busy making avocado toast.

 

[jtb]

Again it all depends on where you live and what you can pick up with whatever antenna type you have.

It ranges from OMG why am I paying for cable to I got this antenna and can't pick up shit.

Compared to what?

Umm...why? Poor reception on your end? Because the quality is better than cable/satellite.

Yes, the reception is horrible and unreliable, always subject to cut out ever 30 seconds or so. It's possible I just had shitty antennas, but I've been cycling through them for years and years. Maybe it was a weather thing? Seattle intermittent rain?

I'm not saying it's any worse than OG antennas - those were terrible too. They can both be terrible!

(Look, I hate watching TV so I don't care. The less I spend on cable, the better)

Honestly, I'd love tips on getting better reception if you have any. It's not like I enjoy watching garbage TV.

 

[Mesoian]

If you knew what a cow looked like you could get free milk, but you're too busy making avocado toast.

I need to figure out a way to take this and bind it with buying a house for your dog while having a truck fill your car with gas in your work parking lot while you rock the latest NPR tote bag while singing Anderson.paak lyrics.

 

[TwoDurans]

Millennials are:
-Killing buffalo wing joints
-Killing the golf industry
-Unable to identify cows
-Killing the diamond industry
-Killing satisfying sex (Yes, seriously. That was a thing)
-Killing chocolate
-Killing radio
-Enjoy avocado toast
-Exposing people to what avocado toast is
-Cares more about dogs than marriage
-Something something moochers

What's avocado toast?

 

[FLEABttn]

The locals are the worst of the channels anyways, all the good shit lives in basic or premium cable.

 

[Spaced Harrier]

 

[captive]

HD antenna was $50 bucks 8 years. Great picture, local channels and sports.

I still have it and it works great.

I disagree.

I made one out of tinfoil and a 4 dollar converter from frys. Worked great.

 

[Dead Prince]

Antenna TV is awful though

No

 

[Arttemis]

My city only gets 7 channels, with the FOX channel having terrible reception and most of the others being awful local programming.

Some cities, though, get tons. I'm envious of the people there.

 

[Vanillalite]

Yes, the reception is horrible and unreliable, always subject to cut out ever 30 seconds or so. It's possible I just had shitty antennas, but I've been cycling through them for years and years. Maybe it was a weather thing? Seattle intermittent rain?

I'm not saying it's any worse than OG antennas - those were terrible too. They can both be terrible!

(Look, I hate watching TV so I don't care. The less I spend on cable, the better)

Honestly, I'd love tips on getting better reception if you have any. It's not like I enjoy watching garbage TV.

A lot of this changes based on where you live.

Sometimes your SOL where you might live.

 

[LOLCats]

Antenna TV is awful though

Uh, with proper antenna you can get very very nice HD signal.

 

[jay]

We watch a decent amount of NHK World. And it's all free!!!

 

[Adam_Vania]

MeTV is my favorite OTA station. look at this upcoming saturday's schedule:

7:00PM
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
The Magnificent Warriors

8:00PM
WONDER WOMAN
Mind Stealers From Outer Space: Part 1

9:00PM
STAR TREK
Arena

10:00PM
SVENGOOLIE
Curse Of The Undead

12:00AM
BATMAN
Instant Freeze

12:30AM
BATMAN
Rats Like Cheese

1:00AM
OUTER LIMITS
Zzzzzz

2:00AM
OUTER LIMITS
The Invisibles

http://www.metv.com/schedule/

Comet has an amazing schedule as well. lots of Stargate SG-1 and Vincent Price/Christopher Lee Hammer horror classics.

http://www.comettv.com/schedule/

 

[Aselith]

Man, what a succinct rebuttal!

I fully expect to read an article in 15 years time about how the generation that comes after the millennials have discovered they can listen to music for free on the radio, without a streaming service subscription.

When I comment on that, I will be sure to say "People can't be getting more ignorant, can they?".

Why would you comment that? They already would know where to get free music...YouTube.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I cut the cord more than 6 years ago now. I keep an indoor antenna for when I want to watch local broadcast TV, which is rarely. I do watch the Super Bowl every year this way though.

It's funny that people don't know about OTA broadcast TV in this day and age.

 

[gabbo]

I wonder if, with some adjustments, my parents old tower antenna with the direction change box, would be interested in trying ota digital or if the trees around their house would make it useless

 

[Rentahamster]

How long until this newly discovered wireless signal is feared to cause cancer???

 

[Qvoth]

The online stream he found to watch the game didn’t have regular commercials—disappointing half of his guests who were only interested in the ads.

land of the free!

 

[Watevaman]

I only wish an antenna would work where I live. Stupid mountains get in the way.

 

[CLEEK]

Millennials really are the worst.

 

[TheGreyHulk]

i live in the bay area, so i get a ton of local channels via antenna. it was well worth the $50.

the quality is better than anything i can stream or get via cable. it's so damn clear. i just use it for watching the news, syndicated comedy reruns and sports. i'll stream everything else.

 

[RDreamer]

Most millennials I know definitely know about OTA channels. There are quite a few surprised that you don't need the huge fucking antennas and setups like our parents had, though. That's the surprise. It was honestly a surprise to me when my HDTV just picked up shit when I first tried it (like 10+ years ago now, lol)

 

[CLEEK]

I assume by this that the US doesn't have an equivalent of Freeview? That folks believe that the only way to view FTA content is though subscription?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_(UK)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_(Australia)

What's avocado toast?

Check out Mr Homeowner here.

 

[lifeexpectancy]

The problem is these modern HD antennas are VERY YMMV. I have tried on three separate occasions with ones I purchased at best buy, and the only OTA broadcasts I can pick up are spanish-only channels seemingly broadcast from northern Mexico based on their weather hour.

I CANNOT get abc cbs nbc or fox with an antenna. I have tried, lord have I ever tried. I dont know kf Time Warner (now spectrum) had some shady back room deal with the networks to prevent broadcasting OTA in San Antonio or what, but no digital antenna has ever worked for me.

 

[Syriel]

too much effort compared to streaming

1) Turn TV on.
2) Watch.

How is that "too much effort?"

But then you have to watch commercials. Ew.

Unless you're watching Netflix, you're probably watching commercials.

Or you're pirating. "No commercials" was one of the main reasons people were claiming to pirate in the Game of Thrones thread.

these fucking millenials articles are fucking terrible.

I grew up with over the air TV. my parents didn't get paid TV until I was in college. How the fuck do people not know about this. WHO RAISED THESE KIDS?!?

Jeff Bezos hates this new millennial lifehack for FREE BOOKS.

Upper middle class kids.

If you were middle class or poor, you had an antenna. People with $$$ to burn had cable.

Don't people have rooftop antennas in America...? This article makes no sense to me

Most middle class folks in the burbs have antennas on the roof. People in cities and apartments are usually stuck with rabbit ears.

I thought Millennials were killing broadcast media?

Can't kill it if they don't know it exists.

I was pretty surprised by the amount of channels I got. Last time I used an antenna was like 20 years ago and I got maybe 4 or 5, now its around 20+. Also no more snow, they come in clear.

Yeah. Snow doesn't exist with digital. It is either there or it isn't. Current TVs fake "snow" when no signal because people expect it.

I have an antenna but honestly almost never use it. There's really not much that interests me on the network channels + lack of a guide to see what's on and coming up.

Guide information is broadcast. You just have a crappy tuner and/or TV that can't decode it.

Freeview in the UK has a guide..

America is weird. Kettles to boil water a rare strange thing and now no TV antennas. I know cable was a big thing but not so big there was virtually no use of antennas.

Wait - what? How do Americans boil water then?

OTA TV in the US has a guide.

As for water, we use a microwave for small amounts, pots for large amounts.

Or we just install a hot water tap on the sink.

I have a 12 dollar circular antenna from Lowes that I've used for 10+ years now, gets every major network in full HD perfectly as well as a bunch of gonzo channels that are tucked away as like 4-2, 6-2, 6-3. This is stuff like "BOUNCE" which is just awesome movies starring African Americans and also a channel that just plays Law & Order 24/7. I think there's one called MeTV that just plays old sitcoms too from the 60s, 70s, 80s.

When did TNT become an OTA channel?

Crazy. I mean in the UK I just had a Freesat box and Netflix, nothing else needed. Although there are no analogue TV signals here anymore, if that's what the article is referring to. But... who wants to watch adverts? And no offence meant, but I've seen American adverts from time to time and they're some of the most obnoxious ones going, I couldn't stand it.

Do you not have to pay a TV licence there, though?

No TV license required. OTA is free. But dem ads doe.

This.

TV quality via antenna can vary wildly from place to place. Depends on where you live, the kind of antenna you have, and what signal you can get started your place.

Sometimes it can be better than cable. By like a rather noticable amount. Other times you'll struggle to get even a hazy picture come through.

You've obviously never used an antenna since the digital changeover.

I thought you had to have a digital converter box or something now.

No box needed. Just a current TV.

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the idea of paying for TV was to avoid commercials until the commercials invaded every channel? TV has had free broadcast channels since like... ever.

You pretty much only get commercial free TV with Netflix.

Yes, the reception is horrible and unreliable, always subject to cut out ever 30 seconds or so. It's possible I just had shitty antennas, but I've been cycling through them for years and years. Maybe it was a weather thing? Seattle intermittent rain?

I'm not saying it's any worse than OG antennas - those were terrible too. They can both be terrible!

(Look, I hate watching TV so I don't care. The less I spend on cable, the better)

Honestly, I'd love tips on getting better reception if you have any. It's not like I enjoy watching garbage TV.

1) Buy a better antenna.
2) Use one of the major HDTV signal websites to properly orient your antenna.

 

[jfkgoblue]

Again it all depends on where you live and what you can pick up with whatever antenna type you have.

It ranges from OMG why am I paying for cable to I got this antenna and can't pick up shit.

Umm...why? Poor reception on your end? Because the quality is better than cable/satellite.

Ridiculous. What a ridiculous hack. WTAF is happening.




Right, terrible, as in higher quality than what gets piped in, got it.

I live in town with perfect reception and OTA absolutely does not look better than cable. I have directly compared them because everyone keeps saying OTA looks better, it simply does not.

 

[Hoho for breakfast]

too much effort compared to streaming

Not sure if this is a joke? You can literally buy it and then twist in a single cable, then run a scan for channels and that's it.

Only downside is I don't get either NBC or ABC (don't remember which) and it cuts out for a second if people walk in front of it.