TV options abound for cord-cutters, old-school and newfangled alike

Lindsey Frye and her children, 10-year-old Jaeden and 3-year-old Simone, browse through Netflix offerings Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at their home in East Lawrence. The family does not subscribe to cable, instead using online services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime to watch television shows.

There are certain television experiences Lindsey Frye misses since she ditched cable. For one, she said, “You can’t watch Saturday Night Live, live.”

But for the most part, the East Lawrence mom of two has found that — if she has the patience to deal with a few Internet pop-up ads — a combination of other TV-watching options fills her needs. There’s Netflix for the kids, “Sons of Anarchy” and other shows on Project – Free TV and more on Amazon Prime.

“At first I gave up cable because I couldn’t afford it,” she said. “As time has progressed, I just choose not to get cable.”

Frye is not alone.

Besides cord-cutters there are more and more “cord-nevers,” or people who never had cable and rely solely on digital services or network television, said Germaine Halegoua, Kansas University assistant professor in the Department of Film and Media Studies.

“In the past decade we’ve seen the proliferation of digital, mobile, alternative distribution systems that deliver a lot of the same content as cable but allow viewers to watch television a la carte, anytime anywhere, time shifted, etc. at a more palatable price,” Halegoua said.

If you’re a serious sports watcher, awards-show junkie or don’t like the idea of life without live-tweeting The Bachelor, probably nothing but cable and satellite TV subscriptions will do.

But for less real-time focused watchers, an ever-increasing array of products and services keeps those TV screens flickering.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most popular:

Rabbit ears

Lots of people still use rabbit ear-style antennas — but they’ve come a long way, said Joe Hicks, store manager of Radio Shack in the Malls shopping center.

Most resemble rabbit ears of old but look sleeker. There are also new flat-panel antennas that keep a low profile, and some can be mounted to a wall and painted over.

The better the antenna, the more channels you’ll pick up.

Approximate cost: $14 to $80. If your TV is old, you’ll need an analog pass-through box to go with the antennae, about $60.

Exterior antennas

These rooftop contraptions are large and, probably no one would dispute, unattractive. But they’re powerful. (And if you have space, you could conceal one in your attic if you’re willing to forgo a little signal strength.)

“If you have a strong enough antennae you can pick up channels from, like, Chicago,” Hicks said. “You invest $200 or $300, you never have a cable bill again, and you get a ton of channels.”

Approximate cost: $50 to $150

Roku

This nifty palm-sized box enables you to watch Internet television on your regular television screen — without the hassle of attaching your computer to the TV every time you want to check out a show. You can also play video games through the Roku (the remote doubles as a game controller) or plug in other data sources, such as a memory stick, to view photos or downloaded videos on your TV screen. There are other brands of the same type of device, including Apple TV.

Approximate cost: $50 to $100, plus any subscription costs for the Internet television services you’re accessing.

Chromecast

This thumb-sized device plugs into your television and enables you to wirelessly stream programming from your Internet device — computer, tablet or smartphone — through your television screen. It relies on apps such as those for Netflix, HBO GO, YouTube and WatchESPN.

Approximate cost: $35

Internet television

A number of Internet television providers offer thousands of movies and TV show episodes. Some are free, some offer episodes or seasons for purchase a la carte (like iTunes), some offer paid memberships, and some offer multiple options. Watch the shows on your computer or other digital device — or send them to your TV screen using one of the devices above. In an informal online poll, ljworld.com readers cited Netflix, Hulu Plus and Google Chrome among their favorites. There are also subscriptions just for sports, like NBA League Pass.

Approximate cost: $99 for a one-year membership to Amazon Prime, $8 and up per month for Netflix and Hulu Plus.