ᐅ Is a "Free TV" Connection Still Worth It?

We have satellite connections in every room. If needed, the wiring could also be used for cable TV, as a cable connection is available. Additionally, we have Netflix, Amazon, and similar services. Since I have to pay the TV license fee anyway, I might as well watch or listen to public broadcasting from time to time.

A simple calculation for us: the satellite system with a multiswitch and outlets in every room (sometimes two) would have cost about €2,500. For that amount, I can get 500 months of Entertain TV from Telekom or other providers. It even works during thunderstorms and snowfall. If the internet goes down, we watch offline movies. Streaming services are miles ahead of traditional TV when it comes to transmission quality. Amazon and Netflix have been streaming in 4K for some time now. This will phase out satellite outlets just like telephone outlets, which were installed in every room some time ago. Nowadays, phone calls are also made over the internet.

For 2500€, I would have looked for a different electrician.

The distance to Entertain isn’t that big either, since in addition to the 5€ monthly fee, there is also an Entertain box for each TV.

Mycraft schrieb:
I always wonder if the search function is broken ???

Then just use it, and you'll see how bad it is. Recently, I even entered exact keywords from a thread title, and as usual, the result was zero. I usually find my thread again through Google rather than using the forum's own search.

I tend to agree more with Karsten, but I also have to admit that we grew up with public broadcasters (and the old spelling rules) considering our age.

And I don’t think you, OP, want to know how WE use TV here in the forum.

But just think about it: what about your wife?

M4rvin schrieb:
only my wife occasionally watches crime shows on free-to-air TV.

And consider whether there might be added value here that you don’t get with Netflix and similar services:

Nordlys schrieb:
You never watch the main evening news? No international matches? No regional crime dramas? Never the regional third channel? No Arte? No handball? Ice hockey? Biathlon? No rock night on 3Sat?
Poor you... then you don’t need satellite and can blissfully enjoy Netflix.

And when it comes to self-selected information, the problem is relying on getting all info in a neutral way. After all, you choose what to watch:

chand1986 schrieb:
Only through the self-chosen variety of internet sources do I get the information that later turns out to be accurate.

And if it HAS to work this way, perhaps it’s not possible without this:

Deliverer schrieb:
My current solution: I connected a Sat-IP converter to my relative’s satellite dish. Now free-to-air TV is streamed over our shared network.

ypg schrieb:
And with self-chosen information, the mistake is already made of not getting all information neutrally. You choose yourself:

Neutral? No. It’s about accessing what classical media either doesn’t cover or only reports from one perspective. The cross-section of various views at least allows you to get closer to the truth.

But apart from that: Anyone who really wants to watch crime shows and Inspector Barnaby can do so online. Traditional scheduled TV will disappear with the generation that still uses it now.

In the original poster’s place, considering the relatively low costs involved for satellite TV, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. You just get it and move on.