Today's column on choosing between cable or satellite TV lists several "gotchas" to consider.

Many online readers have made additional suggestions, including those who suggest dropping cable and satellite all together. It's a cheaper option--without monthly fees in some cases. Internet TV is in its early stages, but go to the networks' web sites or Hulu.com or iTunes to watch previous episodes or subscribe to content at Netflix.com for about $10 a month.


You can also regress 40 years and go back to rabbit ear antennas. You'll be able to get as many as 33 channels, including a few in HD, all free. The antenna can be purchased at Radio Shack, Target or Best Buy. Installation is fairly straight forward, but TV repair shops that do house calls, including East Lake TV (612-722-8085) will set up the antenna and program the channels for $40 in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Here's another tip I've discovered. Call Comcast around the first of the month and ask about specials on premium channels. HBO or Showtime, for example, are normally about $18 a month, but I frequently get them for $10 a month for six months. At the end of the promo period (noted on my calendar) I cancel and wait until the next promo. Sometimes the premium channels are available free for three months.

A reader mentioned a similar tip for satellite. Wait until the two-year contract is up and then negotiate hard between Dish and DirecTV. if you don't want to switch, make sure you tell your current provider what the competition is offering to get the sweetest deal.

One point of clarification: If you are a Comcast Basic 1 subscriber paying about $12 a month for channels 2-23, you do not need a DTA set-top box. Only subscribers with a Basic 2 cable package or above can get an additional seven channels free with the set top box. Basic 1 customers will pay an additional $2.50 per month plus tax for TPT Minnesota, TPT Weather, KARE 11 Weather Now and a few others. They also get the 50 or so digital music channels.

Let me know of any deals you've negotiated for a potential follow-up on my blog.