I got rid of cable TV in 1993--as a single mother with little income, I could not afford it. My children were 12 and 8 and thought the world would end! We were always SO BUSY with other interests: READING, MUSIC AND SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE for them; READING, CRAFTING, SEWING, QUILTING, GARDENING AND MUSIC for me, we really never missed it (took about 10 days for the children to miss it). They are now 31 and 27. Both, when in college, thanked me for getting rid of cable TV. We still have video players and watch what we choose and like.