When I’m in the studio creating a comic feature, I like to have a radio or television turned on.  It helps fill the air with some background music or talk.  It also keeps me abreast of any breaking news.

But, subscription television is getting pricey.  So, I canceled my cable subscription and installed an antenna.  Local broadcasters have noticed this shift to over-the-air viewership and have expanded their channel offerings.  Digital broadcasting allows for sub-channels.  So, if your local station is channel 8, you may find that there’s also a channel 8.1, 8.2, etc.  You’ll happily find that your local station is transmitting two, three, four or more sub-channels featuring news, weather, local talk shows, and classic television programs.

Which brings me to the point of how to get those free signals without shelling out a lot of cash.  If you’re like me, you probably still have those big, beautiful CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) television sets in your home.  And because they’re analog, you might think they’re obsolete!  Well, they’re not!  You don’t have to run off to the local big box store to plunk down $400.0 or more for the latest Flat screen HDTV to receive over-the-air television.  All you need is an antenna and a digital converter box.

In the above video, I show you one of the converter boxes I own and how it breathes new life into a big ‘ol 36-inch CRT.

And here’s the best part.  People are giving away these televisions!  (They find that they might be too heavy or cumbersome or take up too much space.)  Many folks are giving away their converter boxes too.  In addition, you can find either of these for sale at garage sales or online for 10 to 20 dollars.  No kidding!  TVs for as little as 10 bucks or even free!  Converter boxes for 10 or 20 bucks (I bought one, like new, for five bucks!)

So, before you dump a perfectly good television, explore the option of a getting an antenna and converter box to receive free TV.   You’ll get some great programming and your wallet will thank you.