I know two very senior women who cannot afford cable. So they have a
Television and the only thing they use it for is to take out movies from the
Library.

I asked if they could get an antenna for their TV and they were told no, they
Have to get cable.

I can't afford much but was playing around with getting them cable for the
Basic channels. Any advice on this subject would be helpful to me. I am
Technically challenged... I have a computer, and iPod and a flip phone!!
Oh,,, also I do not live anywhere near them..I'm in a different state.

Their library reference people and IT staff should be able to help them. And a local church group?

I wanted to surprise them if it didn't cost too much money. They are in their
80's and can't get around very well... someone shops for them but I can't
Burden that person with another favor

Basic cable is going to run around $60 a month.

A set top antenna won't work for them? The apartment complex can't prevent a set top antenna which is similar to "Rabbit ears" that have been used since the advent of TV.

Provincetown MA is the tip of Cape Cod. I'm positive that no signal will reach rabbit ears. There would have to be an antenna on the roof.

It's a private house

If it's a private house.. how can they prohibit an antenna from being put up? There was federal legislation many years ago prohibiting restrictions on Satellite dishes for the very reason of Cable company monopolies.

Do you mean rabbit ears or something on the roof?? If that is done, does it
Mean that they don't have to pay anything for the use of the television?

I defer to joypulv on the rabbit ear thing as that's her neck of the woods, and knows the area geographically far better than me and can see how rabbit ears might not work due to distance from the TV stations. The Antenna on the roof (usually attached to the chimney) might have an installation fee unless these ladies have a friend who could install it for them, its really not hard if someone has a ladder a few basic tools and is physically agile enough to go on the roof. They won't have a massive selection of channels cable has... but there would be no recurring fees to use the TV on the few channels they would have other than cost of the TV to buy and the electricity.

Keep in mind..I am assuming this is not a 30 year old analog TV they have owned forever but one of the newer ones with a digital tuner....those newer ones are cheap, and smaller LCD ones would use very little electricity too compared to an older TV.

If they enjoy TV and movies they might enjoy cable more but they can't afford it you said and of someone else was willing to pay the fees that might be the better option for them, just that a lot of people forgot what we did before cable... and a lot of people still do that don't want the fees, or want the channels.

I grew up in the country. Roof antennae were always a lot of work for my dad. They rarely got good reception unless turned for each station, so he installed a remote controlled turning device. That meant even more problems because of storms. Cape Cod is subject to storms. Good luck with any of this.

No, you don't have to pay a dime for what are called 'broadcast' channels. The ones that existed when we were little. That's all you will get.

I live near to where I grew up. I have to explain over and over that there is NO CELL PHONE coverage here, so I have a land line (bundled with TV and internet, comcast cable). It's weird how many people can't comprehend.

Since you are wanting to be helpful have you ever talked to them? Do you know what type of TV they have? Maybe they LIKE getting out if nothing else to the market and library. Would a this be Greater Boston, Manchester and Cape Cod, MA, Free HDTV Channels and Antennas. (http://yourfreedtv.com/Boston/) something useful to them?

They didn't let me click "helpful" but I just wanted to take a minute to say
Thank you for your detailed, thoughtful reply.

Also if they have or can get internet ( often much cheaper than cable) TV is free off the internet, I have not had cable in over 6 one year

Thanks Jammy, just curious about the outcome of your gesture.