In the long dark deep past our TV channel options were certainly limited. We had the big three networks. NBC, CBS and ABC. VHS (channels 2-13) and UHF (14-84 or so). Seems like that would leave plenty of room for tons of channels. Which it did. You had an antenna and picked up the signal over the air. I am not totally convinced that this was not a good system. The big three covered the nation via networks. Local channels that broadcast the same thing at the same time. It worked like a charm. And if you were lucky there was a local UHF station that played a bunch of old reruns and old movies. There was also a PBS station. They carried a lot of subjects that weren't on networks. Educational television.
The bad thing is that the picture quality was directly related to you proximity to the transmitter. Some stations came in nice and clear. Others were fuzzy. You could adjust your antenna to optimize your reception. We now have the upgraded TV that we can receive with an antenna. I still have cable. Got hooked on a few of the cable channels. As they are not networks they are only availible through cable or some other form. All the channels come in consistantly in sound and picture quality. If you don't go with all the bells and whistles the price can be pretty fair.
Check with your local cable and see if they have a bottom package. You can keep the quality picture and sound. You have to give up some of the specialty channels. But still have many more choices than years ago. I do not use many of the channels I have now. But I do enjoy my favorites. All of which are not availible with a digital receiver box. I guess that it is not hip to admit that I like TV. After a hard days work I like nothing better than to have my ice cream watching a cool old movie on Turner Classics. I'll just fall asleep on the couch. Not bothering a soul. I hope!
