• Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:31 AM

For many newly frugal households, subscriptions to TiVo, cable or satellite television are starting to look more like a luxury than a necessity. Such a trend could have a serious impact on traditional TV ads.

Only one in four people age 18 to 29 says cable or satellite TV is a necessity, per the Pew Research Center. They have discovered plenty of places to get free or super-cheap TV shows and movies that they already watch. Among the inexpensive options: a new digital converter box, Netflix, DVD kiosks at stores, free DVDs at the public library and Web sites like Hulu.

But cutting the cord isn't for everyone. If you want to watch the newest shows or catch all your favorite sports teams, ditching cable is a difficult shift. And watching a laptop is not as satisfying as hanging out in front of your big TV screen with friends. But as money gets tighter, for more viewers the savings might be worth the sacrifices.

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