Any options for me in the U.S.?

I am an absolute newb at this, and cannot make heads or tails of the info in this forum; I get the gist of what these machines are capable of, and, being very tired of paying $70.00+ a month for BASIC CABLE, I have to ask, do I have any other options here in the states? Seems as if Starview and the Box won't work for me, only for Irish and English people. Dammit, and their beer is better, too, way better... So can someone please point me in the right direction?