I also got rid of the cable and analog antenna, we only use the TV for Netflix, and even then it is only once a week, if we are lucky.
We have 15mo b/g twins and they have never watched television. They are perfectly content to sit in the playroom and play either independently or together (with a few fights in between).
I was a big TV junkie and the withdrawal at first was really hard. But after about 3 weeks my DH was debating on getting cable and I said, 'Let's give it another week.' We have not turned back since.
There are a couple of ways to go about this.
1. Go cold-turkey, get rid of the cable altogether.
2. Get local channels only. Cable companies are required to provide this service, though they do not like to publicize and the cost is minimal. Not to mention there is less choices.
Some suggestions to keep them occupied (depending on their ages)
1. Fall time is another great time to spend with the kids to take them out on nature walks, raid a pumpkin patch, go pick apples.
2. Set aside a box of old clothing for pretending. Same goes for pots, pans, utensils that you do not often use and non-breakable dish/drinkware. Use empty and clean boxes and containers to stock up on their little general store.
3. Make chores fun! Have kids help you strip the bed, separate the clothes, sweep the floor. Case and point my 14mo dd loves to empty the laundry basket and hand me clothing. She gives me an item, I tell her what it is and which drawer it goes into. Monkey see, monkey do.
4. Help you cook/bake. It's a messy job, but who says that being messy can't be fun?
5. Late in the season now, but start a garden. You can begin as early as mid-winter, when vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, collards, tomatoes, peppers, etc. need extra time to germinate in seedling trays to transplant later when spring begins. It does not have to be big. Consider creating something called a square foot garden, which in a children's garden case, is a raised bed that is 3 x 3 evenly divided into 9 1sqft squares. Each square would grow a variety of vegetable or herbs. There is a great easy-to-read book by Mel Bartholomew on the subject, which is virtually available in any library and it covers how start a child's garden. Not only is it fun to grow, it also teaches them responsibility (i.e. maintaining), math (how many plants do I put in a square), science (how things grow).
6. Art supplies. 'Nuff said.
Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
-Lisa
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