The average American household now pays more than $103/month for cable TV. And for what? Too many ads, hundreds of channels you never watch, and sub-par customer service. Not exactly an attractive deal. Fortunately, people are starting to take notice; The lace trim is more popular than ever.
This guide is available to download as a free PDF. Download Cut That Cord! How to get rid of the cable now . Feel free to copy and share this with your friends and family.In the second quarter of 2017, the pay television industry lost more than 760,000 subscribers. Experts predict that by 2021, the total number of cable subscribers will drop to 181.7 million, a 10 percent decline in just five years. And Netflix now has more subscribers in the United States (52 million) than any of the "big six" cable companies.
It's an undeniable fact:lace cutting is here to stay. If you've been reading about the cord cutting phenomenon but aren't sure where to start, you've come to the right place. This is how to cut the cord and end cable TV forever. And it's the only guide you'll ever need to read on the subject.
Before we delve into the details of how to cut the cord, we need to make one thing clear:cord cutting won't be for everyone. There are some pitfalls you need to think about. 7 Cord Cutting Hazards to Consider First 7 Cord Cutting Mistakes to Consider First Before you cut your cord to save money, there are a few things to keep in mind . Read More And you are certainly not alone. However, there are some questions to ask yourself before you cancel the cable. Read more.
Let's briefly summarize some of the pros and cons of cutting the cord.
Save money: It's almost impossible not to save money by cutting the cord. Considering canceling the cord? The true cost of cutting the cord considering canceling the cord? The True Cost of Cutting Cord When you add everything up, do you really save money by cutting cord? We do the necessary calculations to cancel the cable in favor of Internet services. Read more . Yes, there may be some initial equipment costs, but in the long run you'll be much better off. You can subscribe to several leading video-on-demand (VOD) providers and still pay considerably less than the $103/month cable TV average.
Fewer Ads: Most streaming services are ad-free; You can watch your favorite shows without interruption. Even some free services that do have ads, like The Roku Channel The Roku Channel Lets You Watch Movies for Free The Roku Channel Lets You Watch Movies for Free The Roku Channel, a free channel featuring hundreds of popular movies, has now launched to all current generation Roku devices. Read More:Shows significantly fewer ads than cable TV.
Flexibility: Subscribers have been asking cable TV providers for a la carte packages for years, but the companies have flatly refused, allegedly knowing that this would lead to a significant loss of revenue. While not really a la carte, cutting wires offers a much more customizable experience.
Internet speed: You may be surprised at how many channels you can get using an Over-The-Air (OTA) antenna. What can you watch using a TV antenna? What can you watch using a TV antenna? What if there was a cheap and legal way to get access to many of the big networks? You would probably turn around. Well, it turns out there is! The trusty TV antenna advances. Read More Therefore, you need a fast and reliable internet connection. Netflix offers a how-to guide on its website.
Data limits: If your ISP sets a data limit, you may need to upgrade your internet package to the next level.
Your favorite shows: Thanks to the growing prevalence of streaming services, you should always be able to get the shows you want. But it may not be worth subscribing to HBO Now if you just want to watch one HBO show. You may have to make sacrifices.
Generally speaking, you need four things in order to successfully cut the cord:a set-top box or streaming stick, an OTA antenna, an app for your locally saved media, and some video-on-demand apps.
First, let's take a look at some of the devices available. Generally, you will only need one device. In terms of app availability, the options are almost identical. The differences are in the hardware and operating systems.
If you're not sure which one is right for you, check out our Chromecast vs. AppleTV vs. Roku:Which Media Streamer is Right for You? Chromecast vs. AppleTV vs. Roku:Which Media Streamer Is Right For You? Media streaming devices are simply awesome. Those little boxes that plug into your TV can add a host of entertainment options to your living room. But which device is best for you? Read more.
If you want a one-size-fits-all solution, a Roku is the best option. It's the most innovative of all set-top boxes, and it's easy to set up How to Set Up and Use Your Roku Streaming Stick How to Set Up and Use Your Roku Streaming Stick So, you've just bought a new Roku Streaming Stick and are wondering what to do next. We're here to help, with the complete guide to setting up your new Roku Streaming Stick. Read more.
The company updated its entire lineup of hardware in mid-2017. A Brief Guide to Roku's New Hardware for 2017 A Brief Guide to Roku's New Hardware for 2017 Roku has updated its entire product lineup for 2017. The problem is that it's hard to keep track of him. from so many different devices. Let us help you with this short guide to the new Roku hardware. Read more . It now offers five independent devices.
RokuUltra | 4K / HDR / HD Streaming Player with Enhanced Remote Control (Voice, Remote Finder, Headphone Jack, TV Power and Volume), Ethernet, Microsd and USB Roku Ultra | 4K / HDR / HD Streaming Player with enhanced remote control (voice, remote finder, headphone jack, TV power and volume), Ethernet, Microsd and USB Buy Now On Amazon $ 75.39
You'll also find the Roku OS built into some mid-range smart TVs.
Apps on Rokus are called channels. You can install both private and public channels. Public Channels Top 20 Free Roku Channels You Shouldn't Miss Top 20 Free Roku Channels You Shouldn't Miss Having recommended the best private Roku channels for you to install, here's our pick of the best public Roku channels you should really don't miss out. And even better, they're all free. Read More is located in the channel store on the device or on the web portal. Private Channels 20 Private Roku Channels You Should Install Right Now 20 Private Roku Channels You Should Install Right Now. Here's how to add private channels to your Roku, along with some of the best private channels you can install right now. More information needs a unique code and is installed through the web portal.
The Chromecast is Google's contribution to the world of lace-cutting. It's a dongle that plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port.
Unlike the other devices on this list, it doesn't install apps directly on the device itself. Instead, you use your computer, phone, or tablet to cast content to your TV. Because there are no apps to worry about, Chromecasts are super easy to set up How to Set Up Your New Google Chromecast How to Set Up Your New Google Chromecast If you own a new Chromecast but have no idea how to use it, let Easy Guide follow that will get you started in just a few minutes. Read more . Chromecasts are compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, Macs, Windows computers, and Chromebooks.
Because Chromecasts require a secondary device to allow them to display content, they're probably not right for first-time cord-cutters who want to add smart capabilities to their TVs. However, they are perfect for other TVs in less used rooms in your house; You Can Do A Surprising Amount With Them 7 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With a Chromecast 7 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With a Chromecast You've finally taken the plunge and bought yourself a shiny new Chromecast, but what? happens later? Here are seven things you didn't know you could do with one of Google's backpacks... Read More .
Just because you don't install apps directly on a Chromecast, you don't need to worry about content availability. Most popular streaming apps are compatible with Chromecast, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Crunchyroll, FOX, and Google Play Movies.
You can pick one up for around $35, which puts them in a similar price range to the Roku Express and Express+. Given the feature sets of the two devices, you should probably go for the latter.
Apple TVs are the most expensive and least flexible streaming devices on the market. However, if it's heavily integrated into the Apple ecosystem, it might be the best option for your needs.
Once you've set up your Apple TV How to set up and use your Apple TV How to set up and use your Apple TV Here's how to set up your Apple TV, what you can do with it, and what to do when things aren't right. You behave as expected. Read More Perhaps most interestingly, the device also works brilliantly with other Apple devices, apps, and services like Siri, HomeKit, and Apple Music.
Apple TV also has AirPlay technology, which means you can use your device to cast your Mac's screen to your TV How to cast local media from your Mac to Chromecast How to cast local media from your Mac to Chromecast You can cast any movie, music, or Photo from your Mac's hard drive to the big screen. It's just a matter of knowing which apps and tools can do it. Read more . You can finally say goodbye to all those dongles and adapters.
(Note: If AirPlay is the only important factor for you, you can find cheaper alternatives that will still work. 4 AirPlay Receivers That Are Cheaper Than Apple TV. 4 AirPlay Receivers That Are Cheaper Than Apple TV. The Apple TV is a great device for streaming audio and video. but it is expensive. Here are four other awesome AirPlay receivers that are much cheaper. Read more .)
Amazon Fire TV takes a similar approach to Chromecast; It is a dongle that plugs directly into the back of your TV.
Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote (1st Gen), Streaming Media Player Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote (1st Gen), Streaming Media Player Buy Now on Amazon
However, unlike Chromecast, you can install apps on Amazon Fire TV How to Set Up and Use Your Amazon Fire TV Stick How to Set Up and Use Your Amazon Fire TV Stick The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a great and affordable streaming device for First Timers. This guide will help you set up and start using your Amazon Fire Stick without any stress. Read more . It comes with its own Android-based operating system and on-screen user interface.
Apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, YouTube, ESPN, AMC, HGTV, Comedy Central, CNN and many more are available. You can also download apps on your Amazon Fire TV How to download apps on your Amazon Fire TV Stick How to add apps on your Amazon Fire TV Stick Your Fire TV Stick can run almost any Android app, and installing them couldn't be easier. Read more.
Because it's an Amazon device, the Fire TV also offers Alexa. That means you can use it to control your smart home, give your TV voice commands (like telling the device to play a particular show or display a specific channel), and you can even install third-party Alexa skills. If you have an Amazon Echo in your home, it might be the best device for you.
(Tip: If you have an Amazon Fire TV, you should consider using Velcro or double-sided tape to attach the dongle to the back of your TV. Given its weight, it's likely to damage your TV's HDMI port if you let it hang freely.)
Like the mobile version of the Android operating system, Android TV comes in many different variants, some of which look drastically different from one another.
For example, the aforementioned Amazon Fire TV runs on Android, but that version of the operating system is nothing like the Nvidia Shield operating system.
And, just like with the mobile version of Android, the quality between different devices varies considerably. At one end of the scale is the $300 Nvidia Shield Pro; It's arguably the best all-around streaming device you can buy right now. 7 Reasons the Nvidia Shield is the Ultimate Cord Cutter Device 7 Reasons the Nvidia Shield is the Ultimate Cord Cutter Device The Nvidia Shield may be the best cord cutter device around. Here are seven reasons why you beat the competition without much effort. Read more . At the other extreme, you'll find plenty of cheap Chinese boxes that are only capable of running Android 4.2.
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro Home Media Server NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro Home Media Server Buy Now On Amazon $379.99
Android TV boxes are also the device of choice when it comes to running Kodi on a media player. Kodi is available on the Google Play Store, but you won't find it on the Apple App Store or the Amazon Appstore.
We will talk about Kodi in more detail later, but if you are not sure which Kodi box is right for you. How to choose the best Kodi box for your needs How to choose the best Kodi box for your needs Do you want to buy a Kodi box? But not sure which one you should choose? In this article, we recommend particular frames for particular needs, helping you narrow down your options. Read More
Ok, so you have purchased a streaming device and it has been connected to your TV. Now what? Well, you need to install some applications.
You can divide VOD apps into two categories:free and paid. All cord cutters should install as many free apps as possible. Paid apps require more research. You need to make sure the app offers the content you're interested in, and also keep an eye on the combined monthly cost of all the apps you're subscribing to.
Here are some of the best free TV streaming apps Cable canceled? 8 TV Streaming Apps To Fill The Canceled Cable? 8 Streaming TV Apps to Fill the Gap If you've canceled cable, you may be wondering what to watch next. These TV streaming apps may be the answer as they offer a traditional viewing experience. Read More
Take a look at each of these paid apps and decide which one appeals the most to you.
Now you have access to a wide range of video-on-demand content, but you still need a way to access all of your locally saved media right from your TV.
There are three apps worth considering:Plex, Kodi, and Emby.
Plex is the easiest app to use of the three Your Guide To Plex - The Awesome Media Center Your Guide To Plex - The Awesome Media Center If you have a lot of movies and TV shows saved locally, you should install Plex. And this is the only guide to getting started with Plex that you will ever need to read. Read more . There is a free version and a paid version. The paid version, called Plex Pass, costs $14.99 for three months, $39.99 for one year, or $119.99 for a lifetime subscription.
Only you can decide if you need the paid version. There's a chance you don't need it. 5 Reasons You Don't Need A Plex Pass 5 Reasons You Don't Need A Plex Pass If you have a lot of media stored locally on your computer, Plex is a must have piece of software. But do you really need to pay for a Plex Pass? Let's find out... Read More Plex Pass:What do you get for your money? To find out whether or not you need a Plex Pass, you first need to know exactly what you're getting for your money. Read more.
The best feature of a Plex Pass is live TV. Plex Live TV:Everything You Need to Know Plex Live TV:Everything You Need to Know Plex has added live TV channels to its service, but what exactly is Plex Live TV? We've got everything you need to know about this exciting new option for cable cutters. Read more . If you buy an OTA antenna (such as the highly recommended Mohu blade), you can watch and record any programs that are broadcast on OTA channels in your area.
Metro Mohu Leaf TV Antenna, Indoor, Portable, 25 Mile Range, Paper Thin, Reversible, Paintable, 4K Ready HDTV, 10ft Detachable Cable, Premium Materials for Performance, Made in USA. Indoor, Portable, 25 Mile Range, Reversible, Paintable Original HD Paper, 4K-Ready HDTV, 10ft Detachable Cable, Premium Materials for Performance, Made in the USA Buy Now On Amazon $47.43
Plex also launched a personalized news feed. Plex News Should Help Keep Cord Cutters Happy Plex News Should Help Keep Cord Cutters Happy Plex has launched Plex News, which is comprised of news clips from a variety of sources across the political spectrum. Keeping you up to date with what is happening in the world. Read More
The company has deals in place with Sky News, CBS News, Reuters, The Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, IGN, Euronews, The Financial Times and many more. The more news you watch, the more Plex can learn about your preferences and show you the videos that interest you.
Lastly, Plex also includes 20 Unofficial Plex Channels that you need to install right now. 20 Unofficial Plex Channels You Should Install Now. With the AppStore not supported, you can unlock new Plex content to watch. Here are the best unofficial Plex channels to install. Read more . You can get some from the Channels Directory within the Plex app, or you can manually install third-party channels using ZIP files.
Download: Plex
Kodi is the great rival of Plex. Don't worry you won't have a problem using it. What are Kodi boxes and is it legal to have one? What are Kodi boxes and is it legal to have one? In this article, we not only explain what Kodi boxes are, but also give you a definitive answer about their legality. Read more . The application and the associated Kodi boxes are completely legal.
That said, Kodi has a reputation for being a haven for pirates; There are hundreds of illegal plugins floating around the web. Using one of them could get you in trouble with the law. If you want to be safe, stick to the Kodi approved addons in the official Kodi repository.
In many ways, open source Kodi is more customizable than Plex 12 Ways to Make Kodi the Best Media Player for You 12 Ways to Make Kodi the Best Media Player for You This article explores the best ways to customize Kodi for make it the absolute best media player for you personally. Turn it from being just good to shameless. Read more . If you like to play with all aspects of an app, you'll love this. However, Kodi requires a lot of maintenance from the user, especially if you have made several changes. If you prefer to take a "set it and forget it" approach, you'll probably appreciate Plex more.
You will also find that it is much more difficult to use Kodi as a central server to distribute your media to other screens and devices in your home. It's not impossible, but it goes beyond what beginners will be able to do. Plex is designed for that purpose; Setting up a server is as simple as logging into your account.
En última instancia, ambas aplicaciones le permiten administrar y ver sus medios guardados localmente. Solo usted puede decidir cuál es la mejor opción para sus necesidades..
Descargar: Kodi
Emby es el menos conocido de los tres, pero muchos usuarios afirman que ofrece un compromiso feliz entre Kodi y Plex. La aplicación proporciona la flexibilidad de código abierto de Kodi, pero usa el mismo modelo de servidor / cliente que Plex.
Emby también tiene una ventaja sobre Kodi en términos de disponibilidad. No encontrarás a Kodi en las tiendas de aplicaciones de Apple o Amazon, pero Emby está en Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox y más. Se rumorea que una aplicación de Apple es inminente.
Si desea utilizar Emby en varios dispositivos, deberá registrarse en Emby Premiere. Cuesta $ 4.99 / mes, $ 54 / año o $ 119 por un pase de por vida.
Descargar: Emby
La pieza final del rompecabezas es una antena OTA. Te sorprendería el contenido que puedes ver gratis con una antena.
Por ejemplo, ¿sabía que el Super Bowl, las finales de la NBA, el US Open, los playoffs de la Copa Stanley, la final de la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA, el Open de Francia y la Copa de Oro de la CONCACAF han estado en canales gratuitos dentro de los últimos 12 meses?
Además, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, The CW y PBS son completamente gratis para ver. Mejor aún, la señal en el 96 por ciento de los hogares estadounidenses es lo suficientemente fuerte como para recibir los seis.
Recuerde, si planea conectar su antena a una aplicación como Plex o Kodi, también necesitará un sintonizador digital. El favorito actual entre los cortadores de cable hardcore es el HDHomeRun. Incluye dos sintonizadores para que dos personas puedan ver diferentes canales al mismo tiempo..
SiliconDust HDHomeRun CONECTAR. Transmisión GRATUITA HDTV (2-Sintonizador) SiliconDust HDHomeRun CONNECT. Transmisión HDTV gratuita (2-Sintonizador) Compre ahora en Amazon $ 69.99
En esta guía, le presentamos algunos de los dispositivos, aplicaciones y software más importantes que necesita si desea cortar el cable con éxito..
Recordar: necesitará al menos un decodificador de transmisión, un par de aplicaciones de transmisión pagas, todas las aplicaciones de transmisión gratuitas que puede obtener, una aplicación de cine en casa para sus medios guardados localmente y una antena OTA.
Ahora queremos escuchar su opinión. ¿Ha cortado con éxito el cable? ¿Qué consejos le darías a alguien que acaba de comenzar su viaje de corte de cordón? Y si aún no has cortado el cable, ¿qué te detiene??
Como siempre, puede dejar todos sus pensamientos, preguntas y opiniones en los comentarios a continuación..
