With the wide variety of original content, old movies, and new TV shows available to watch online, it's becoming more and more common for people to ditch their cable provider in favor of Netflix, Hulu, and others.
If you're still holding on to your cable subscription but debating whether it's time to make a switch, there are a few things to keep in mind as you make your decision. What can you lose, what can you gain, what options are available to you and how much will it cost?
We answer all those questions and more in the paragraphs that follow...
If you decide to ditch the cable box, there are quite a few streaming options available. Cut The Cord Forever With These 15 Streaming TV Channels Cut The Cord Forever With These 15 Streaming TV Channels Cable TV is on the decline as the Internet offers low prices. entertainment on demand. Here are 15 of the best streaming TV services to help you cut the cord. Read More
The three heavyweights in the subscription category are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Each site offers a variety of original content, the latest movies and TV shows, documentaries, and foreign films.
When it comes to determining which service is best for you, you can read our comparison of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime:Which one should you choose? Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime:Which one should you choose? It's been years since we've compared the big-hit streaming services Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. And with changes in pricing, content, quality, and interface, we thought it was time to take a fresh look. Read More transmission at the same time? This app makes it possible! Read More the Money Netflix is undoubtedly the king of streaming services for movies and TV shows. However, Amazon Prime does have some great TV shows that make it worth the asking price. More Info and Netflix 13 New Netflix Originals to Watch in 2016 13 New Netflix Originals to Watch in 2016 Netflix has released a lot of original content, including House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, Narcos, and Master of None, but 2016 is set to be Netflix's most exciting year to date. Read More
In addition to the usual suspects, other channels worth considering include HBO NOW, CBS All Access, and Showtime. Sling TV gives users a slightly different viewing experience:by allowing viewers to watch live TV without a cable subscription, but you lose the option to DVR or watch shows whenever you want. (For live TV, there's also the option to go old school and get the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and Fox) for free with a regular antenna, which could even be DIYed by Ditch Cable.) HDTV Antenna Ditch Cable with a DIY HDTV Antenna Read More.)
Of course, you'll also want to factor in price. A breakdown of how much each service will cost you on a monthly or yearly basis is included at the end of the article.
When it comes to devices, you can invest in a smart TV or if you want to be cost effective, consider investing in streaming devices The 8 Best Devices to Stream Movies to Your TV The 8 Best Devices to Stream Movies to Your TV There are several ways to stream media to your TV, and deciding which one is best for you can be overwhelming. Let us help you explore what is currently available. Learn More It can connect to any HDMI-enabled TV:Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, or gaming devices like the PlayStation 4 and XBox One.
Be sure to read our Chromecast, Roku, and Apple TV comparison Chromecast vs. Apple TV 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? Please read further to learn more about which device is right for you.
Devices like the Roku and Apple TV also have the added bonus of giving you access to loads of free content worth watching, like Vice and TED Talks, as well as music services like Spotify and Pandora.
Sports and live events: One of the most obvious ways a cord cutter loses when it comes to making the switch to streaming is live entertainment. While this may also be considered a gain in some cases (more on that in the next section), it certainly is a loss in others. When it comes to live sporting events, major national events, award ceremonies, and other major events broadcast live on television, you're out of luck.
If you're a fan of any given sport, you may have to spend a bit more along with any other standard online entertainment costs once the basketball, baseball, and football seasons start.
Special online packages are available for many major sports, and in some cases the cost goes down as the season goes on, but it's still quite expensive. Major League Baseball fans, for example, can watch MLB TV, which can run you anywhere from $25 a month to $80 a year. Hockey fans will pay $159 for a season pass, and NBA fans are looking at $120-$200 for a season pass, or $7 per game.
These services will also void games played in your local area, so unless you support a team in another state, this may be useless.
One day delay: When it comes to TV shows, if you're heading over to Hulu or HBO NOW to watch your favorite TV shows, that means you'll always be a day behind. If you're a consumer of particularly social entertainment, this is going to be annoying.
You'll probably have to avoid social media, and all other potential sources of spoilers, until you can watch the TV show the next day. With late-night programs that offer commentary on the news of that day such as The daily show and Full frontal with Samantha Bee , You'll also constantly feel like you're a day behind.
The collective experience: Another thing you will lose, which will not matter to everyone, is the collective experience. This is particularly true for major television shows, reality shows, and talent competitions.
In particular, if you're a fan of reality TV, you may be missing the live tweet fest that takes place on Monday nights during The Baccalaureate. . Other TV shows or events that incorporate social media into their live experience will also be a loss. In The voice For example, live viewers have been able to use Twitter to save their favorite contestants in real time.
Lose on certain shows: Not all shows are available on services like Hulu and Netflix. If you are a fan of Samantha Bee, you can only watch clips from her new show. Full frontal with Samantha Bee , in Youtube. Most of Bravo's popular reality TV shows are restricted to the Bravo website, which requires a cable subscription. You can watch five episodes of CBS shows like The Big Bang Theory for free, but to access the full catalog of shows, you need to sign up for an additional subscription. If you have a favorite show you can't live without, be sure to find out if and where it's available for streaming online.
Exclusives: When it comes to some of the online entertainment giants, they are releasing a lot of great shows and movies that are exclusive to their online networks. At the 2016 Emmy Awards (which ironically you'll have a hard time watching if you cut the cord):Netflix wins 54 awards, coming in third after HBO and FX. Amazon is also in the running with 16 nominations.
Unless you have a Netflix or Amazon account, there is no way to watch immensely popular, award-winning shows like House of Cards , Transparent , and Master of none . Although Hulu isn't in the running for any Emmys this year, it's definitely ramping up its original content as well. Hulu is now the home of The Mindy Show , Casual , 11.22.63 , and The path . Amazon Prime members can also watch the first season of Mr. robots free.
View anytime: While you lose out on the live or collective aspect of television, you can afford to watch it anytime you want, almost anywhere. With cable providers, the ability to watch DVR shows later comes at an additional cost and you may run out of space on your DVR machine. Viewing your content anywhere other than at home also costs extra. With all the online options, the tablet and mobile apps let you take your entertainment anywhere with a decent Wi-Fi connection.
The following is a breakdown of how much each service will cost you. With the exception of Amazon Prime, each service is extremely affordable, maxing out at $14.99 a month. (However, with Amazon Prime, you have to remember that you get a lot more perks than just TV, the most important of which is free two-day shipping on all deliveries. If you tend to shop online a lot, this one will pay off.) by itself pretty quickly.)
| Service | Monthly cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu Plus | $7.99 | $95.88 |
| Netflix | $7.99 - $11.99 | $95.88 - 143.88 |
| Amazon Prime (streaming only) | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| Amazon Prime (Full) | $6.58 - $8.25 | $79 - $99 |
| Showtime as an add-on for Hulu / Amazon | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| Function time | $ 11 | $132 |
| HBO Now | $14.99 | $179.88 |
| CBS All Access | $5.99 | $71.88 |
| Starz | $8.99 | $107.88 |
| Sling TV | $20 - $40 | $240 - $480 |
If you were to sign up for all of the services listed above at the cheapest rates, you could pay $81.52 per month . However, this will require you to pay the full $79 of Amazon Prime up front. Going with the monthly price of Amazon's streaming service alone, minus the shipping benefits, it's only about $83.93 a month . At the higher end of the spectrum, you'd be spending $107.93 a month .
Most people do not choose all of these services as there is often a significant overlap in scheduling. If you had to pick the three services that will give you the most variety:Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, you're looking at a bill of just $24.97 a month . The average American household spends $99.10 a month on cable, so if you fall into that category, you're looking at savings of around $74 each month.
But not everyone is spending $100 on cable. Cable pricing is tricky because cable providers include Internet and phone services in the price to make it a more attractive deal. Basic packages with Time Warner, for example, can cost as little as $20 a month for 20 channels, but the selection is extremely limited and excludes sports packages. With most companies, once the promotion ends, you'll find your cable bill goes up.
The final cost to consider is the device you are looking at. Below is a breakdown of the one-time investment you'll need to make in one of the most popular devices available for streaming. (Note that these are list prices, so you may be able to find cheaper ones. Buying older devices will also save you some money.)
| Device | Price |
|---|---|
| Roku Box | $49.99 - $129.99 |
| Roku Streaming Stick | $49.99 |
| Amazon Fire TV | $99.99 - $139.99 |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick | $39.99 - $49.99 |
| Apple TV | $69 - $149 |
So, are you considering cutting the cord? Have you already made the change? Or are you happy to stick with cable TV for now? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
