If we have learned anything this year, it is the importance of financial decisions. Gone are the days when we could be reckless and it won’t matter because change is inevitable and we have limited control over what goes around. However, we have full control over our decisions and preferences. Calling a spade, a spade, cord cuttings is financially a better decision and the gist of this article is to see if it is the right choice for you. We have more than 100 streaming platforms in the United States and all of them are doing a remarkable job. Almost 54 percent of internet-supported U.S. households have subscribed to two or more streaming services while 22 percent of U.S. households have subscribed to four or more. This number is only increasing and there are reasons for it.
Streaming services are producing better and more original content than cable TV networks for the past 3 years. They are better priced and would save you some big bucks as well. The convenience to watch your favorite TV shows anywhere, anytime, and from any display screen is uncanny. You don’t have to schedule your entire day on account of some reality show you cannot miss. There is no hard and fast rule of binge-watching. Everything is offered straightforwardly and is at your discretion to be availed. Networks like NBC, WarnerMedia, Disney, and ViacomCBS have come forward with their own streaming services so that they can take control of their content being distributed. This is also a smart move seeing that the trend of streaming services has peaked and cable TV cannot generate the same revenue it used to previously.
Further in the article, we will discuss how you can decide if you are up for cutting the cord and how to go forward with this decision.
Is cord cuttings the right decision?
No one can answer this question for you other than yourself. To make it easier, we have developed a list of questions for you:
- Are the commercials interrupting your favorite TV shows and movies exhausting?
- Do you schedule your day according to some favorite show?
- Are you tired of paying a hefty amount for cable channels every month that you don’t even watch?
- Do you want the ease to watch movies and TV shows whenever you want?
For people answering these questions as yes, the decision of cord cuttings is easier.
Essentials to move forward
For cord cuttings, you need the following essential things:
High-speed internet connection
According to a 2019 study, 87 percent of U.S. households have subscribed to some internet plan. If you want to cut the cord, it means to be dependent on the internet for entertainment as well as whatever you were using before moving from cable TV. Thinking of this, you should have a reliable internet plan. You can talk to your internet provider expressing your internet requirements for better guidance. If you are clueless right now or are not very fond of your ISP, you might want to check out Spectrum discounts to find out some top-of-the-line internet plans at the most reasonable prices.
Streaming Device
One great thing about streaming services is that they can be very well accessed by any display device supported by the internet. You can watch your favorite shows and movies on your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or computer. Although, if you want to be able to access your favorite content on your television screen, there are some options:
Smart TV is a great option to have.Almost 32 percent of U.S. households are connected with smart TVs. If you already own one, you can get started with the never-ending entertainment right away. If you are going to buy one, check if it has the option to download new applications from the app store.
You can also invest in one of these amazing streaming devices:
Fire TV is ideal for Amazon users and works well with Alexa. It has several built-in apps including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO.
Apple TV is a great one-time investment and has built-in apps like Sling, HBO Go, Netflix, and Hulu.
Roku is simple to set up and use with built-in apps including Showtime, NBC, Disney Now, and ESPN.
Gaming Console, if you already own one like, you might be able to use it as a streaming device too.
Streaming Service
Now is the easy part. You can subscribe to any streaming platform of your choice. There are some over-the-top video-on-demand streaming services available with exceptional libraries. We have discussed a few popular streaming services here.
Netflix comes with three packages, the monthly cost of which range from 8.99 USD to 15.99 USD. The distinction comes with the number of accounts that can use the same subscription.
Hulu has two types of packages. One that supports ads and one that is ad-free. You can subscribe to the ad-supported version for 5.99 USD per month and the ad-free version costs 11.99 USD per month. Although, you can subscribe to the bundled joy of Hulu (ad-supported version), ESPN+, and Disney Plus for 12.99 USD per month.
Amazon Prime Video can be accessed at a monthly cost of 8.99 USD only while HBO Max can be enjoyed at 14.99 USD per month.
There are live TV streaming platforms as well, making up for the void that the lack of live TV can create. You can enjoy networks like AMC, ESPN, TBS, ABC, CBS, and Fox with these services. Subscribing to AT&T TV Now, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV can give you the joy of watching your favorite live TV channels as well.
Although if you do not wish to pay additional for live TV channels, you have another option of enjoying over-the-air TV free of any additional cost. All you need to do is deploy an antenna to catch digital signals of your favorite local channels. You can use an indoor or outdoor antenna depending on the approach you want to take.
Parting Thoughts
This article sums up all the right reasons for you to move on from your cable subscription. If you have now decided that you want to go with the never-ending and interrupted fun of streaming services, the essentials have been talked about easing the path for you.
