“Cutting the cord” is the hot term these days. Everyone wants to ditch their cable or satellite TV company and the accompanying bill, while still having the ability to watch their favorite shows and games. But questions abound: Can I still watch The Bachelor? Can I watch my favorite football games? Will I get local channels? Will it really save me money? The answer to all of the questions is a big yes! When I cancelled our cable subscription a few days before the Super Bowl this year, my husband initially freaked out, but we watched the big game without a problem and have never looked back. Overall, we slashed our TV bill from $130 per month to only $40 per month without missing any of the shows or sporting events we wanted to watch. Read on to learn the steps needed to join the ranks of the cord-cutters.
The Basics
Every household has different TV needs and desires and therefore there is not a one size fits all approach. It’s going take you a little bit of leg work to research and set up the right solution for your home. This guide, however, should help to educate you on the things needed and what to look for when moving to this new way of watching TV. The following components are the essentials for watching TV without cable or satellite:
- A fast and reliable internet provider
- A streaming device such as Apple TV, Roku or Amazon Fire TV
- A streaming service such a Sling TV, PlayStation Vue or YouTube TV
- An antenna to receive local channels (optional, only needed by some)
Internet Connection
In this new universe TV service streams over the WIFI in your home instead of through a cable. Streaming, in case you are wondering, is the delivery of data over a computer network in a continuous flow or stream. The streaming data is not downloaded or stored on the computer but is constantly being sent over the network. To stream you must be connected to the internet at all times.
Most streaming providers suggest an internet connection of at least 5 Mbps, but that assumes the connection is not being used for anything else. If there are multiple people in your home using your WIFI at the same time for surfing, working, gaming, or streaming you will need much more. You can check your internet speed here. My advice is to buy the fastest internet service you can afford. It may be with your current provider or someone new. We decided to stick with AT&T because in our area we are able to get their Giga Fiber (now called Internet 1000) which advertises a 1000 Mbps connection with unlimited data for $99 per month. It is smoking fast and we love it. We used this service before we cut the cord because we needed a fast internet connection for working from home. Make sure you ask about data caps and any bundle discounts you might lose from dropping your current service. We actually lost a $10 discount on the internet when we dropped cable and our home phone line but our AT&T bill went from $244 per month to $99 per month, so yeah, it was worth it.
Streaming Devices
Most people are already streaming video in their homes via Netflix or Amazon’s Prime Video. Whatever device you currently use to stream Netflix can probably be used with your new TV streaming service. But if you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet or only stream on your phone or laptop you will need a way to access these services on your TV. The most popular options are:
- WiFi enabled Smart TV
- Roku Stick
- Apple TV
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
A separate device is needed for each TV in your home if you don’t have a “smart” wifi enabled TV . I have three TVs in my home and have one of each of the options listed. They all have their pros and cons on how the remotes work and what the interface is like, but the service is almost identical on the TVs. If you have one you like feel free to stick with it. As much as I like my Apple TV, the Roku Stick and Amazon Fire Stick work just as well for a fraction of the cost. Some smart TVs can even be used to stream but most people decide the quality is not up to par. You can also connect a laptop to the TV with an HDMI cable but it is more convenient to have a dedicated device for streaming.
Streaming Services
Picking a streaming service, or provider, is where you should spend most of your time researching. The popular streaming services offer around 50 channels in their basic packages and cost approximately $50 per month. It’s less channels than cable offers but you won’t have ten shopping channels or one hundred other channels you never watch. I have never missed any of the random channels that we had with our cable package.
When choosing a streaming provider you should start by determining which channels you and your family can’t live without. Is college football important? Do you love HGTV? Do you want local channels? Is the Disney channel a must in your home? Each service offers a different channel lineup and some even offer multiple tiers to choose from. Several of the providers also offer add-on sports packages. Once you decide on the channels you need, then look at the other features each service offers. Here is a list of the important elements to consider:
- What channels are offered-do they offer local channels, sports, etc.
- How many concurrent streams are allowed
- What are the cloud DVR features-size of storage, how long are shows stored, etc.
- Cost of service
- What are the add-ons: HBO, additional Sports, skipping commercials, etc.
The companies I would consider for cable or satellite replacement are listed below. Streaming TV is a fairly new business and as such these companies are frequently adding new channels and upgrading their features. The best way to get the most accurate information about them is to go directly to their website in the links provided.
An added benefit of streaming TV is all of the major services have apps that can be used on phones and tablets. As long as you are connected to the internet you can watch live TV wherever you are and on any device!
There are other good streaming services out there like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video but they do not offer a TV-like experience with live channels. They only offer on-demand videos. Both are a great add-on to whichever service you choose. I actually have both of them in addition to my primary service.
Important Tip: Free Trial
My number one tip for choosing a streaming service is to try each of them. They all offer free trials of about a week. Heck, even try them a couple of times each if you are undecided. All you need is a unique email address for the free trial. Just don’t forget to cancel them once the trial is over. And try them before you cut the cable. You might not like how streaming works. If you want 200+ channels and don’t mind paying over $100 per month then sticking with your current provider might be the best solution. We learned many things during our free trials of the different services. We hated the guide on a popular service, one stalled while watching live sports, and some didn’t allow channel skipping on their DVR.
What’s not to like?
Now, there are a few things I don’t like about my new TV watching experience. Primarily it is not a seamless experience. You can’t mindlessly channel surf looking for something captivating to watch. The services I tried will not allow you to immediately switch from channel to channel-you have to go back to the guide to pick a new channel each time. Some services do not allow you to skip commercials on shows you have recorded on your DVR. And watch out for the cost of add-ons! Many of the services have expanded channel lineups, enhanced cloud DVR functionality, and unlimited streams all offered at additional fees. When you add in the cost of these features you might get close to what you were paying for cable but without the number of channels and ease of use you are used to.
Do I have to sign a Contract?
One of the great things about today’s streaming services is that they don’t lock you down with a contract. There is also no installation or proprietary cable boxes to deal with. You pay month to month and are free to switch to a different provider whenever you feel like it. They are continuously updating their channel lineups and feature lists so periodically check their websites to see if there is a better option for your home. Keep an eye out for sign up bonuses too. In the past some companies have offered a free Roku or Apple TV for new customers.
Do I need an antenna?
You may have heard that you can buy a cheap antenna to watch free TV over-the-air. This is a true statement, but at this time the variety of channels available is limited. Check out this site to see which channels are available in your area. If you only want access to these channels you can stop here. Go buy an antenna for each of your TVs and start watching!
You may have also heard that after cutting the cord if you want local channels, like your local NBC affiliate, you need an antenna. This is not a true statement. The streaming services listed above all offer local channels allowing most people to skip an antenna. Keep in mind, however, not every streaming service offers local channels in every market, so once again check their websites for the most accurate information.
Luckily, if you decide to buy an antenna, these antennas are not your grandparent’s rabbit ears. They are high tech and discreet and can even be hidden behind your TV. They start at around $15 for a basic one.
How I Cut the Cord
People always ask me what my personal setup is and why I chose it. Here is what we have:
- AT&T Internet Fiber 1000
- 3 TVs, one with Apple TV, one with Roku Stick, and one with Amazon Fire Stick
- YouTube TV
- No antenna
In our home we are using YouTube TV and are very happy. We chose it because it has the channels we want (although if offers fewer than most), offers the cloud DVR functionality we like, has an easy to use interface, and allows five simultaneous streams. Many of the providers only allow 2 simultaneous streams which wouldn’t cut it in our family. Having multiple streams might not seem like a big deal but I can watch a show on our main TV in the family room, my husband can watch a football game from his laptop on a business trip, and my sons can be streaming on their phones whatever teenage boys watch, all at the same time! I don’t use an antenna because I want more channels than what are offered over-the-air in my area, I live in an area where the major streaming companies broadcast my local channels, and I want the other features available from streaming such as the cloud DVR and streaming on multiple devices.
Is Cutting the Cord Right for You?
If you are tired of being locked into an expensive contract with your cable provider and are willing to do some research cutting the cord can be a viable solution. With a fast internet connection, a streaming device, and a streaming service you can now watch real TV for a fraction of the cost of cable or satellite. For my family, we have no regrets. We are still able to watch all of the shows we want. We have the added bonus of the ability to watch these shows on any of our devices, not just our TVs. Most importantly, the cost savings is over $1000 per year! And with no contract to worry about we can change our mind whenever we want!