Cutting the cord and making the switch from terrestrial to on-demand streaming can save you money and has a host of other benefits.
Benefits: Save money, get more control over your viewing habits and learn to love shows you wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Disadvantages: You’ll need an Internet connection and some streaming device (Roku, Apple TV) or video game console to watch on-demand content.
The benefits far out way the disadvantages and you’ll save money while simplifying the entertainment experience.
Switch from Terrestrial TV to On-Demand Streaming: How it Can Save You Money
How much money do you spend each month on your cable or satellite bill? And how is that compared with the cost of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO NOW, and Amazon Prime Instant Video. Do some quick math in your head — if you’re paying $120 per month for a bundled package of traditional cable television channels plus high speed broadband Internet access at home, then switching to one of these over-the-top (OTT) video services could save you as much as $720 per year!
We know what the average American spends – an estimated US$121.13 monthly, according to the NPD Group. So let’s say you’re paying $120 per month for a bundled package of traditional cable television channels plus high speed broadband Internet access at home, and that switching to one of these over-the-top (OTT) video services could save you as much as $720 per year!
What are the advantages?
The majority of people who switch to an OTT video service are looking for a few things, namely
- A lower monthly cost. Most current cable TV providers charge around $150 per month with their bundled packages while many of these services only require less than $20 for the large majority of channels you’re accustomed to watching – and that includes on demand streaming video!
- More choice in programming. There’s simply more options available from one or two online sources vs what traditional cable television provides today. Plus, Netflix subscribers have access to all previous seasons of popular shows like Breaking Bad and House M.D., whereas most people don’t get this luxury when they subscribe to cable television companies which typically offer about 120 hours worth. While there is no exact data on this, we’re guessing that most people watch less than 20 hours of television per week.
- More flexibility in viewing times and devices. With on demand streaming services you can binge watch programs anytime or anywhere – no more getting up early to catch your favorite show! You could take the kids to grandma’s house for a couple days after school and still have access to all your TV favorites without paying extra charges for cable service at mom’s house (not possible with traditional providers). This is also true if you decide to rent out your home while traveling-no need for workarounds like connecting laptop/smartphone screens via HDMI cables because everyone has wifi these days. And there are few things worse then having an episode of Game of Thrones spoiled for you because your cable provider isn’t offering the latest episode yet.
- Cheaper than traditional providers. You could save money by cutting out a monthly subscription to cable or satellite and cancel that expensive HDTV package from DirecTV, AT&T Uverse, Time Warner Cable, etc. That’s $100/month saved! When you add up all of those savings over several years it can really start to stack up quickly – especially if you have more than one household member with an HDTV subscription (and most households do). And while I’m not going to lie – there are some services out there that don’t offer as many channels for less money than others depending on what is important to you; but in general prices range anywhere from $30-$50/month for one person and $60-100+ per month for a family of four.
What it means to cable providers: Cable companies are feeling the pressure from all angles as more people cut the cord, which is why they have been upping their game in recent years by trying out new services like Dish Network’s Sling TV (which offers live streaming at prices starting at just over $20) or Verizon Fios Instant TV (with plans beginning at only $15). It’s still not too late; these days many major networks offer on-demand content without subscribing to traditional cable packages – but again you’ll need access to an internet connection that can stream videos with high enough quality. Services such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO Now are all available to stream online.
The bottom line
The bottom line: Cutting the cord has a lot of potential benefits for you – especially if your household is on the more expensive end of this spectrum. But before you make that decision, be sure to do some thorough research into what’s offered by each provider in terms of programming packages and streaming quality so that you can find something that fits your needs best!
And another thing… How will it affect my kids? One big concern many parents have when thinking about cutting cable or satellite is how they’ll keep up with their children’s favorite TV shows without traditional channels like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network or Disney Channel. Thankfully there’s an easy solution! Services such as PBS Kids, Amazon Prime and Netflix are all great options for kids programming.
Overall, the benefits of on-demand streaming far out way the negatives because it allows you to save money and stay connected with the programs that matter most.
So what are your thoughts? Have you cut cable or satellite before, either in part or entirely? What benefits have you seen from cutting the cord? Share below! And don’t forget: if you liked this post then make sure to share it with all of your friends on Facebook so they can see just how easy switching is too (and why they should do it)!
Featured image : Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash
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