Cord cutting has become a phenomena. Many people across America are realizing they don’t watch most of the channels they have access to via their cable or satellite provider. Because of that, they are looking at ways to cut these pricey services and save money each month. This may sound a like a great idea to you, but it might not be for everyone. We put together a list of things to keep in mind before you take the plunge.
- Check your existing plan. Chances are you already know how much you are paying each month, but you may be able to scale down your package that will save money. You might find one you are happy with.
- Check your internet connection. If you are thinking of switching to one of the streaming services, you will need to evaluate your current internet connection to make sure it can handle the increased bandwidth that comes with streaming. You can do this by running a simple speed test.
- Is live TV important? If watching live TV is important to you, you have several options available with more popping up every day. You have the option of installing an antenna or subscribing to a streaming service that includes a live TV option. If you choose the later, you’ll need to figure out a way to access it either through your TV, a streaming stick, a set-top box, or a game console.
Local Channels. Many of the streaming services do not have local channels. If they do, they probably don’t have all of them you may care about. The cheapest way to do view local channels is by antenna. HDTV antennas are better now in years past and have a longer range. All local channels broadcast in 4K high definition. In DeLand, a 50-mile antenna should do the trick, but you can always beef it up to a 75-mile if you want. You should be able to got all of the major networks in the Central Florida market, and then some, all for free.
Live TV Via Streaming Services. There are more streaming services now more than ever. Sling, DIRECTV Now, Hulu w/ Live TV, YouTube TV and PlayStation View are all the major players. The services on these platforms offer many of the major cable channels from $20-$70 per month. Each offers a free trial and various packages based upon the other channels. Many offer other features such as DVR recording and local channels.
Non-Live Streaming Services. Before you subscribe to a streaming service, you'll want to make sure that you have something to stream it on. Visit each service you’re interested in and make sure that you have a compatible device, or don't mind investing in a device, that will let you access the shows and movies, such as Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick.
Netflix is by far the most popular streaming service available right now and you can choose from 3 plans that cost anywhere from $8-$12 with different options for HD content and the number of screens that can be viewing Netflix at the same time. Other services include Amazon Prime, Hulu and YouTube Red. You may already have an Amazon Prime subscription for shipping, and it also includes access to streaming content. All of these services offer free trials without contracts.
There are a lot of options to choose from that should help your cord cutting objectives. Have you already cut the cord? We would love to hear from you on what has worked in the comments below.