Many people are considering cutting the cord. But before you decide if cutting the cord makes sense, figure out what you use on your current cable or satellite plan. Start with making a list of all the channels or shows you watch. Once you have your list, start researching available streaming services that have those channels or shows.
You will find some specific or general services. General services would be like Amazon Video, Netflix, Sling, or Hulu. These companies license the rights to movies and TV shows. Except for Hulu, these types of services will not have the most current season of a show available. Hulu and Sling offer past season as well as live TV. Specific services are more like the streaming options put out by particular networks. CBS, NBC, and ABC all are examples. They will only play the shows for that specific network.
Which Is Better?
This can be a tough question to answer. As traditional networks lose more and more subscribers, they are looking for ways to capture them. Netflix has enjoyed the dominance in the streaming market by licensing other companies’ content and not producing their own. This had made switching cost-effective and easy. That dominance is coming to an end. NBC announced earlier this year that it would be pulling the beloved show, The Office, from Netflix when its contract expired.
These moves are designed to attract people to these new services. Whether or not it will work is yet to be seen. There has been a lot of negative response to The Office’s move. NBC is not alone. Disney will be releasing a streaming service later this year, and Apple also has plans to launch a service for AppleTV.
The issue will come when parent companies start pulling licenses from the likes of Netflix or Amazon in favor of their platforms. Ampere Analysis found that 70 percent of households subscribe to more than one service, with 20 percent subscribed to four. This is because one service might not have everything you want. This trend is only expected to increase as more companies come out with their streaming options.
Cost Savings?
As you stack multiple streaming services together, the costs can add up. Streaming costs are continually going up. This is due for a larger push for original content. Netflix has found great success in shows like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, and Stranger Things. They are continually investing in new TV shows and movies. Hulu and Amazon are doing a similar plan with their original content. As a result, the cost of these services will increase.
The Case For & Against Cable
Firstly, most of us are familiar with cable. While the different companies have different designs for their programs, for the most part, they are similar. Another benefit to the increase in competition is cables plans are more straightforward. These less stripped-down plans can cost as low as $35 per month. Cable boxes are also improving. The new boxes include 4K video with High Dynamic Range. Some will have built-in integration with other apps or voice compatibility for Alexa or Google Home.
But… if you have ever had a problem, your cable companies customer service can be anything other than a good experience. Another issue can be the cost. Most promotions are only quarterly, and the annual bill averaged $1,200 in 2018. Things that used to be included in the base fee may be considered extra and result in additional charges. This can result in higher than expected bills for the end-user.
The Case For & Against Streaming
To begin, the prices per service are much lower than a traditional cable company charge. Comparatively speaking, streaming services are cheaper than essential cable services. Another benefit is there is no box rental. This can add more than $100 annually to your cable plan. Streaming services have free cloud options for recording shows, and the equipment can be purchased for a one time fee. In speaking of fees, another benefit is the lack of fees with streaming services. It’s pretty straightforward in terms of your payment what you want. Some services have added on services, but for the most part, you will know precisely what you are spending.
But… live broadcasts might not be available on all streaming services. For example, Sling TV doesn’t have access to CBS anywhere in the US. There is also user limits for these streaming services. For example, some services will only allow two users to be active at once. You can purchase the ability to have more users if you need to. While each service is cheaper, that gap is closing. Since you may need multiple services to get all your entertainment needs fulfilled, your monthly bill might be the same as a cable company. Most streaming services also increase their rates $5 to $10 this year alone.
When it comes to streaming vs. traditional cable, the decision to switch can be difficult. These are some things a user should consider before cutting the cord. Depending on your needs, it may be a no brainer.
If you found this article interesting or helpful, check out our other posts!