Dropping Cable Or Satellite TV? Make An Educated Choice
The great majority of Americans, some 83 percent as of 2015, pay for TV service, according to Leitchman Research Group. They put out money for cable, satellite or fiber-optic providers. The percentage actually has dropped slightly since 2010, when it was at the 87 percent level. The difference, according to the researchers, is that fewer households are signing up for cable to replace those who have dropped the service. And some couples moving into their first home don’t sign up as a matter of course.
The percentages may continue to drop as people catch on to the fact that they don’t need cable or satellite to watch their favorite TV shows. Streaming, downloading, library discs and network TV are all reasonable alternatives.
Streaming:
Services such as HULU, Netflix and Amazon Prime give you access to thousands of shows, including past seasons of popular cable series, current episodes of network TV shows and original shows that are only available online. The average price of the services is just $9 per month, only a fraction of the $99-per-month average cost of cable or satellite. An advantage: you can tune in on your own schedule, rather than the network’s.
Downloads:
You have access to many TV shows from iTunes or VUDU for $2 to $3 each. That could become more expensive than cable or satellite if you get all your shows this way. But if you are an occasional viewer or if you want to watch just one particular show that you can’t get through a streaming service, it’s practical.
Library Discs:
Most modern libraries now offer videos for patrons. Check out your local library.
Network TV:
Despite the many delivery choices now available, it still is possible to watch TV the old-fashioned way without any additional fees. All you need is a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted version. Various indoor antennas also are available if you don’t have easy access to a roof. You can even build your own with instructions from such publications as Popular Mechanics. Online tutorials can guide you in making an antenna from materials that are readily available, such as scrap wood and old coat hangers, cardboard and aluminum foil.
Choosing among the alternatives could save you a bundle. For instance, compare a $99-per-month cable fee with an $8-per-month HULU subscription. Over a year, that’s a $1,092 savings.