There’s nothing better than clicking on the television after a long hard day at work and diving into one of your favorite shows. While many people still turn to cable for their daily entertainment, there are plenty of other options out there in this day and age.
Benefits of Cutting the Cord
Thinking about cutting the cord to your cable?
There are many advantages to doing so. Some include:
- Saving money; many options out there cost much less the cable, but still, offer a plethora of binge-worthy content.
- Cutting out all those annoying commercials and getting to the good stuff!
- You can still enjoy the programs you like without paying all the money that cable bills can bring.
- De-clutter your living room area by getting rid of your TV and have the freedom to watch your favorite shows literally anywhere in your home or on-the-go.
- Access a whole other world of content, programs, and viewing options that are not available through cable.
In addition to all these benefits, there are plenty of alternatives out there for those who are looking for a refreshing changing — even if you aren’t tech-savvy.
Alternatives to Cable TV
1. Online Cable Network Channels
It’s important to note that with this option — and some others mentioned — you will still need to be connected to Wi-Fi and have access to the Internet.
Having said that, most major networks tend to post recently aired episodes of their shows on their websites. Then there’s CBS. They offer access to their library of shows for $5.99 per month.
2. Streaming Services
From Netflix to Hulu to Amazon Prime Video, streaming services are all the rage right now.
These services offer a whole host of movies, shows, and even exclusive programming. The content can be streamed to any device; all it takes is access to the Internet and a subscription to your service of choice. Speaking of subscriptions, these range from $8 to $12 a month.
For those who don’t own a smart TV as of yet, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and Roku’s Streaming Stick can be purchased and plugged into your current TV’s HDMI port to link to the Wi-Fi.
3. HD Antenna
Today’s antennas are a far cry from those “rabbit ears” your grandmother once had. With HD-quality features, viewers may be able to watch programs at an even higher standard than what they used to with cable.
While buying an HD antenna is a one-time purchase, prices can vary greatly. In fact, they can cost anywhere from $9.99 to more than $150.
Despite the great variance in prices, the setup is fairly simple. Just plug the antenna into your TV and run a channel scan. Plus, DVRs can be purchased separately for your antenna, so you never miss a single episode of your favorite show.
4. The Library
Seems pretty hokey, but the truth is, your local library has a vast collection of TV show sets and movies for you to borrow. Anything from This is Us to Avengers: Endgame to workout videos can be checked out for about two weeks at a time. All for the low-low price of free!
Although you can only stock up two times a month on shows, your bank account will thank you in the long run.
5. YouTube
Due to the millions of mindless videos that have gone viral, it’s easy to discount YouTube as an app for kids and tweens. However, doing so will cause you to miss out on a lot of great video content.
In addition to cooking tutorials, how-to videos, and unboxing videos, YouTube is the home to some older movies and classic television shows as well.
For the most part, YouTube is free. However, some channel subscriptions require a small monthly fee.