Why It's Time to Cut the Cord

A report from DecisionData.org indicates that the average monthly bill for cable TV packages is more than $200. This makes it among the most expensive utility bills we pay each month. But it’s not a bill we have to pay anymore in order to watch TV. More and more people have been able to “cut the cord” and completely get rid of TV cable bundles for good. All they pay for now is their Internet plan and any streaming services they choose to use, which cost a fraction of the price of cable.

If you’re fed up with how expensive these cable packages have become, you’ve definitely considered doing the same. But it’s difficult to give up these custom plans that are admittedly convenient. It’s not nearly as difficult as you think, though. Many people in the Tachus community have been able to cut the cord, ditch cable bundles for good, and save money without losing any of the content or convenience they had before. And they did it all by streaming TV.

What Is Streaming TV?

Streaming TV is the digital delivery of television content, like TV shows, over the Internet. The use of streaming online video and web television by consumers has seen a remarkable increase ever since the launch of online video platforms like YouTube and Netflix. Streaming TV can now be classified into two categories: on-demand and live.

On-demand is what you would call Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other services that let you start and stop a show or movie whenever you want. Live TV streaming services are likely what you are looking for if you’re trying to replace your cable service but still want to keep your channels. In this case, you can get the channels and content you usually receive in a cable TV plan via the Internet. If you find the right streaming TV service, you can have access to the same offering of channels and shows you had in your cable service, but with much greater benefits.

What Are the Benefits of Streaming TV?

On-demand streaming’s benefits are clear and well-known; you can enjoy hundreds of hours of TV shows and movies whenever you want at your own pace. Live TV streaming is the lesser known method of streaming, but it has several of its own benefits. Live streaming services work like your TV cable service with just a few key exceptions: they are more affordable, more customizable, and free to cancel or restart without any penalties. This means that if you’re subscribed to a channel for just one show, you can cancel after the season finale and save a little more money each month the show isn’t on the air. And if you wanted to switch services, you can do so easily. Many services offer free trials or promotions, so you can try different ones out while you’re still deciding which ones to go with.

How Does Streaming TV Work?

Most people who cut the cord and stream TV typically need two things:  

1. A streaming device like the Roku Streaming Stick+ or the Amazon Fire TV Stick  

2. Streaming services like Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV that can be downloaded onto your device  

Before downloading a live TV streaming service and purchasing a streaming device, we highly recommend visiting tachus.com/tv. Tachus.com/tv is Tachus' very own resource that recommends the best, most affordable streaming services in your area based on the channels you watch. It compares billions of combinations of TV services and finds the best for you. It’s as simple as selecting the channels you want, and you’ll be shown the best possible service or combination of services for the lowest possible price. It also recommends the best streaming devices to use for each service.

If you have a smart TV, you likely have a streaming device built in with Netflix and a few other on-demand services already installed. If you want a live TV streaming service, you would just need to download one. If you don’t have a smart TV, you can easily find a streaming device on sale either online or at your local electronics store. The most popular streaming devices are made by Roku and Amazon Fire TV. We would recommend checking tachus.com/tv before buying one, as each service the site recommends for you also shows you what devices support them. Roku and Amazon TV products support nearly every streaming app available and generally cost in range of $40.

Installing Your Streaming Device

If you’re using your smart TV’s built-in streaming device, you can ignore this section and go straight to downloading your preferred streaming services. If you’re purchasing a live streaming device, it’s easy to set up—it plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port, and usually a power outlet as well. Switch your TV over to the HDMI input, connect either to your Wi-Fi or directly to your modem or router, and you’re all set. You’ll already have Netflix and Hulu pre-downloaded on your device, just like with a smart TV. But if you’re interested in accessing your channels on a live TV streaming service, you’ll just need to download it onto your device.  

Downloading a Live TV Streaming Service

Downloading a live TV streaming service is easy. If you already know what channels you want, tachus.com/tv will recommend the best service or combination of services to you for the best price. But if you’re flexible about which channels you want and are interested in doing your own research, you can find many options that give you access to several channels including local programming, news, sports, and entertainment across several genres. Each service will have a different offering, specialty, and price point, so be sure to do your research before choosing one.  

Below are some of the most popular live TV streaming services along with their base pricing:

• Hulu + Live TV - $69.99 per month

• YouTube TV - $64.99 per month

• Philo TV - $25 per month

• fuboTV - $69.99 per month

• Vidgo - $45 per month

• Sling TV - $35 per month

Putting it all together, Tachus customers who use streaming services pay a one-time payment of $40-$50 for a streaming device (if they’re not streaming to a smart TV), a monthly payment in the range of $20-$70 for their streaming service, and a monthly payment of $65 for Tachus 100 Mbps fiber Internet service. Even though they’re not all coming from the same provider or company, these bills add up to a long-term cost that is much lower than what you will be charged for most cable packages after their introductory prices expire.  

Canceling cable and unbundling is easier than it’s ever been. Once you start streaming, the savings, convenience, and freedom to cancel and switch services with no contracts will make it hard to miss your old cable plan. There are countless ways you can cut the cord, and if you find a way that suits you, you’ll never use cable again.