Do I Need a Cable Box? The Argument for a Streaming Overhaul.
The cable box: As a long-time fixture in American entertainment, many of us find ourselves clinging onto a cable subscription. Even when the top TV shows and films of the current times are found on major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the jump to a cable-free home can seem insurmountable.
But does it have to be?
The shift towards streaming platforms as the main source of TV and movies has largely already happened. Especially with options like YouTube TV Live, which enables you to still watch your primetime favorites in real time, cable is becoming more and more obsolete.
Let’s break down the cable box dilemma so that you can see whether or not a streaming overhaul is the right choice for you.
Comparing Costs: Cable vs. Streaming
The main motivator for people who choose to nix the cable box and rely solely on streaming services is cost efficiency. Simply put, cable is expensive, especially if you have a comprehensive plan with hundreds of channels (many of which, you likely never use).
Let crunch some numbers to see if switching to streaming alone will save you money:
The monthly cost for popular streaming services:
- HBO Now: $14.99
- Netflix (standard plan): $8.99
- Amazon Prime Video: $8.99 (this cost is for Prime Video alone; a full Amazon Prime membership costs $12.99 per month and includes Prime Video, among other services)
- YouTube TV: $50
- Hulu: $5.99 for Hulu streaming, $44.99 for Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV: $60 ($15 for your first month)
On the flipside of this dilemma, cable subscribers spend an average of $85 per month. If you take the most expensive monthly streaming service in the list above, YouTube TV, you’ll see that it’s not much more than half of the average cost of cable. That’s a sizable difference, and one that’s large enough to make any cable subscriber feel tempted to turn over to streaming.
We should note the importance of the cost of Internet when considering these numbers. It’s true that you must also have an Internet subscription for your household to use streaming services. But, 80% of households already pay for an internet service, so this cost is largely irrelevant.
Which Streaming Services to Opt For
Some streaming services will make for a more seamless transition away from cable than others. For instance, while Netflix is a streaming-only platform, you can subscribe to Hulu + Live TV and never miss out on your fix of primetime TV.
Here are the streaming services that offer an experience similar to that of traditional cable, along with their key features:
- YouTube TV
- Stream live TV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Full access to Hulu streaming library
- Watch live sports, news, entertainment, etc.
- Record live TV
- Sling TV
- Stream live TV
- Select only the channels you need
- DVR capacity
With the streaming platforms above, you can watch live TV, including local news and sports programs, without a cable box. You get the best of both worlds, in a sense, with the ability to stream on multiple devices and record live TV. Plus, these services give you more control over which channels you subscribe to, leading to a lower monthly price (and you can easily cancel anytime – there’s no long-term contract like you often have with a cable company).
Wrapping Up
It’s clear that the world of entertainment is moving away from traditional cable services and towards streaming platforms. Streaming gives you greater flexibility and control over the content you pay for. Plus, with short-term and easily-cancellable monthly contracts, you’re free to try out different streaming services until you discover the right one for you. When you compare the details, the argument is clear: you don’t need your cable box to enjoy top-quality entertainment at home.
Sources
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2017/11/06/five-steps-cutting-your-expensive-cable-bill/558650001/
https://clark.com/technology/tvsatellite-cable/cable-streaming-price-comparison/
https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/smart-money/cost-of-cable-tv-vs-internet-streaming/