Cutting the Cord

Thinking About Cutting the Cord on Cable? Consider This.

Are you fed up with high prices, endless fees and programming packages with channels you don’t watch? My family is, and it turns out we aren’t alone. During the second quarter of 2016, more than 800,000 people decided to ditch their dish or cable network. While my husband and I have yet to pull the plug on cable, my son did when he moved out for college. He’s been cable-free for two years and hasn’t missed his favorite shows or the cable bill. The debate is still ongoing at our house, but here’s what’s going into it.

1. Could an Antenna Work?

If you’re not addicted to your DVR the simplest fix might be an antenna. Growing up, my family held out on getting cable for what seemed like an eternity. We had four local channels and had to adjust the antenna based on which channel we were watching. That’s not the case anymore. When my son moved out, he purchased an HD antenna for $75, or what he would spend on one month’s cable bill. He hooked it up to the back of his TV, ran it out the window and had instant reception. Without moving the antenna, he has access to not only the local stations but about 20 other channels.

2. Will Streaming Services Satisfy You?

The variety of available streaming options is what makes me think that my family could make it without cable. We’re already avid Netflix and Amazon Prime Video users, but if we cut the cord, I know I would have to consider adding something like Hulu to fill in the gap that doing without cable would create. I’m addicted to shows like This is Us, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, and, frankly, I’m not willing to give them up. Prices vary by company, but plans start as cheap at $7.99.

3. Can Cable-Replacement Services Cut It?

Live sports. Whenever my husband and I talk about getting rid of cable, live sports is the holdout. Thanks to popular cable-replacement services like Sling TV and DirectTV Now, we might actually be able to break up with cable. These subscription services allow you to watch live TV, sports and movies that are streamed over the Internet rather than an analog wire. My son pays $20 a month during football season for Sling TV, and then he shuts off his service when the playoffs are over.

Are you considering going cable-free? Join us for the upcoming Cutting the Cord – Enjoying TV at a Fraction of the Cost class where you’ll discover other ways to start saving money. Call 405.377.3333 with questions or register here. To find out about more courses like this sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. View all of our upcoming courses in our digital catalog.

Cara Adney is the Marketing and Media Relations Coordinator at Meridian Technology Center. This is an update of one of our most popular TRIO posts.