Should You Cut the Cord? Pros and Cons of Both Cable and Streaming Services
cable and streaming services
‘Cutting the cord’ can be traumatic for TV viewers used to what their cable service has to offer.
This is especially true for sports fans. But, streaming services are developing to include live sports, as well as many popular shows.
That leaves many viewers wondering if they should switch to streaming or stick with cable.
Here are some of the pros and cons of both cable and streaming services.
Contract-Free Streaming Services
With a few exceptions, streaming services won’t lock you in with a contract. You’ll be free to drop the service on a month-to-month basis.
On the other hand, cable companies generally want you to sign a one- or two-year contract.
They may increase their prices when you renew.
Cheaper Cable TV Packages
While some people resent paying for channels that they don’t watch, overall, cable TV packages are often more affordable compared to streaming services.
Cable TV packages start at around $24 per month compared to the $47 per month most people pay for streaming services.
This is because people often sign up for multiple streaming services in order to have access to all of their favorite shows.
Moreover, it is quite likely there will be channels you don’t want to pay for on your streaming service packages too.
Shop around and look at Spectrum cable TV packages as well as other cable services to find one that best fits your budget and needs.
Multiple Streaming Services
Before you switch, know the programs you’ll want to watch. Unfortunately, switching to a streaming service won’t guarantee that you’ll get all your favorite TV shows.
Rather, you may need to bundle streaming services to get all of your favorite channels.
As a result, you wind up paying for more than one streaming service.
New Hardware and a New Internet Service Provider
Switching to a streaming service might require you to buy a new smart TV.
Or, you may need to buy a device that plugs into the HDMI port of your existing TV.
In addition to that, if your internet service is currently bundled with your cable TV, you’ll need to get a new high-speed internet service provider.
Streaming quality is not as solid as cable, especially if your internet speed falls below 15Mbps.
Fewer Ads
If TV ads annoy you, you’ll be happy to know that many streaming services are ad-free, though not all are.
Also, free and low-cost streaming services have far fewer ads compared to cable TV.
In the end, you’ll need to decide if ‘cutting the cord’ is right for you. If you’re not tech-savvy, sticking with cable might be the right choice.
But, streaming is the future, and switching might eventually be inevitable.
Category: Technology
