Who among us hasn’t stood in the living room and, silently or otherwise, cursed their cable company?
High prices, program interruptions, customer-service hassles, DVR glitches – did we mention high prices?
It’s no surprise, then, that as web-based television services have arrived, many cable customers have taken the opportunity to “cut the cord” and drop their cable television service.
In 2013, television subscriptions to cable, satellite and similar services fell for the first time in the history of the industry, and that trend accelerated last year.
2015 promises to move the needle even faster, as several new services are launching that will give consumers more options for watching television via the Internet.
Of course, television over the Internet requires a broadband connection – a service that is probably provided by a TV-service company. So “cutting the cord” remains a bit of a misnomer. And depending on your personal television needs, it might not be much of a money-saver, either.
Local TV-service companies typically offer steep discounts to people who buy more than one of their services, meaning they are still the cheapest means of getting a large number of channels.
But some new services are stepping up to do battle:
• Sling Television, launched in January by Dish Network, offers a package of 20 cable favorites, including ESPN, AMC and HGTV, for $20 a month.
• Apple will begin a service later this year aimed at its mobile devices that will deliver about 25 channels, including CBS, ABC and Fox.
• Sony just launched PlayStation Vue, a TV service that works with its PlayStation game consoles. Vue delivers 53 channels in its basic package for $50 a month. Right now, it is only available in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia but is expected to expand rapidly.
• HBO announced that its long-awaited HBO Now will be available in April via Apple TV devices. More devices are expected to be added shortly after. The standalone service costs $14.99 a month.
Add those to video-on-demand services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video and single-channel offerings such as CBS All Access.
All those new options also make the decision that much harder. Do I cut the cord or stay attached? It’s a difficult question to answer, but here are some scenarios that probably fit most television viewers.
I MOSTLY WATCH BROADCAST
One of the benefits of digital television is that over-the-air broadcasts are much better than ever. If you live in an area with decent reception, a couple of hundred dollars spent on a good antenna could set you free from any TV bill. (Check out antennaweb.org for advice on your particular antenna needs.)
Not only can you get ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS and the CW, there are dozens of independent local channels, plus specialty networks like Antenna TV and MeTV that transmit over local frequencies.
Popular cable series can be purchased from pay-as-you-go streaming services like Amazon or M-Go through your smart TV or an add-on box like Roku or AppleTV.
Want a DVR? There are options. TiVo is the gold standard but requires a monthly fee plus equipment costs. Hauppage and a few other companies offer fee-free solutions.
Downside: Sports fans will find surprisingly little on broadcast these days. Reception in some areas, especially South County, can be difficult. And your homeowners association may have restrictions on aerials.
I’M ON A BUDGET
There are two cord-cutting paths to take:
First, consider mixing an over-the-air antenna with the Sling Television package, which will provide you with a fair amount of television for just $20 a month, once you’ve paid for the antenna.
Or, combine an antenna with a Netflix subscription. You won’t be able to see any cable shows live, but Netflix offers a huge catalog of entertainment programming, including originals, for $8.99 a month.
Antenna not in the picture? Think about a subscription to HuluPlus. For $7.99 a month, you get access to most of the current programming from ABC, NBC and Fox, plus a gigantic catalog of shows from around the world.
If cost-savings is the principal reason for cutting the cord, call your TV provider’s customer-retention department first. Most companies will negotiate with customers in good standing to try to save them money.
Downside: There are a limited number of channels to watch live.
I LOVE SPORTS
Even though ESPN is now available through Sling, traditional TV providers remain your best bet. Cable sports is far more than just the ESPN family; it’s all of the regional channels that carry the local teams – even if you still can’t get the Dodgers! And for NFL addicts, satellite provider DirecTV is still the only way to get all of the games through the NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Downside: Cost. There is still no way to buy a cheap cable package with a high sports content.
I’M ON THE GO
If you are someone who travels a lot or just wants to get away from the family and watch TV in the backyard on your laptop, cord-cutting provides an advantage over cable in terms of mobility.
Many TV channels offer “go” versions that you can watch through an app or web browser if you are a cable subscriber, but the new web-based services promise a more satisfying experience.
Downside: To replicate a complete cable subscription is likely to be more expensive, not less.
I LIKE TO CHANNEL SURF
Traditional TV service remains your best bet. If you want lots of choices that you can access in an organized way, nothing beats a cable channel guide. We’re still waiting for someone to figure out how to interface a variety of web-based channels easily.
Downside: Are you really watching all of those channels you’re surfing through – and paying for?
I’M A TV JUNKIE
You’re like me, which means you have a giant cable bill plus subscriptions to Netflix, HuluPlus and Amazon Prime, because you hate to miss out on the show that everyone is talking about.
Admit it, you won’t cut the cord until every last channel is available on the web, so it’s a moot discussion for you. However, you might be able to save some money by switching providers or coaxing your current company into giving you a deal to stay.
Downside: Is there a downside to watching way too much television?
Contact the writer: 714-796-7724 or mhewitt@ocregister.com or @WatcherofTV on Twitter
