In 2022, we will have to make a lot of decisions. We must decide whether to start doing business or keep doing the 9-5 job. Likewise, we must choose sides in the escalating conflict between cable companies and streaming services. Cable TV costs are rising, while power cuts are becoming more common. However, the value of all those local and basic channels on cable TV cannot be overstated.
In the midst of all of this upheaval, deciding whether or not to cut the cord becomes increasingly difficult, especially as streaming services have expanded.
We created a detailed guide to assist you to make a decision to rescue yourself from this pain.
Table of Contents
Is cord-cutting appropriate for you?
We recognize that each household has unique needs which makes cord-cutting a highly subjective issue. The following are some questions you should ask yourself:
How much does cable cost you?
Because each home has its own tastes, cable television costs vary. Some individuals like a combination of local and national networks, as well as a few sports channels. Others choose high-end bundles that include over 140 normal channels as well as several premium channels. There is no reason to disconnect if you are pleased with what you have for less than $60. If you are paying more than that and seeking a less expensive option, go for it.
It’s true that there are many channels that you get only with cable TV services and sometimes it’s worth paying extra few bucks. For instance, Spanish users prefer to get cable TV services because they get Spanish content at very economic rates. Companies like Cox offer both Spanish and English channels to their customers. If you want the Cox channel lineup guide in Spanish, you can reach out to Cox Atencion al Cliente.
Are you willing to forego all of cable TV’s excitable programming?
Cord-cutting isn’t a panacea for lowering your monthly cable cost. You will have to forego the majority of the cable programming. Even with streaming devices, you can only receive about 40-50 channels. You should consider whether you are ready to completely cut your cable.
Have you reached the end of your tolerance with cable services?
We have no control over frequent power interruptions, price increases, equipment costs, taxes, regional fees, or contracts. Any normal individual would lose their cool. Furthermore, the prime-time competition and obnoxious commercials make you reconsider your tastes. If you have had enough of this oppression and have lost patience, you must cut the cord immediately.
What are some of the advantages of cutting the cord?
Cut your cable bills in half
We pay more than $80 a month on average for cable programming. Every year, the prices are set to rise, and you will soon be spending close to $150 a month. That is excessive. Subscribing to all of the top streaming services, on the other hand, will cost you less than $50 per month and will save you a lot of money. However it all boils down on how you spend most of your time watching TV, According to 2022 statistics there are older people who watch tv 7 to 8 hours a day and most of them prefer watching sports channels. Another fact about cable tv is that Americans are still enjoying and subscribed to cable service compared to other streaming services. To find out more visit 2022 latest cable tv statistics.
The monthly bill differs from one person to the next. You must either select one or a few services that are most appropriate for you. Many individuals, for example, are happy with Netflix content, which means that they will only have to pay the monthly charge for Netflix.
Some folks, on the other hand, prefer to subscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for roughly $30 each month. This is still preferable to cable, as most basic cable packages begin at $60 per month.
Accessibility
The streaming services are quite simple to use. You don’t have to go through hundreds of channels to find your favorite. Furthermore, with streaming services, you receive exactly what you desire. You can take them wherever you choose without having to worry about installation. If you have the streaming service subscription and you have the application installed on your cell phone, you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows, wherever and whenever you want.
Reliability
Streaming services are more trustworthy. You will not experience any power outages. There are no hidden taxes or levies on the monthly invoices since they are clear. You will only be paying the service charge.
Cord-cutting potential downsides
High-speed internet is required. Period.
Your Roku or Amazon Prime will be useless without high-speed internet. If you live in a geographically distant place with restricted internet connectivity, this might be an issue. Things will operate nicely in regions where high-speed internet is available. However, they would be inaccessible in geographically isolated regions.
Imagining a world without Sports Channels
Although basic sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports are available, streaming providers limit your access to them. If you are a sports freak who cannot miss a live sports event, then you must consider avoiding cord-cutting because you won’t be able to enjoy all the live sports games.
Cricket, tennis, golf, volleyball, and football all have separate channels on cable. Hulu, on the other hand, has all of the basic sports networks. With cable services, you will be getting all your favorite sports channels.
One service can be insufficient
Every day, new services are introduced to the market, and every platform is releasing amazing content, which you do not want to miss if you like watching movies and TV series. Things become much more confusing when there are so many alternatives in the market. Furthermore, these streaming services will compete for all of your favorite TV series. As a result, you’ll need to subscribe to each service separately for each program. This defeats the point of these streaming services, as convenience and price were the driving motivations in our decision to purchase them in the first place.
Moreover, if you sign up for many services at once, you’ll be looking at a monthly bill of around $50, with the cost of internet potentially reaching $120. This would be out of reach for many individuals. They would miss out on their favorite TV series from other providers if they stick with the basic streaming options.
Summing it up
The decision differs from one individual to the next. If you are tired of rising cable rates and power interruptions, consider switching to one of these streaming services. However, you may have to make some concessions on the cable’s sports and news programming. Streaming providers like Hulu provide some sports material, YouTube Live TV is the greatest option if you don’t want to miss any of the action. Finally, these services require high-speed internet. To watch anything in high-definition, you’ll need a download connection of at least 25 Mbps, but the faster the better.
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