Before You Cut That Cord…

Before You Cut That Cord…Before You Cut That Cord…

There has been a lot of talk lately about cancelling cable or satellite services and opting for using online and over-the-air TV offerings instead.  I have written often about this trend. As average monthly cable TV bills hover near $100, a 40% increase in just 5 years, both the desire too for cut costs and changing viewing habits are pushing more of us to consider cutting the proverbial cord.  But before you get those scissors out of the kitchen drawer there are a few things you should do to make sure you will save money and can really get along without that cable subscription.

Most people will want to continue to receive their local TV channels using an antenna.  In most cases this is very easy but not always.  A reader recently sent me a note informing me that he cut the cord only to find out that he could no longer get local Channel 12 (WKRC) over the air.  The reason behind this is grist for another column but suffice it to say in some areas getting all the local channels with an antenna can be impossible.  The good news is that you can connect an antenna to your TV before making your decision to cancel your cable.  Your out-of-pocket cost is less than $20 for a simple indoor TV antenna and an hour of your time to see what you can receive.

Taking advantage of the various streaming services on the internet requires you to have a good internet connection.  You need to decide if the monthly cost of having internet connectivity should be factored into your decision-making equation since you most likely want that connection regardless of your cable cutting decision.

I suggest that you write down, over a two week period, the TV programs that you regularly watch.  Once you have that list you need to see which of these programs are offered free over-the-air and which are available on one or more of the pay streaming services.   Each of the major internet based TV services have a base fee. Hulu Plus and Netflix charge about $10 per month each while Amazon Prime has an annual fee of about $100.  The major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox each have offerings ranging from free to $10 per month. Good news: PBS streaming is free.

Now take a piece of paper and write down the combined costs of all the online services you will need and see how that number compares with what you are now paying for cable or satellite.  In most cases it will be less even if you factor in the entire cost of the internet service.

If you do cut the cord, when searching for your favorite show you may need to press a few more buttons. The learning curve is not steep and you will soon learn how to go from one service to the other.  If more and more of us decide to eschew cable, who knows, the providers might begin to offer a more a la carte TV menu with reduced fees.  But don’t hold your breath!