Internet-only services have gained massive popularity among younger audiences. As a result, there has been a continuous decline in cable TV subscriptions during the last few years. Therefore, traditional cable TV providers offer discounts on their subscription plans to keep their subscribers engaged and stick with them.
But, the question remains, does the cord-cutting option save your hard-earned bucks? Check it out.
This post will highlight the salient features of cable TV and cord-cutting services to help you select the right option cost-wise. This way, you can accomplish your media cravings without breaking your bank.
Without further ado, let’s start.
Cable vs. Streaming: Which is Better?
There is no simple answer to which viewing option i.e.cable TV and cord-cutting, is better. It depends on how much TV you watch. The cable TV option works perfectly fine for large households or families. Fortunately, you will not need to deal with video buffering, or data caps issues while streaming through traditional TV packages.
Unlike cable TV, internet-only services are feasible for users who only share their network with one or two people and do not watch TV daily. If you have subscribed to Netflix, Disney Plus, or Hulu, you can save a lot of money. But, you will have to contend with limited content compared to a cable TV subscription that allows you to watch content across 50+ channels at a time.
However, the arrival of new streaming services like Quibi, Peacock, and others has drastically hampered cable TV providers’ growth. For instance, New Zealand is not the biggest country in terms of the population worldwide. But, if we talk about the popularity of streaming services in New Zealand, 75% of kiwis have subscribed to one streaming service.
It would not be wrong to say that New Zealand has become one of the most lucrative streaming markets globally. You can visit howtowatch.co.nz to discover how many streaming services are available in New Zealand as a proof.
Coming back to the point, here are different reasons for and against cable TV that can encourage you reconsider conventional pay-TV package:
Convenient billing and familiar layouts
When you get a TV and internet package from the same company, there is a strong chance that you will have to pay only one bill despite using both services. Interestingly, you do not have to bother others when it comes to browsing TV channel guides to find your preferred channels from the list.
Cheaper Pricing Plans
Cable companies have started introducing budget-friendly and low-priced packages to grab the attention of potential users. They are taking these initiatives due to intense competition, which exists because of online streaming services.
For example, Cox is offering one of the lowest pricing plans to its users. You can get the said pricing package by paying only $25 per month to watch 75+ channels hassle-free. Similarly, you will need to pay only $29.99 to get the RCN’s monthly subscription plan.
Advanced TV boxes
The outdated and heavy TV sets have become a thing of the past. At present, different cable TV providers are coming up with new TV boxes that provide an array of compelling features to users. Furthermore, they come up with built-in online streaming apps of various services such as Netflix, YouTube, PBS, and others.
Additional Cost
When you subscribe to a cable TV provider’s package, you will have to bear some hidden charges that are not mentioned on their official websites. Sometimes, you are supposed to pay broadcast and sports fees that can increase your monthly cost significantly. Besides, you will have to pay equipment charges on a monthly basis.
Similarly, here are some reasons for and against online streaming services that can motivate you to subscribe to one of your favorite services be it Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, etc.
Affordable Pricing
Luckily, you can subscribe to different online streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and others at once under your budget. You can get the Netflix standard plan subscription at the cost of $12.99 per month.
If we talk about Disney Plus, its monthly pricing plan is cheaper than Netflix as you can start its monthly plan by paying $7.00 only. Apart from this, you can experience its impressive 7-day free trial features to examine its various benefits thoroughly.
Content
The best thing about the online streaming services is their impressive content libraries that allow you to watch your preferred shows, movies, or documentaries. Compared to cable TV subscriptions, you have to pay for the channels you do not watch, or you do not like.
This is not the case with streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc. You have a luxury that lets you access your desired media content.
No Hidden Charges
When you subscribe to online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, etc. you do not have to think about paying equipment charges and contract fees, unlike cable TV subscription.
Data Caps
The internet-only services rely quite heavily on ISPs. If your ISP is not providing a better internet connection, you may face issues while streaming your favorite shows or movies. Surprisingly, ISPs keep an eye on their subscribers’ online streaming activities.
This way, they can control or manage your bandwidth consumption if you are a streaming addict like us.
How to save money on your streaming bill?
You can still try out different tactics to decrease your monthly streaming cost to a considerable extent. Here is what you should do:
Find out which streaming service you can cancel
There is no denying that you cannot use all your subscription-based streaming services simultaneously. Here is the pro tip, drop one service that you have not used quite extensively. For example, if you have watched only a handful of shows using your Apple TV Plus subscription, then unsubscribe to it as soon as possible.
It might save you just $5, but don’t forget it’s only a beginning. You are free to resubscribe when there is a newly hyped season added to the content library.
Take full advantage of free trials
Here is another pro-tip. You should always try to use a free trial of any new service to figure out its hidden benefits like simultaneous streams, video quality, content titles, etc.
Share your subscription packages with your loved ones and friends
You can share your current subscription plans with your loved ones and friends. By doing so, you can save a handsome amount of money. For instance, Netflix, Disney Plus, and other online streaming services offer their users simultaneous connection features.
Once you have created multiple profiles using your single account, your friends or immediate family members can use these profiles and watch all their favorite shows and movies on their devices. Thus, you can ask them to share the annual or monthly cost depending on your plan.
Wrapping Up
Saving your hard-earned money is in your own hands. You can watch all your favorite shows, movies, documentaries, news, and other content on multiple devices under your budget using cord-cutting options.
As far as cable TV subscription goes, it is another viable option if you are willing to stretch your financial budget to some extent. The best thing about cable TV is its bundling feature that helps you access numerous channels under one package without facing data throttling issues.
Overall, it all depends on your streaming habits, and the choice is yours, after all.