Are you planning on cutting THE cord? Which cord is that? The TV Cable cord? Yes, precisely that!
In the last year, people worldwide switched to live TV streaming services where they subscribed to either Hulu, HBO Max, or Netflix. There’s a long list…
When these online streaming services were launched some years ago, people got attracted to their marketing plan, where they sold each of these services at minimal prices. But as the demand is increasing along with the usage, the monthly cost of each of these streaming services is increasing every few months, making us question whether opting for it was a good idea or not. People have started to think how subscribing to a DirecTV Choice package would be a better shout than continuing to watch movies on Netflix.
But how would we know which better option is helping you save some bucks? Here’s how.
Cable TV or Online Streaming: Which Is a Better Deal?
How many times do you come across emails in your Gmail inbox where your online streaming service provider informs you of a price rise in your monthly subscription? But does it confuse you or make you feel frustrated about how sticking to one fixed monthly payment would be better than a constant increase?
It’s fair to ask yourself, Am I even getting a good deal by switching to streaming TV from cable TV services?
See for yourself how the pricing stands right now for live TV streaming services.
- Hulu+ Live TV costs $69.99 a month
- YouTube TV costs $64.99 a month
- Fubo TV-Pro costs $69.99 a month
- Sling Orange+ Blue costs $50 a month
Whereas, if you compare the prices mentioned above to the cost of a monthly cable TV bill like the Directv Ultimate package, it can vary from as low as $89.99 a month, offering more than 270 live TV channels & 60,000 On Demand titles. It also provides live games every Sunday with the NFL SUNDAY TICKET at no extra cost for the first 3 months of premium channels on the house with all the “bells and whistles.”
All of this might seem a bit confusing to you, which is a better deal to take and differs from person to person, but we can help you find the answers and clear out any confusion. Ask yourself these questions;
- How Is the Internet Situation at My End?
Does it sound odd to check the internet connection situation in a cable TV service versus an online streaming TV argument? Well, it is actually a very important aspect when pricing your TV entertainment.
Every time you opt for an online streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Hulu, you require a stable and high-speed internet connection of at least 10 Mbps. Netflix requires at least 5 Mbps internet speed to stream a buffer-free movie.
If your cable TV provider is offering both TV and high-speed internet, there’s a high chance that you’re getting bundled pricing on both services. It is likely that you’re getting a discount on both of these services as an added benefit to keep them on the same monthly bill with your cable TV provider. Customers who sign up for such packages tend to face issues assessing the value of online streaming TV services.
To make an accurate like-to-like comparison, you’ll need to check what “an internet only” pricing package holds on the impact of a streaming subscription from your cable TV company in this scenario. If that pricing paired with your Netflix account is cheaper than the cable TV company’s bundle price, you might have to consider moving forward with switching to cable TV, in other words, cutting the cord.
- How Much Does the Cable TV Cost?
How many times have you come across cable TV providers offering an excellent price for their new or returning customers? You see them flashing on billboards, appearing on TV in between shows, flyers in your mailbox, and even in newspapers. Do they seem more attractive than what the online streaming services are offering? They sure do, but it’s best to do your homework on finding out the fees attached to your cable bill TV subscription if you’re actually getting a reasonable price or not.
Online streaming services like Hulu don’t really carry additional fees beyond the local sales tax, so the price you see is what you actually get and pay for.
In contrast to cable TV services, it is almost notorious for tacking on the charges to your monthly bill. Some of them are warranted, while others seem of no value.
Make sure of the following items for potential “tack on” charges from your cable TV provider:
Installation fee, rental charges of cable TV boxes, charging for cloud DVR storage, rental charges of connecting devices, or contractual charges.
Any combination of these above fees could increase the monthly pricing from $10-$30 to the rate mentioned in commercials. It’s a marketing gimmick and nothing else.
- Which Channels Do I Really Watch?
How many times do you find yourself asking this question, Why am I paying for 80 channels when I only watch 30 of them consistently?
If you’re paying approximately $90 a month for cable TV, you will likely find a streaming TV package that will help you get all those channels you enjoy at a much more affordable price. You could also compare the channels that are offered by the streaming TV packages around you side-by-side to choose the right one for yourself and for your family.
- You Can Record!
Almost all the TV shows and movies that come to your mind are easily available on cable TV services. Every time you wish to watch a particular show later at night after dinner, you can always set up a recording before you head to work, and it will be ready to watch with your family whenever you want.
What’s the catch for on-demand content? You can watch it whenever you like. Can’t seem to sleep at night? Turn it on and watch it till you pass out, and even continue watching it when you wake up.
The Choice Is Yours
When online streaming TV services from Getattonline.com were launched earlier, they were nothing but a great bargain. But as the technological and streaming industry evolves, many of these services now charge nearly twice as much as they did earlier.
This price hike and constant change have opened the doors for cable TV service providers to compete, especially when bundling internet connection is an option.
How can you do so? You can find the best deal by assessing which channels you actually watch consistently at affordable prices and then comparing it to what your local cable company is offering.