Techy type people...Streaming media players an alternative to cable television or a supplement?

Question

My cable bill is way higher than I want it to be.  I was browsing different streaming media players and was wondering can I save some money by getting one of these gadgets.  I realize you would have to pay a fee to subscribe to particular channels, but it can't be anywhere near what I'm paying for cable currently.  There would only be certain channels I'd be interested in anyway.  What is your take on my theory?

Grumpy Mac · Accepted Answer

A lot of people are doing this so you can search for "Cutting the cable" for sites with information about this.

It's an attractive idea - but you have to realize you are replacing a $60/month cable bill for:

* $35/month internet connection
* $8/month Netflix channel
* $8/month HuluPlus subscription

So thats a $52/month bill for 2 channels of services.

And the 'channels' you read about are not TV stations but streaming services like Pandora, AmazonOnDemand, Blockbuster on-demand, YouTube, etc.  They are a "channel of programming" not a "TV Channel".

You also do NOT get sports or higher end shows like HBO, Showtime so you will miss out on Dexter, Game of Thrones, etc.

You also now have to search the internet and services for content.  Since you do not pay yourself - this seems OK, but if you spend 1 hour per week hunting for things that is 52 hours.  If minimum wage was $10/hour - thats $520 of your time spent 'hunting'.

Our lives have gotten simpler with DVR technology because once we setup timers to record our favorite shows - we hardly spend any time hunting or worrying about missing any show.  

SOME ADVICE:

Call your cable company and tell them you are thinking of quitting. They may offer you some deals.  At a minimum - tell them you want to reduce to "Basic Cable".  This is something like $24/$32 month.

See if you can live with this for a month.

Also - can you put up an antenna to get the free ABC, CBS, NBC, (broadcast channels)? Go to www.antennaweb.org and it will tell you what stations you might get for free with an indoor vs outdoor antenna.

Now: the 2 top media streamers are the Western Digital TV Live box ($99) and the Roku 3 box ($99).  If you have a sizeable investment with Apple and iTunes and dont mind the pay-per-view vending machine it supports - you probably want an AppleTV ($99)

Buy one of these media servers and ... play. See what it offers and what it costs.

Also - do the "Cutting the cable" search to find other websites with other specific advice.

Hope this helps.

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Techy type people...Streaming media players an alternative to cable television or a supplement?

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