Ditch Cable, Save Money with New Entertainment Services

Source : knoworthy.com

by Mariam Jehangir

With more and more consumers discovering and switching to streaming services and wireless devices, such as Netflix, Hulu, Roku and Chromecast, cable companies are finding themselves with fewer subscribers.

By cutting ties with the cable company, viewers are also reducing their monthly bills by a significant amount, while still enjoying most or all of the programs they love.

While lower fees and service costs are proving to be reason enough for Americans to ditch cable there are some drawbacks to the switch.

You can miss out on certain shows and most local programming, for example. It can also be difficult to stream live shows from stations such as CNN or MSNBC, unless you have a cable, satellite or telecom service that provides those channels. And for those who want to watch their favorite shows when they air, they may be out of luck as many of them aren’t available until at least a day after.

But a recent article from Reuters provides tips on how to get around many of these issues so you can still move away from cable, without sacrificing too much.

1. If sports and local programming are important to you, consider going old school and set up an antenna. Many television sets will require a digital converter too. This method will allow you to watch whatever the antenna pulls in and not have to pay a monthly fee. You can get a small in-home antenna for as little as $20; the bigger roof-mounted ones can run up to $100.

2. Figure out where your favorite shows are before you make the jump. Some shows are only available online, other for-stream programs are only available through certain services.

3. Similarly, you need to take the devices you use into account. Chromecast requires a computer, but Roku doesn’t.  Having an Apple device like the iPhone or iPad will allow you to make the most out of your Apple TV.

4. Before you sign up for any of the services, make sure you have a compatible TV. Smart televisions can stream most Hulu and Netflix programs without any special devices. With certain devices, you may need to have a TV with an HDMI port. Do your homework before you buy.

5. Don’t get too comfortable with what you choose. Be aware that the entertainment-service world changes constantly and in few months’ time, you may be exploring new menus, devices and options.

Posted in: Technology, Wealth