How to switch from Cable to Streaming on a budget.
If you're still thinking about switching from cable TV to streaming to save money, perhaps now is the time. Find how to get the equipment, what to look for, and how to transition to streaming TV cheaply. Low-income families, seniors, or the disabled may struggle to understand how to make the change, or they are fearful of the cost. The tips, resources, and steps below can help you make (as well as understand how to do it) the change from cable TV to streaming TV, and the up front cost is minimal.
Not only can you do it without missing your favorite programming, you'll likely also save a significant amount of money on your monthly bills and your Internet connection speeds could increase dramatically. Not only can you save money by cutting cable, but you can sign up for one or more of the many free streaming TV services to save even more. All that's needed for a painless transition is a bit of prep work, and no matter your technical level, age, or financial resources, the steps below will help guide you.
Comparing the old with the new
Say you have cable TV and Internet service along with a couple of TV sets. In this typical scenario, you may be renting a router and multiple other devices from your cable Internet service provider (ISP). This is an expensive monthly bill to have, even more so for low to moderate income families who often live paycheck to paycheck. The cost is even higher when considering that there are free streaming TV options out there, as noted below.
If you've had your router (note a router is used for internet connections and allow you to get on the internet) for several years, you've likely paid for it a few times over and it may not even be running the most current network security protocol to protect your connected devices and data. It may not even be providing the fasted internet connection for your home. You might also be renting two "set top boxes" and a DVR. If your service wasn't that good when you first had it connected due to aging cable infrastructure in your area, you might also have a booster device plugged in somewhere.
When you switch to streaming-only, you can get rid of most all of that hardware and the rental fees that go along with it. Depending on your cable TV company, it may cost you $5 to $10 per month (in cable bills) to “rent” a cable box. And that is a per box cost…the more boxes you have the higher the monthly expenses.
Not only that, a cable TV box could be replaced with a single wireless router furnished by your new service provider, perhaps even with no additional rental fee. Some paid TV streaming services offer DVR in the cloud, meaning there's also no need for that DVR device. In addition, low-income families may be able to get very low cost or free internet service as well, which means their monthly savings from cutting cable (and using streaming services) will be even lower. More on streaming TV service packages.
Cable service also often has limits to usage, which can be costly. Your cable Internet plan may have data limits. If you exceed them, additional fees could apply. Unlimited data plans are now widely available so you won't need to worry about going over while streaming.
If you live in an area where fiber Internet is available, you could not only get unlimited data but also choose from plans that offer different download and upload speeds. For example, some fiber Internet service providers (such as ATT or Verizon) may offer offering basic plans with 500Mbps max speeds and unlimited data for under $50.00 per month for a year. That includes tax and a new router.
Oftentimes, major cable provider's Internet users are seeing maximum data speeds (not what is claimed) in the 250-500 Mbps range - half that of the most basic fiber plan. With fiber, the upload speeds are comparable to the download speeds. With cable, the upload speeds are only about 5-10 Mbps at most. Cable customers with these slower speeds and data limits who subscribe to the most basic TV programming option are paying anywhere from $120 to $200 monthly including taxes and equipment rental fees. That's for the typical two-TV setup described earlier. Customers of the local fiber ISP (which is enough bandwidth to watch streaming services) are paying $39.99 including tax and router. They have no data usage limits.
These fiber customers can get basic TV streaming plans including cloud DVR service for around $70 to $80 monthly (tax included) that offer programming options similar to those of basic cable TV plans. So, total costs for fiber customers in this example are around $100 to $120, about $40-60 less per month than the cost of basic cable. That means a family can save around $400 to $600 per year by cutting the cable.
Free streaming
You don't have to pay for a streaming plan to get quality TV programming and movies. Many services are free, which is great for any low income families or senior or disabled person who lives on a fixed budget. Worst case, you may just need to have to “put up” with some ads – which is really the same as what cable TV does.
While you may not get channels like Discovery, History, or Animal Planet with free streaming options, you can access multiple streaming services that offer hundreds of channels and movies at no cost. They provide live TV programming as well as on-demand shows. A few of these free options are Roku, Tubi, Filmrise, and Peacock. You can spend hours perusing the lists of free programs available with these services.
Although you may lose access to some of the shows you enjoy should you choose to only use free streaming services and not a paid plan, you might find that some of your favorites will eventually make it to those services. It's not unusual to find multiple seasons of your favorite programs on free streaming channels after they've aired on the pay platforms. You just might need to wait a little while for them to show up.
Sports fans...
Maybe you would be fine with using free streaming services if it weren't for the fact that you'll lose access to your favorite sports programming. The good news is that you can get services like Sling and YouTube TV starting as low as $20 to $300 monthly with no contract (cancel anytime without penalties). These channels air live sporting events that you would get with basic cable plans, but at much lower costs.
Local channels and news
You can also get digital TV antennas at very reasonable prices and install them, yourself. Or a local cable company or electronics company, such as Best Buy, can install the antenna for free if you are not handy at all. Many older people are familiar with this technology - it is the old antenna concept that you probably grew up with! Depending on how close you are to a metropolitan area, you could get upwards of 80 local broadcast channels using one of these antennas. This would give you local news, sports, and other live programming with no monthly fee or data usage.
You may want to talk with a few of your neighbors to find out whether they are using one of these antennas. Ask them if they like theirs and, if so, get the model and pricing details. You could also read some online reviews and maybe speak with someone knowledgeable at your local electronics store before choosing an antenna.
Prerequisites
You'll need a few basics in order to make the switch from cable. The good news is that, if you do some prep work beforehand, the transition should be fairly seamless as well as inexpensive. it is even seamless for less tech savy people to make the change from Cable to the latest and greatest streaming devices or content.
Do you have smart TVs or a TV set with a HDMI connection? If you have a smart TV, you can go ahead and load some of the free streaming services and check them out if you haven't done so already. If you do not have a smart TV but your TV has a HDMI input, you can get a streaming device to connect to that input. Consider a Roku, Amazon Fire, or Google Chromecast streamer. You can purchase one of these devices online at prices starting under $30.
Just plug one in and follow the setup instructions. Or any electronic stores, such as Best Buy, Amazon (they have installation services) or other retailer can set them up for you. You'll still be able to watch your cable programs after setting up streaming.
If you don't have a smart TV or a set with a HDMI input, you'll need to get one before the switch from cable. Fortunately, you'll probably be shocked at just how affordable these TVs have become. For example, you can purchase a 50-inch Roku ultra-high definition (UHD) smart TV that's already set up for streaming for less than $270. Want a smaller set for the bedroom? You can get a 32-inch UHD set for around $100. Consider the price comparison provided earlier. If you're saving $53 monthly after you switch over, you'll save $636 the first year (and that's with a paid programming service). You can buy both of these TVs and still save more than $200 after tax in the first year.
Once you're set up to access streaming services, get familiar with the programming so that, when you make the switch, you'll already know where to go to find your favorite shows.
About your other connected devices...
You may have computers, tablets, a printer, and smart home devices that connect wirelessly to your current router. When you get your new wireless router and service, you're likely not going to be thrilled about manually reconnecting each of those devices to that new router. You may be able to avoid most, if not all, of that work. Either you or the installer of your new router can simply change the name and access password of your new router to match that of the old one. In most instances, this will allow your devices to reconnect automatically after the switch. You may have one or two that demand individual attention.
Are you currently under contract with your cable provider?
If you have a contract with your cable company, there may be an early termination fee. Review your terms and conditions or call your cable provider to find out. If there is a fee and if it's more than you're willing to pay, you may simply need to wait out the contract. Alternatively, you could try and renegotiate your plan, getting rid of your cable TV plan and keeping Internet-only services until you can make the full switch. Or there are free, government funded attorneys or bill payment companies that can help you either (1) get out of existing cable contracts for free or (2) reduce the fees you need to pay. Read more on free legal aid for senior seniors.
Some ISPs offer incentives in the form of gift cards for new subscribers. If so, the gift card may be enough to cover the termination cost or at least make it worth going forward with the cable cutting. The fiber provider mentioned earlier is currently offering $100 and $200 gift cards to new subscribers depending on the plan they select.
In summary...
If you do your research and make a few preparations, cutting the cable isn't going to be as stressful as you may have thought. Even older generations, or people who may not be up to date on technology, can easily make the change. The upfront costs to switch to streaming are minimal as well, and you will save money each month to quickly recoup and upfront expenses. Always keep in mind many electronic companies and installers will do everything from you as well.
Simply find a new ISP offering a good deal with unlimited data if possible, as that will be the best for any budget. If necessary, get your TVs set up and ready for the transition to streaming. Become familiar with some of the streaming options available and find the free and/or paid plans that meet your needs. You can sign up for them beforehand so that you don't miss any of your favorite shows.
When you're ready to switch from Cable to Streaming, get your new ISP to set up your service before you cut the cable. Make sure that, when you do make the switch, you rename your new router and set the password to allow your devices to connect automatically. You might only lose Internet connectivity for a few minutes during the transition if you do your prep work. All that's left is to return all that rented equipment to the cable company and begin enjoying your cost savings.
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