Unbelievably, cable companies are still trying to convince us that they’re worth the money, but people aren’t buying them anymore. Today, you can sign up for Internet-only streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu and still get all of your favorite TV shows and movies. These streaming services provide on-demand entertainment with quality picture and sound for much less than you’d pay for cable TV every month, with more channels than you can count on one hand. Today, more and more people are cutting the cord to watch their favorite shows via streaming services like Netflix or HBO Now.
Netflix
Founded in 1997, Netflix is a classic example of disruptive innovation, changing industry standards and expectations through digital distribution methods. It started out as a DVD-rental service that used mail delivery to customers before adding streaming services years later. In 2007, when it was just starting to develop its streaming business, Netflix considered buying Hulu but decided not to do so after finding that its costs would outweigh potential benefits (Netflix’s CEO has said he regrets losing out on an opportunity). A few years later, however, it realized how important video streaming could be and jumped into that space with both feet by producing original content that propelled Netflix into a new arena as well as helping legitimize streaming video as an entertainment medium in general.
Hulu
If you’re looking to cut cable and don’t have a lot of money to spend, Hulu is an excellent streaming service option. With 60 million monthly users and more than 90% of millennials reporting that they use Hulu, it’s definitely one of your best options out there. Compared to Netflix, Hulu has a more narrowly tailored selection of movies, but since it’s offering them all at once on its app rather than one episode at a time through mail or streaming services like Netflix (another advantage—there are no advertisements), Hulu offers more bang for your buck in terms of quantity per hour spent watching. Plus, Hulu has exclusive deals with many cable networks so you can watch episodes from shows such as The Bachelor before they air on TV. Hulu also has deals with Showtime and Starz so you can watch new releases from those channels too.
Amazon Prime Video
If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, then it’s worth giving Amazon Prime Video a try—even if you don’t intend to be an Amazon Prime member (which, we’ll talk about below). The video streaming service offers thousands of movies and TV shows that you can watch at no additional cost by signing in with your existing Amazon account information. As of early 2017, there were more than 2 million titles available in total on Amazon Prime Video as well as 2 million titles available on Netflix in addition to what’s available on HBO Now, Showtime Anytime, and CBS All Access. Watch whatever you want, whenever you want—so long as it’s accessible via one of those three channels! Amazon Prime members get access to all of their content without ads or commercials. This is true even if you subscribe only to Amazon’s standalone video streaming service and not its annual membership program, which grants access to other benefits like free two-day shipping on eligible purchases and exclusive discounts on certain items. Plus, Amazon packages all of its videos in high definition using its proprietary Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound audio technology so they look better than any other subscription-based streaming service out there.
HBO MAX
Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have changed how we consume entertainment by eliminating our need to hunt down shows in a weekly or monthly block of time and watching them on our own schedule. These services are much more flexible than cable TV, which requires you to pay upfront for a block of programming that could contain dozens of hours worth of content. However, as streaming services continue to grow in popularity—particularly among younger generations—cable companies have begun offering streaming packages with skinny bundles at lower prices. HBO Max is one such service that offers its users access to live TV channels and on-demand content without any ads (similar to what’s offered by cable). While these streaming packages may be cheaper than traditional cable plans, they’re not necessarily better value for money if you only watch a few specific channels.
Disney Plus
What Disney’s streaming service means for your streaming habits, Disney Plus, which launched in late 2019, has a lot of people watching—both kids and adults alike. If you’re looking to cut your cable or satellite bill in favor of a cheaper, more convenient streaming option, it might not be worth dropping all your subscriptions just yet. Since you’ll be saving some extra cash for switching to streaming from cable, some of that excess money should be invested into protecting your streaming devices. Check out CPSCENTRAL.COM for all of your streaming device protection plans.
Who is streaming?
According to a recent Nielsen report, nearly half of Americans (48%) say they’ve used an internet-delivered video service such as Netflix or Hulu within a week of being asked, while just 38% said they had done so in 2014. Additionally, more than one-quarter (27%) said they have streamed a movie or television show using a digital subscription service like Amazon Prime Video or CBS All Access within that same time frame — up from 16% two years ago. What does all of that mean? As streaming services continue to grow in popularity, so too will live TV services that deliver customers access to dozens of networks and channels without forcing them to sign up for pricey cable packages (and lousy customer service).
Cable TV
Cable is a high-cost investment and your bill will only go up when you have to pay for new channels, hardware and Internet. But you can still get great shows like Game of Thrones and live sports with it. If all you need is access to cable programming, there are plenty of streaming services that let you watch Live TV over your computer, smartphone or tablet with apps like WatchESPN, Fox Sports Go or SlingTV (which has CBS). Getting rid of cable isn’t as simple as just signing up for one service; use these resources to help make an informed decision about how best to do it depending on what’s important to you. In many cases, combining both options could save you money in the long run.
2 Ways to Save Money On Cable TV 1) Cut back on premium channels: Most people don’t need HBO and Showtime – which typically cost $15 each per month – but they’re easy to add through online accounts or via your cable box remote. 2) Switch providers: Depending on where you live, switching providers might be easier than expected. Start by calling customer service at your current provider if you want more details about available deals. Cable isn’t the only investment that you should make for your home. Investing in a protection plan for your TVs, Laptops, or whatever device you may use to watch your shows, is important as well. Let CPSCENTRAL.COM help you find the best coverage options to keep your devices running smoothly.
Millennials and the Streaming Era
Millennials, or Generation Y, were born between 1980 and 1995. They are less likely to subscribe to cable, are tech-savvy, and are always on the hunt for better services at lower prices. Their spending power is also increasing year after year due to steady employment rates and salary growth across most industries. Experts estimated that they would account for $200 billion in annual retail sales by 2020! This means that companies need to take notice of what Millennials want and make changes accordingly if they hope to stay relevant in today’s marketplace—and no one knows their wants better than streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more!
Baby Boomers and Streaming
Baby boomers are among the most devoted cable television viewers in the country. And, as streaming services become more commonplace and competition heats up, it seems that these older generations may stick with what they know over making a change to something unfamiliar or new. During their youth, there were many channels that needed broadcasting space, including news stations and educational broadcasts on how to create cars and make electricity safer–why would they need cable? They remember their time before the advent of YouTube when watching television meant buying a series of shows on VHS tapes or renting your favorite flick from Blockbuster Video. As you can see, baby boomers have been around long enough to experience changes in technology firsthand and have seen them happen slowly over time. In fact, they’ve been able to watch younger generations go through similar changes during their lifetimes—and now they’re seeing yet another one with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. This makes them far less likely than other age groups to try out a new service like Netflix because if it didn’t exist when they were young adults, why should they bother trying it now? If you’re part of Generation X or younger, you might think that all older people love Netflix—but not so fast!
Streaming Quick Facts
According to a report from Experian Marketing Services, Streaming services will have captured 40% of TV-watching households by 2019, up from around 25% today. That doesn’t mean cable companies are done for—far from it. But that does mean it’s time to get serious about going digital and start exploring streaming services in 2015. One service that works particularly well with laptops and Macs is DirecTV Now, an Internet-based subscription service that lets you stream dozens of channels live directly on your computer or mobile device (and not just Windows-based computers). Best of all, you can try DirecTV Now free for 7 days by clicking here! If you like what you see, simply enter your credit card information when prompted at signup. You won’t be charged until after seven days, but there’s no penalty if you cancel before then. Note: Streaming services aren’t right for everyone. If watching sports is important to you and/or streaming isn’t available in your area yet, consider keeping cable instead. You’ll also want to make sure any streaming service has plenty of apps available across different platforms (including Roku, Apple TV and Android), so that even if someone else wants to watch something else they can easily do so using their own account login info.
How long will Cable tv last?
Cable has had its run, and now we are beginning to see it come to an end. Cable television is slowly being edged out by a new technology – streaming services. These entertainment options have been around for a while, but they’re gaining in popularity quickly as people seek cheaper alternatives to expensive cable packages that aren’t inclusive of live TV anyway. How much longer will cable last? Read on to find out…
Streaming services give you thousands of shows with just one subscription, while still allowing you to view all your favorite shows on live TV through apps like SlingTV or PlayStation Vue. It really doesn’t matter what kind of shows you’re into – there’s something for everyone! You can stream live sports events like baseball games or basketball games without paying anything extra either. If you want something other than sports, there’s always news channels such as Fox News and MSNBC or perhaps even breaking networks like HLN for those who love their true crime stories! Live news isn’t exactly hard to get if you have cable tv either – many providers offer free news channels with their basic package.
To Stream or Not to Stream
That is no longer a question as most people use streaming services over cable TV in America and around the globe. Even though there are still plenty of ways to watch traditional cable, more than 50% of all households with a television pay for a video service—of those homes, 37% have only internet and never access traditional programming (Nielsen 2016). This trend isn’t going away anytime soon because technology keeps making it easier and more convenient to stream content from anywhere you want. Now is an excellent time to find out how much you can save by switching your household from cable TV to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu or SlingTV. Chances are you may be surprised by just how much that number has dropped! So, before you decide on cutting ties with cable once and for all, here’s what you need to know about streaming services vs.
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