For many years now, US consumers have had very little choice when it comes to cable TV. Due to the structural nature of the service, there is often only one or two options for customers in any given area, and the lack of competition has seen prices skyrocket. However, new technology means there are other options if you want to cut your cable TV bill. Read on to find out four simple ways to do it.
Call Your Provider
It’s always worth calling your provider to see if they can offer you a cheaper package or plan. If you are already locked into a contract, you will have to wait until the term has ended. But, once you are free to do whatever you please, most cable TV companies will pull out all the stops to keep your business. There are no guarantees, but if you are put through to the cancellation department, you are more likely to walk away with a far better deal.
Switch Providers
If you don’t get a good deal from your current provider, look at the competition. In many locations, there is only one option for cable, but there are a growing number of companies that offer Internet cable. Try and pick up reasonably priced cable TV and broadband Internet bundles together, because a good Internet connection is a must. Slower connections could mean stuttering performance. You can also think about using a satellite service. You have to pay for the installation (unless you ‘know a guy’) and equipment, but most offer a good range of local TV stations for free, in glorious HD.
Internet Streaming
Broadband connections and fast Internet speeds have seen streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu start to offer competition for cable TV. However, while their offerings include an enormous amount of TV shows and movies, you may miss out on the regular programming you enjoy regularly. In this case, think about combining a Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu account with a subscription to your favorite channels. This way, you are paying for what you want to watch, not more than 200 channels that only get turned on by accident.
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Get A Set Top Box
Apple TV, Roku, Google’s Chromecast – there are an increasing number of options available to you if you just want to cut the cable cord altogether. You can choose which one to get by looking into which services they offer – some will give you access to Netflix, some Hulu Plus, and some Amazon Instant. Have a look around and see what your options are.
As you can see, there are an enormous range of choices out there that can cut the costs of your cable TV bill. Although you may miss some of your regular TV schedules, there is the benefit of only watching – and paying for – what you actually want to see. Take your time and have a look around – your perfect solution could be to have a few different services combined.
