Cable TV Alternatives

With technology having gotten to where it is today, there are many options for watching TV that people can pick from. Cable TV is not the only choice anymore; there is a plethora of alternatives available. This is a welcome treat for people who have had to deal with overpriced rates that ate into their wallets and budgets, often impeding them from reaching their financial goals.

A fairly nice deal on a cable package can let you get off by paying a reduced monthly fee for a short initial period, but after that, the premiums are bound to go up to double or even triple. Cable also brings the issue of excessive installation fees, miscellaneous charges, and rental fees.

One way to bring down the price of your cable service is to eliminate movie channel choices, but that, while being affordable, still leaves the viewer with little more than traditional TV shows to watch. Bigger cable packages provide a profusion of popular shows and movies, although many individuals and families cannot afford them.

These are some of the reasons why it is considered sensible these days to check out some of the cable TV alternatives first. As already mentioned, technological advancements have made it possible for people to get their proverbial hands on a wide range of shows and movies, without instead paying dearly for mediocre channel lineups. If you are willing to cut the cord and venture out in search of alternatives to cable TV, there are many things to consider in order to ensure you get ample viewing choices.

Sling TV®

This is a streaming service, which lets you watch shows and movies on your personal device, such as a phone, computer, or tablet. It also has the benefit of zero installation fees. Customers can pick from among several viewing options, such as the Sling® Orange package, which comes at $20 a month and brings 28 channels. The lineup includes ESPN1, 2 and 3, the Food Network, and HGTV.

Another package is the Sling® Blue, which gives you 44 channels at a monthly cost of $25. The channels are also different from the ones in the orange package, with the lineup including Fox Sports, AMC, Bravo, NBC sports network, the History Channel, and Cartoon Network. The Sling® Blue and Sling® Orange can be had together for a price of $40 a month, which is $5 under the normal price. Another option the service offers is getting a single package and then supplementing it with add-on packages, which individually cost from $5 to $15 a month.

DIRECTV NOW®

This is another streaming service, which lets you watch video content on your devices over an internet connection. The packages being offered in this service include the most basic, which has 60+ channels, as well as higher-end plans, with the maximum number of channels going over 120. The former comes at a price of $35 per month, while the latter has a tag of $70 per month. The service sometimes lets customers do a 7-day trial to see if a plan is indeed what they are looking for, although this may not be the case at the time of subscription.

Xfinity Stream®

This service lets you watch live TV, hit movies, HBO and more on your device. The subscription also includes TV Everywhere programming, which can be watched using the Xfinity Stream® portal or app. Xfinity Stream® comes with an initial free month, after which regular charges of $10 per month is applicable, along with a $5 Broadcast TV Fee. The premium channels in the package include HBO. Xfinity® Internet customers don’t need to bring in additional equipment to use the Xfinity Stream® package, and no TV Box is needed either. All that’s needed is that the devices be connected to the in-home Xfinity® network.

Cox® Contour TV

Contour TV is a service by Cox Communications® that brings over 130 broadcast channels and premium access over the Contour App. There is also the option of adding equipment and channel packages to your PC in way of customization. All local broadcast channels are provided in the lineup, and this also includes most of the popular cable channels. Some of these are AMC, ESPN, HGTV, and Food Network.

Choosing Online Streaming Services

The thing you should keep in mind when choosing one of the many online streaming services out there, is that using it well require a solid internet hookup. Most video services would suggest that you get hold of an available download speed of 5 Mbps, although this only barely covers the requirement for streaming one show at a time.

If you want to be able to watch multiple shows, the speeds have to be excellent, as well as consistent. On a 5 Mbps connection you would be able to get a single HD video stream, although with loading delays in the event that you network gets clogged with traffic. If you wish to stream 4K Ultra HD, then the broadband speed has to reach at least 25 Mbps. All said, the higher the speed of your internet connection, the better online streaming will suit your lifestyle.

It is advisable to test your internet speed during peak streaming hours. This will let you know if there is trouble resulting from heavy traffic at these times. For example, if it is normal to get around 10 Mbps in download speed during the day, and this goes down to about 3 Mbps in the evenings, there may be cause to call up your internet provider and see if something can be done. However, it usually will not be a problem you have to deal with, unless you live in a rural area. Compare the different internet plans available in your neighborhood before you commit to a video streaming service.

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