TV Viewing Costs—What’s the Best Deal?

A file photo of logos for streaming services Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Sling TV on a remote control. (Jenny Kane/AP)

When you sign up with a cable or satellite provider, the first-year pricing is usually a great deal. But then the second-year hits, and you have sticker shock, and reality sets in. That first-year deal turns out to be the bait that locks you into a high-priced trap.

There has to be a less expensive way to receive your favorite shows. There are numerous options. But they can be confusing. So what is the best deal when it comes to TV viewing?

Establish Viewing Priorities

When looking for the best deal, establish what you absolutely need to watch. Make a list. Discuss with your family what shows they like to watch and can’t live without, and discuss which shows you can forgo.

You may find that the limited number of programs you watch don’t warrant the hundreds of stations that cable offers. You’re paying for wasted programming. It’s overkill.

Beware Basic Cable Plans

One of the first values in viewing is the basic cable plan. In most cases, you’re paying for the same stations you'd receive if you just went over-the-air (OTA) with a TV antenna. You’re paying up to $60 monthly for cable, or $720 yearly. An OTA antenna only costs $25–60 one time, and they’re easy to install.

If you only want the local stations and PBS, don’t go with the expensive basic cable. It’s much more economical to go with OTA.

Don’t Bundle Cable

Most cable providers offer à la carte programming and internet plans. The only real benefit of bundling is receiving one bill for your services. Making automatic payments will relieve the inconvenience of separate services.

If you shop around for deals on TV, you'll have the option of choosing simpler and more flexible plans. Often these will be much more affordable. You can go for live-streaming services instead.

What Cable Really Costs

Cable comes at a high price. The average cost of TV cable is $86.62 per month. This provides an average of 198 channels. Do you watch all those channels? You probably don’t even come close to watching 198 channels.

The average American viewer watches around 17 channels, according to Nielsen. It comes down to quality programs, and there’s a lot of junk out that you’re paying for if you have cable.

Investigate Streaming Services

Whether you pay a little more and go ad-free or pay less and watch the ads, streaming services are less expensive than cable TV.

If you’re a sports fan, go with ESPN for $9.99 per month. Or if you are an old movie viewer, AMC plus goes for $8.99 monthly. Streaming services are even more lucrative if you go ahead and pay for the year.

Bundling Streaming Services

Choose a couple of streaming services based on programming and price. You can make your own bundle, or go with a streaming service that does the bundling for you.

For example, the Disney bundle combines Hulu, Disney plus, and ESPN plus for only $19.99 monthly.

The best part of creating an individual bundle is customization. You’re choosing only the programming your family wants to watch. There’s no waste.

Some of the services have free trials, so you can test them before committing. Experiment with different services until you find what works for you.

And although there may be some overlap in programming, you can always cancel any redundant service if you’re paying month to month.

Use a Streaming Device

Like you need a cable box, you'll need a streaming device. If you have a smart TV, you’re ready to go. Some game consoles also have the app built in. But if you don’t own either one, you can still use streaming services. Buy a new streaming device. Some great ones are Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Chromecast with Google TV 4K, Amazon Fire Tv Stick 4K Max, Apple TV 4k, etc.

Although some can be a little pricey—the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for example, is over $100—Chromecast Google TV 4K will run you around $40. But remember, this is a one-time investment.

Most streaming services support many of the same streaming devices. So there usually isn’t an issue.

Over the Air for Local

You have streaming, but you want to watch the local news or other local shows. That’s where OTA comes into play. It’s free and easy to set up.

You’ll need an OTA antenna. This is easy to install. And you have the option of an outside or inside antenna—that way you don’t have to climb on the roof unless you want to. And have no fear—these antennas are not the old rabbit ears. If you go for an indoor antenna, you’ll have a slick modern version.

You'll want to point the antenna toward television stations; but if you have a mountain between you and the television stations, it probably won’t work.

You can select the antenna that provides the range you need. For example, a 120-mile range antenna is available that’s best for rural areas. But if you live in a city, you probably only need the 25-mile range antenna. Suburbs may only need a 60-mile range antenna. All three can easily be purchased on Amazon.

Cut Cable’s Cord

Do a trial run. Purchase a streaming device and decide if you like the programming that comes with streaming. Then, find out if you use OTA TV combined with streaming if that satisfies your viewing needs.

If it works out, then cut the cord and save hundreds of dollars.

The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.