About the Author
Neal Bricker is an avid tech enthusiast who loves writing about tech. He is a contributor to a variety of blogs and online publications.
Neal Bricker is an avid tech enthusiast who loves writing about tech. He is a contributor to a variety of blogs and online publications.
Lately, there has been a growing number of
people interested in getting rid of their cable TV subscriptions and opting
instead to use streaming
services such as Netflix and Hulu. In fact, statistics show that one
in four millennials have either cancelled their cable services or never had
them to begin with! One of the main
reasons cited for doing so is that consumers believe using streaming services
is going to save them money, but is this really the case? Let's take a look at
how cable tv vs streaming services compare in terms of the cost.
The Changing Face of The
Television Industry
Television providers are starting to take
notice. CBS and HBO have recently launched new streaming services out with
their regular cable packages and DirecTV opened up their NFL Sunday Ticket
streaming to non-subscribers recently via the internet. Aside from offering
alternative streaming options, many cable providers are also looking at ways to
make their packages more attractive to consumers. One of the ways that they are
doing this is by putting less emphasis on those expensive all in one cable
subscriptions and offering pared back versions featuring only the channels that
they subscriber wants so that they are not paying for channels that they are
never going to watch.
Cable TV vs Streaming
Services
Right off the bat let me say that your
streaming services are going to be far cheaper than a cable TV subscription.
However, you cannot simply do a straight price comparison. You have to look at
what you are getting for your money in order to see which offers more value for
money. It is all very well saying that streaming services are cheaper, but if
they cannot provide the channels or the content that you really want then it
becomes a false economy. For example, if you are looking for foreign language
content then streaming services are not going to offer as much as directv international packages would be able to. So what exactly do you get for your money?
What Can Streaming
Services Offer?
One of the biggest benefits of streaming
services is that they offer much greater levels of flexibility. There are no
sign up or termination fees and you are not tied to a contract of a certain
length. You can basically sign up on a month to month basis and cancel whenever
you feel like it. In addition to this you get a whole new viewing experience
with streaming services. You can subscribe to a TV show so that you are
notified when new episodes are released and you can take advantage of suggested
viewing based on your viewing history.
Like most things in life there are of
course some drawbacks. You will likely find that you need more than one
streaming service as certain shows have exclusive contracts with different
providers. This means paying several subscriptions fees. There is also the fact
that you do require an internet connection to watch anything. This not only
means yet more to pay out, but also that in bad weather you may have to resort
to your DVD collection.
What Does Cable Have To
Offer?
Cable packages are always going to offer
far more variety than streaming services ever could. There is also more chance
of stumbling upon shows that you were not aware of, but which you end up really
enjoying. This is a major perk of cable over streaming. It all comes down to
whether or not you think the price is worth it. Sports are also a big deal when
it comes to cable. Streaming services tend not to offer sports, whereas
channels like ESPN are staples of even the most basic cable packages. If you
are a sports fan then cable is probably better for your needs. You might also
find that your cable provider does allow at least some access to streaming
content as part of your subscription.
So, in conclusion which service offers the
best value for money? It is actually very difficult to give a definitive answer
since it really depends on what you are looking for. Streaming services
probably come out best on a straight price comparison, but cable offers much
more choice. The verdict is that you should stick with at least a basic cable
package and add a streaming service on as a secondary option.
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