Cutting the Cord

In this post, we’re going to do something scary — but by doing it together, we’ll get through it. I’m talking about cutting the cord on cable television. 

From my point of view, there are two types of cord cutters: Those who want live television with local programming, and those who are happy with seeking and finding their own entertainment from services like Netflix or Disney+. Personally, I would want to know if a water main has burst and inundated a street I use — or any number of potential, local inconveniences that aren’t accounted for in Google Traffic or on The Weather Channel. 

I’ve narrowed my search down to three services: YouTube TV, Hulu TV, and Sling. They each include dozens of the most popular cable channels, with add-ons like Showtime generally costing under $10. All of the local affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are typically included in the basic package.

• YouTube TV: At $49 per month, cord cutters will want to carefully run the numbers to see if YouTube TV is really any cheaper than their cable plans. People are often “bundled” into services where the average cost of cable and internet is cheaper than if bought “à la carte.” 
• Hulu TV: At $54.99, Hulu TV also begs the question: Is this any cheaper than cable? Again, there is an impressive selection of basic channels, with the ability to add individual channels for additional fees.
• Sling: Sling’s highest tier costs $35 per month. This might actually save us some money. What’s more, Sling has smaller packages available for under $20. As with the other services, Sling starts with a large field of basic cable channels, and premium channels are available for extra.

So my research left me a little crestfallen, I must admit. Now I have to sit down with my cable bill and figure out if cutting the cord is as cool as everyone says. I suppose being able to watch local news in Paris or Milan is pretty cool…but would I want to?