Cord-Cutting Has Changed (Yes, It’s Still Very Much Worth It)

Not so long ago, only the most tech-savvy households streamed shows and movies from the internet to their TVs. Fast forward to today, and “cord-cutting,” i.e., quitting cable and exclusively streaming online content, is how the majority of Americans watch TV. The shift has been so dramatic that some industry-watchers are predicting cable TV will disappear altogether in the not-so-distant future. 

Of course, plenty of folks still use a cable or over-the-air setup for their in-home entertainment. There’s nothing wrong with that. You may have previously investigated cord-cutting and concluded it wasn’t for you. But you should know that streaming has changed in the last few years. There are more services and more choices than ever, including live sports and local television. And setting it up is actually easier than ever.

Why have so many households cut the cord?

For some, it’s about saving money. For others, it’s the convenience of watching what they want, when they want. But increasingly, I think it comes down to something even simpler: people want more control and independence.

One of the biggest gripes with a traditional locked-in cable subscription is that it forces people to pay for channels no one in their house ever watches. Researchers have found most cable watchers only watch around 15 channels, out of the 200-or-so they have access to. Fortunately, just about everything you want to watch (yes, including live local TV and sports) is available online and can be streamed right to your TV, so you can pay only for the channels you actually watch.

It’s important to note that streaming isn’t automatically the cheaper option anymore. If you sign up for enough individual services, you’ll create another sizable monthly entertainment bill to rival your cable bill. But most people save money by paying only for the services they need.

Not only can you choose the content you actually watch, but you can change it easily throughout the year. Example: your favorite show on Hulu wrapped up for the season, but nothing else piques your interest, you can just pause your subscription until next year. Or, perhaps, one of your kids has developed an interest in professional soccer. You can sign up for NBC’s Peacock service so you can all watch Premier League games live, then cancel your subscription during the off-season. Most major streaming services offer month-to-month plans, which you can pause and restart at any time throughout the year right through the app on your TV or on their website (our team can also help you). 

How do you watch streaming content on your TV?

If you’ve never streamed before, the setup is probably easier than you think. You can watch directly on any connected device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), or on the big TV in the living room. 

If you have a “smart” TV (that is, one that can be connected to the Internet), popular streaming platforms are usually built right in. You simply connect the TV to your home Wi-Fi and sign in. 

Suppose your TV isn’t “smart,” no problem. You can plug in an inexpensive streaming device such as a Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Google TV device. These little devices connect to your TV’s HDMI port and essentially turn almost any television into a streaming TV. 

If you already have a good connection, but have questions about streaming to your TV, our friendly expert team of Core advocates will talk you through it.

What about live sports and local news?

I’d be in a panic if I didn’t have access to my beloved Kansas City Chiefs. (Said with all due respect to the Broncos fans (and, yes, even Raiders fans) in our service areas). Fortunately, I’ve been able to forgo my cable subscription and stream all their games directly to my TV. 

Many sports are available through streaming services and internet-delivered live-TV packages Core Fiber’s DIRECTV options, for example, provide access to a wide range of sports programming, with regional sports networks available through select packages. Furthermore, leagues, including the NFL, are increasingly leaning into streaming-only (Thursday Night Football is an Amazon Prime exclusive; Netflix is an exclusive platform for several Christmas and Thanksgiving games). 

Local television is another reason some people hesitate to cut the cord. Moving away from traditional cable doesn’t necessarily mean losing your local channels. Many local channels can be streamed directly to your TV. But also, the old, dependable roof antenna is an option, as most modern TVs can easily switch back and forth between streaming and antenna.

The most important part of the cord-cutting journey is a reliable, high-quality internet connection. As the CEO of Core Fiber, I’m far from an unbiased observer, but I can tell you without hesitation that we offer fast, dependable connectivity with some of the best support around (from humans, never bots). 

If you’re just getting started, click here to see what plans are available in your area. Or, if you’re already a customer and ready to cut that cord, get in touch with one of our advocates to talk about live programming packages and guidance on getting the most out of your TV.