Cable TV Versus Streaming: Cut the Cord or Buy a Bundle?

Whether or not you choose cable TV over streaming or vice versa, you still won’t have it all. Why? They both have their advantages and drawbacks. Because of this, no one can accurately say that cable subscription is best for you or that an internet-only service (or streaming) is the best way to go. What’s best for you can only be decided by you and is dependent on how much TV your family consumes and the shows you’re interested in the most.

If yours is a large household and you consume a lot of TV, suffice it to say that buying a cable bundle is your best option. You can find several great cable television packages at S9.com. If, on the other hand, you have a small household or live alone and do not consume much of TV or only watch Netflix for relaxation, then you’d be better off streaming.

One downside to streaming is that there’s the possibility of an internet overload. Another, and maybe its biggest downside, is that if you need to watch several programs or movies not offered by the same company, you will probably have to subscribe to multiple streaming platforms to be able to access those programs. For example, you’ll have to subscribe to Netflix, NFL and HBO to get the movies and programs from each. You cannot access the NFL channel from Netflix. Neither can you watch HBO movies on Netflix. As a result, when you begin to add extra streaming platforms, your bill begins to rise with each addition it may equal or even surpass cable bills.

On the bright side of streaming your TV and having your cable provider provide you with an internet-only service, you can save some money in the long run if you have a small household that does not watch much TV. You will still have many shows to watch and save money if you subscribe to just one or two streaming platforms.

Subscribing to cable TV eliminates the pauses and buffering associated with streaming when multiple devices are streaming simultaneously. Every member of your house could be watching a different TV program and not experience any pauses or buffering because Cable TV does not get overloaded as does your internet so this would not happen.

Have You Thought About Bundling?

Instead of opting for a streaming-only service, you can bundle your cable TV with your internet and still save some money. If you choose streaming-only and subscribe to more than three streaming services, you would not be saving any money compared to subscribing to cable TV. The only time you save money streaming is when you subscribe to just one or 2 services to provide you with the shows you watch.

If you do choose to stream, you might also have to upgrade your internet package to ensure that multiple people can stream simultaneously without experiencing unstable connections and buffering.

In light of these, you might be better off bundling. Some internet service providers provide options for bundling your internet and cable into a single package. When this is done you are charged lower and get more services.

Bundling comes with perks and they include the fact that you also get streaming subscriptions with some bundles. Looking out for these options is a good thing but it doesn’t mean that you’ll get a Hulu or Netflix subscription with every package or from every provider. A deal that gives you cable and streaming subscriptions is an incredible deal.

When you bundle your internet and cable TV, data caps won’t be among your worries. You can simply go on to enjoy as much TV as you want. Meanwhile, if you have an internet-only subscription, you may be subject to data caps which make enjoying streaming a challenge. You can enjoy no data caps ever, take a look at Spectrum internet packages.

Also, bundling gives you access to your favorite sports channels, which by the way, may be inaccessible to you when you stream since many streaming services do not offer sports and those that do have very few sports selection.

Streaming And Smart TV

In recent times, service providers have been bundling cable TV and internet services together with subscriptions to streaming platforms. You can find out if your cable TV and internet bundles come with a subscription to streaming services like Netflix.

Some provide a ‘Smart TV’ option. With this option, you can download a Smart TV app which lets you browse through on-demand libraries, view live TV, and rewind, pause and fast forward live shows.

The combination of streaming bundles and Smart TV apps are the perfect fit for most households because everyone can watch what they want.

Saving Money Without Cable TV

Considering cutting your cable subscription is something you may still do even though there are several perks to keeping it. As earlier stated if your family doesn't consume TV much you probably won't even sign up for every streaming service there is which saves you a lot of money.

If you have a small family, there won’t be that many people streaming simultaneously, and therefore there’ll be no need to upgrade your internet which, again, saves you money.

Lastly, if you really do not fancy sports, you probably wouldn’t have need of sports channels that will show games you won’t even be missing. You’ll also not feel pressured to get an extra streaming service just to watch a game. This, also, saves you money.

Conclusion

The deciding factors in whether you should keep or cut cable include your TV watching habits, the number of people who stream at the same time in your house and if you are a sports enthusiast. If these factors do not favor keeping cable, then cutting it will save you money.

If, on the other hand, your family is large and watches a lot of TV – sports included – it will be beneficial to bundle your internet and cable TV. This gives you access to your desired channels and at an affordable price.

If you’re still unsure which is better for you, cut the cord for a couple of months to know if it’s right. If you find you’re not saving any money or that doesn’t do it for you, get back on the phone with your provider to consider the bundling packages they have.