Best Streaming Services

Is cable TV dying?

Well, it's not truly dead YET, but it's only a matter of time. People have stopped relying on cable TV for entertainment, and instead, they have turned to their phones, laptops, smart TVs, and tablets for on-demand shows and movies.

According to surveymonkey.com, "60% of those that use both cable or satellite AND streaming services say they're thinking of dumping cable/satellite in the next 12 months." More stats reveal we really are seeing the end of the cable TV era.

• Two of the biggest cable TV companies globally, AT&T and Comcast, are losing between 400,000 to 800,000 subscribers every quarter.

• In contrast, streaming platforms like Hulu have racked up 43.8 million subscribers in the last quarter of this year alone.

• According to Deloitte's digital media trend survey, "the number of households with no cable subscription has grown from 26.9M in 2016 to 44.3M in 2020 and is forecasted to increase to 56.1M in 2023."

But why are people ditching their cable TV subscription?

Do you mean, besides the fact that streaming services cost a fraction of what you pay for your cable package? Here are some obvious and not-so-obvious reasons:

• According to DecisionData.org, the average household cable package now costs $217.42 per month. Compare that to streaming services that cost as low as $4.99 per month.

• An average cable TV subscriber watches just 20 out of 206 channels available in their package. That's less than 10% of what you're actually paying for! If you’re a 30-year old man living alone, you really shouldn’t have to pay for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

• Cable TV companies couldn't care less about your loyalty. You know those tempting $100/month phone, TV, and internet service bundles? Yup. Available to new customers only.

• People dislike getting locked in two-year agreements and triple-play bundles. Faulty phone service or spotty internet connection? Good luck paying the hefty early termination fee.

• Cable providers have a bad habit of changing rates on a whim, and there's nothing you can do about it.

• Tons of hidden fees. Look closely at your monthly cable TV bill, and you'll see items that you didn't sign up for: set-top box rental fees, broadcast TV fees, regional sports fees, and HD technology fees. Would you believe some cable TV provider even charges administrative and "convenience" fees?

• They've made cancelation notoriously tricky. If you're out of contract, good, but you can't avoid the sales rep and their aggressive retention offers.

Streaming services now rules the TV-viewing game.

Popular services like Hulu might as well be the final nail in the cable-TV coffin. According to UBS, the U.S. will have more than 385 million total streaming video subscribers by the end of 2021. Why is everyone switching over to streaming platforms? Aside from the obvious cost-saving benefits, here are some more benefits:

• Enjoy hours of HD content at home or on the go. Whether you have a smartTV or want to watch on your iPad, streaming services are available on all devices.

• Watch your favorite movies and sports events from the comfort of your own home. Save money on tickets!

• Why wait for a movie to come out in theaters, cable, or satellite? With a streaming service, you get access to new and original content.

• No more mindless TV viewing. Watch only what you want! Streaming platforms usually have categories for popular genres like anime, action, children, and family, food and travel, k-drama, documentaries, and more.

• No annoying commercials that interrupt your viewing pleasure.

• Many streaming services like Hulu offer parental controls, so you can limit your kid's access to inappropriate content.

• You can use the app to catch up on your favorite shows from your phone, tablet, and other mobile devices.

• Host watch parties with friends and family!

• Some providers let you record hours of live-TV for free!

• You'll get access to vast libraries of movies and TV shows, including content from other countries. Enjoy sub-titled or dubbed French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean films, and more!

• Don't get locked into a long-term contract. You can pause, customize your package, or cancel at anytime.

Seems like it’s time to cut the cord. But how do I know which streaming platform is right for me?

Here are several factors to consider when choosing the best streaming services for your needs.

1. Price. Our recommendations above can cost anywhere between $5.99 to $65 per month. Quite a few, such as Hulu and FuboTV have trial offers, so you can test them out before committing.

2. What do they offer? Are you after extensive live sports coverage? A vast movie library? Popular TV shows? Vidgo lets you stream college and pro sports while Hulu offers 80,000+ movies.

3. Supported devices. You will want a streaming service that supports a wide range of media streaming devices such as Windows, AppleTV, iOS, Android, AndroidTV, LG, Apple TV, Roku, FireTV, Chromecast, Xbox, AirTV, Samsung, and many more.

4. How many devices can you stream on? This is an important consideration if more than one person will be using the service simultaneously. Philo and SlingTV allow simultaneous streaming on up to 3 devices.

5. DVR storage. If you want to record your favorite movies, TV series, or live sporting events, choose a service that includes cloud DVR storage. Hulu+ LiveTV includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage, while DirecTV Stream lets you record multiple shows simultaneously.

6. Parental Controls. A must for any household with kids, this feature lets you set restrictions and protects your little ones from exposure to inappropriate content.

7. User profiles. A convenient feature that lets you jump back into your last viewed episode, keep track of your viewing progress, get tailored recommendations based on your viewing history, and keep your streaming history private. After all, no one needs to know how much Terrace House you've watched.

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