Cable Television Options

Posted March 16, 2020

It used to be that if you wanted to watch television, cable was your only option. And, as time went on, your choices for cable service providers seemed to shrink, and the prices seemed to rise. They seemed to have the market cornered.

And then things started to shift. Satellite television came on the scene, but the prices were still rather high. Other companies soon began developing alternatives to both cable television and satellite tv.

Now we’re officially in an era where people are looking to get rid of cable or satellite television, but they often wonder what their alternatives are. Here’s a look at some of the more popular alternatives out there.

Philo: Philo is relatively new to the cable-alternative scene, but it has an excellent selection of cable channels. Currently, they offer 58 channels (including A&E, AMC, Food Network, and HGTV) for $20 per month. Philo is available for Roku, AppleTV, FireTV, and several others, and allows you to stream live television or on-demand. You can also record live tv to watch later and watch on multiple devices at the same time. Try the free 7-day trial if you’re curious to see if this is an option that works for you.
Hulu: Hulu is not a newcomer to the world of streaming and continues to be a powerhouse. Hulu offers it all – original programs and then programming from local channels and cable channels. They have several different levels of programming, from “basic” to “Live TV.” The pricing allows you to decide how much you want to pay based on your needs. They also offer a free trial if you’re not a subscriber.
Sling TV: Sling TV is available for Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and other devices and allows you to customize your service a bit. They offer several options depending on the channels you are looking for and then various add-ons – including local channels, sports channels, and children’s channels. Their service is also easy to cancel (can be done online), involves no long-term contracts, and they often have some free gifts for signing up.
YouTube TV: YouTube TV offers live television with over 70 different channels, including local networks. You have the ability to watch YouTube TV on multiple devices and can even record your favorite shows to watch later. You can watch YouTube TV on Google Chromecast, Roku, AppleTV, and other devices. When it initially rolled out, it was available in limited areas, but now they boast that they are available in 99.5% of U.S. households.
Netflix: Another of the biggies in streaming services is Netflix. Netflix is full of original content, along with movies and shows from other networks. There are several different pricing plans available, but all options are commercial-free – which is a nice bonus. Additionally, even if you buy access to a single account, you can create different profiles for the members of your family, allowing them to keep track of their favorite shows.
Antenna: This may be old-school, but it’s definitely a cost-effective alternative. With an HDTV antenna, you can watch your local television channels for free. And HDTV antennas are not very expensive – so if you’re not a huge television watcher – this is a great investment. Be sure to check how strong your signal is based on your location before you get rid of your other services.

Are you still using cable or satellite television? Or, are you a streaming-only house? Which service are you using and why? If you’re curious to see if one of these services would work for you, try their free offers and give it a go! You may be able to cut the cord and save a few dollars this year.

Cable Television Options

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