Cutting the Cord - Overview

Cutting the cord is something many have considered when staring at their ever-increasing cable or satellite TV bills. Although cable's offerings have been getting better and we can now get DVRs that can record 6 shows at once, when you do the math of the number of channels you're paying for vs. the enjoyment you get out of the few you're interested in, it increasingly doesn't add up. I cut the cord back in 2008 and I've worked my way through the many reasons that made me hesitate. The top reasons people don't cut the cord are:

1. I want to get my local channels
2. I want to see live sports
3. I want to see show x on channel x
4. I want clear HDTV
5. I want a DVR
6. I love burning piles of money every month

Here are some solutions to each of those:

1. I want to get my local channels - You can still get your local channels for free over the air. In the leadup to the US transition from analog to digital TV in 2009, many people signed up for cable to make sure they could still get TV. They may have missed the fact that all those local channels are still available over the air in full HD (1080i) for free using an antenna. Sling TV is a viable option here as well which is essentially a barebones cable offering that only streams content and runs $20 a month. However, your mileage may vary with local channels only available in select metro areas.
2. I want to see live sports - You can still catch lots of sports without cable. Local channels will carry many of your local teams' games. You can also stream a large variety of sports on WatchESPN. If your internet provider is a cable company (e.g. Comcast, Time Warner, Cox), you can generally stream a huge amount of live and replay sports via WatchESPN. Also, many pro leagues now offer a season pass that you can pay for separately and stream any game you want. Sling has a few sports options, but not ESPN which is a big gap in their lineup.
3. I want to see show x on channel x - This is where Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and networks' websites are really helpful. Many popular shows are available to stream through one or more of those sources. Each of those streaming services run roughly $10 a month which is a far cry from the cheapest cable packages available. This is also where Sling comes in, HGTV and other popular channels are available.
4. I want clear HDTV - This is the easiest one of all. Over the air ATSC digital TV transmissions are in full beautiful HD. Most streaming services stream in nice, clear HD.
5. I want a DVR - Yes, the cable company's DVR is slick and easy, but there are some great options out there. My personal favorite is using a small computer as a DVR. There's also some other DVR options like TiVo, but TiVo comes with a monthly subscription for programming guides, that you can get for free with a PC running windows media center.
6. I love burning piles of money every month - Sorry, I can't help you there.

So, to get all this stuff to work to replace cable TV's functionality, you'll need some technology. Stay tuned for future posts with details on:

• Antennas
• DVRs and Microsoft Media Center
• cable companies and streaming ESPN
• streaming from network sites
• review of sling