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Is It Time to Cut the Cord?
You and your family are streaming movies on your mobile devices – is it time to switch to livestreaming for all movies and major networks in your smart home theater?
Millions of people are doing just that. By the end of this year, it’s estimated that 33 million American adults will cut the cord on cable and satellite (up almost 33% from 2017).
Now is a great time to make the leap from cable and satellite to livestreaming TV services, according to a recent Digital Times article. Livestreaming offers more options and features for less money, has no hidden fees, very little set-up, is easy to cancel, and some offer cloud-based DVR storage. You can get live sports and prime-time television programs, plus premium channels for an additional fee.
Hardware makes a difference. If your TV has a USB drive, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV provide inexpensive options for streamed content to your TV. Apple TV and Roku are higher-end devices that stream content to your TV.
The hardest part may be choosing the right service for your home theater.
Hulu’s a great option for those who are already using it and want to upgrade to live TV, and anyone else who wants to try livestreaming in their home theater, according to Digital Times. The Hulu with Live TV plan offers 55+ live channels, including 12 different sports channels, and an on-demand movie and TV library. More channels and features can be added on for an additional fee.
Sling TV is for viewers who want to choose exactly the channels they want. Once you select a base channel package, it’s all add-on from there. Direct TV NOW is great for users who want a lot of channels and don’t care about additional features.
Playstation Vue is perfect for PlayStation users, PS Plus subscribers, and people who want a lot of channels. It offers the most channels of any livestreaming service, but it’s also the priciest. And a lot of what’s available depends on your location. This is also a good option for a family sharing one account, since you can create five user profiles, with up to ten streams at a time.
YOUTUBE TV is ideal for viewers in the right location, who want a simple, straightforward package. You get 45 channels for $40, all the major networks, but only if you live in a covered area. With your Google Home device and Chromecast, YouTube TV can be controlled with voice commends via Google Assistant.
If you’re not into local networks and sports, PHILO offers popular cable channels at a low price. Amazon Prime offers free and premium channels at different rates, plus its huge movie and TV show library, without the major networks.
But before you cut the cord, make sure you weigh the options.
Many streaming providers offer a free trial for a week or longer – so you can look before you leap.
A recent Bankrate article outlines the pitfalls of switching too quickly from cable. Canceling cable is complicated and can be expensive. And it’s a bummer to go through all the hassle of cancelling cable only to find the livestreaming provider doesn’t have your favorite channels. In some cases, your best bet may be a downgraded package from your existing cable company – it’s worth a call to your cable company to find out.
To learn more about the best option for your home theater – livestreaming, cable, or satellite – call us at Jackson Hole AV. We’d love to discuss the possibilities.
