What you should know about Cord Cutting
With rising cost, spotty service and mandatory contracts, the cable industry is taking a hit.
To date, the average Americans spent an average of $103 a month — $1,236 a year — on cable television in 2016.
More and more consumers are “cutting the cord.”
Not literally, but customers are getting rid of their cable boxes and using streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu and to watch their favorite shows.
In fact, in 2014, nearly 1.4 million nationwide households made the call to go cable-free or shut off their paid TV-subscription.
Not to mention, The FCC reported in that same year that the average monthly price of expanded basic service increased by 5.1% to $64.41 in 2012, compared to a 1.6% annual increase in the Consumer Price Index.
So if you’re thinking about cutting the cord, you’re not alone. But where should you start?
It’s overwhelming. In the post-cable arena, there are so many options to explore to find the perfect streaming combination.
Should you go with an AppleTV? Amazon Firestick? Upgrade to a SmartTV?
How do you know which option is right for you?
To know your best options, it’s important that you familiarize yourself in the term cord cutting. By definition, cord cutting is the practice of terminating your current cable or satellite television. The purpose of cord cutting is to save money but to still enjoy your favorite shows at a much cheaper price.
For starters, canceling your subscription would be the first step, but before you do make sure you follow these tips:
- Do your research: Not every streaming system or streaming device is created equal. Knowing what options are available in your area and what are the product specs are all worth knowing up front.
- Pricing: With so many different options available on the market, keep in mind pricing. For example, the Roku Express can range from $30-$80 and AppleTV starts from $149.
- Know your cord-cutting services: Again, streaming devices and streaming services are two different things. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon prime Video are apps that offer individual services for television programming. Think of it as an a la carte feature. It’s the equivalent of paying for just what you want to watch.
Of course, for those of you a little unsure about cord cutting, you can always consider Race’s services. Our triple play offers you fiber optic Internet, Phone, and RaceTV. Our gigafy line allows you to sit back and upload, download and stream at never before seen speed.
Our service allows symmetrical speeds, up to 1 Gigabyte, meaning it downloads and uploads content at the same speed and consistency in both directions.
Call Race at 1-877-722-3833 or visit us at race.com for more information.