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Cordcutting Cliff Notes: Cut the Cord and Keep Your Shows

• Cutting the Cord

One of the most common e-mails I get is from people who love the idea of cord cutting, but for one reason or another just can bring themselves to do it. I hear it all the time: “Well I just don’t know how to do it”; “It’s too complicated”; or “But I don’t want to miss TV Show X.” I agree, cord cutting seems hard if you are new to the concept; and no one wants to lose their favorite show just to save a couple of dollars.

First, let me start by saying you will save more than just a few dollars. What would you do with an extra $600 in your pocket? Second, it is a myth that you have to give up your favorite television shows in order to ditch cable. Finally, cutting the cord is much simpler than it seems.

In order for you to be free from the tyrannical clutch of cable & satellite companies, there are a few things you will need to purchase. They are: OTA Antenna, Streaming Device, Streaming Services and OTA DVRs. If you don’t know what some of those things are, don’t worry, we’re going to explain each and every item on this list and how to go about getting each one.

Over-the-Air (OTA) Antennas

What is an OTA antenna? Ever since 2009, network television stations have been broadcasting their signal digitally; the old style of antenna cannot pick up those signals but OTA antennas can. With an OTA antenna you can watch network television (ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, FOX, and more) in HD for free.

Basically, an OTA antenna is the rabbit ears of the future. You may be asking why you need an OTA antenna when you can just stream all the shows you want; and that’s a fair question. Sometimes we forget how many of our favorite shows are on network television; not to mention local new, sporting events, and live specials that wouldn’t be available for streaming. Besides, sometimes it’s just nice to flip on the TV and watch whatever’s on.

There are thousands of different models to choose from when it comes to OTA antennas. Most run in the $30 to $60 range. Personally, I have always loved the company Mohu and their antennas. Mohu Antennas were designed by former US military engineers, and are simply the best antennas on the market.

To figure out what model will work best for you I suggest using a tool like AntennaWeb (or Mohu’s zip code channel finder). This site will graphically show you what channels you could get, how far away the broadcast towers are, and from which direction the signal would be coming from – using your home address. Once you get this all mapped out, your next step is to figure out which antenna will work best for you. To do this I suggest using Mohu’s product pages to review the different Mohu antennas available: Metro, Leaf 30, Leaf 50, Curve 30, Curve 50, and Sky 60.

Streaming Devices

Now let’s take a look at streaming devices. A streaming device does exactly what it sounds like; it streams movies and television from the internet into your television. That’s it. There are a lot of different kinds of streaming devices out there on the market; even some DVD players have the ability to stream Netflix and YouTube.

When it comes to picking a streaming device, not all devices are made equally. Some devices, like Apple TV, exclude huge streaming apps like Amazon Prime; while others act more as a bridge between your TV and computer, like Google Chromecast. If you’re not a tech junkie, and just want something simple, I would suggest going with Roku.

Roku is a simple, easy to use, proprietary streaming device that supports all major streaming apps as well as thousands of niche channels you never knew existed. There are four different versions of Roku (Roku 1, 2, 3, and the Streaming Stick). The cheapest Roku costs $50 and will work with most televisions (even older non-HD models). Here’s a more detailed overview of some of the best TV streaming devices available.

Streaming Services

The next thing you need to severe your connection to the cable company is to sign up for a few streaming apps. Surprisingly, you won’t have to sign up for more than 2 or 3 different apps.

  • Netflix – Of course you will have to have Netflix. With thousands of movies and shows available, there are few others who can rival its selection. A monthly subscription to Netflix will cost $7.99 a month.
  • Hulu – The next app you’ll want to take a look at is Hulu. Hulu has a similar selection to Netflix, with a few exclusives that aren’t too bad. You can sign up for the free or premium version of Hulu for $7.99 a month. I would recommend just sticking with the free version; the premium content is mostly covered by Netflix, and the additional content really isn’t worth the extra bill.
  • Amazon Prime – Now a streaming subscription that is worth the price is Amazon Prime. Not only do you get access to thousands of shows and movies that you couldn’t get on Netflix, but you also get free shipping with Amazon! The price for Prime is $99 a year or $8.25 a month. While it does not let you watch current seasons of your favorite shows for free; you can purchase a season pass to your favorite show for $27 in standard definition or $47 for HD. Either way you slice it, an entire season pass is cheaper than even one month of cable.
  • HBO GO – Another invaluable streaming app is HBO GO. With it, you can stream every HBO show and every movie that’s playing on HBO. Sadly, unless you have an HBO subscription from the cable company you can’t stream HBO content yet. However, many major internet providers include a subscription to HBO with their internet package. Comcast and AT&T offer standalone HBO subscriptions with internet service; and Verizon offers a plan that includes internet, HBO, and a few sports channels. Recently, though, cordcutters around the nation rejoiced as HBO announced a subscription-only service that’s slated to arrive early in 2015, so stay tuned!

Over-the-Air (OTA) DVR

I don’t know about you, but I hate missing sporting events and live shows. That’s why the next thing I would recommend is an over the air DVR. OTA DVRs will record your shows on all the major broadcasting networks and is great for when you’re on the go. You can either buy one or build one yourself. The only downside to purchasing an OTA DVR is that many of them require you to pay a monthly subscription fee; usually between $15-$30 dollars.

Once you are signed up for your preferred streaming services, you are done! Congratulations, you have everything you need to cut the cord and kill your cable bill. By following this guide, you could be ready to ditch the cable company within the afternoon. Doesn’t that sound easier than putting up with expensive bills, lousy choices, and poor customer service? I think so.

Is there a TV show that you’re afraid of missing by cutting the cord? Leave us a message in the comments section and we’ll find out how you can watch it!

Dave Kennedy is a long time cordcutter who became increasingly frustrated with the high cost of Cable TV and decided to make a stance. In 2011 he launched KilltheCableBill.com, a site dedicated to helping people save money through providing simple, cost-effective cable TV alternatives. Sine then, David has helped 1,000s of people cancel their cable subscription while keeping the shows they love.