How To Get Rid of Cable And Still Watch TV?

Many of us have had cable for years, and we never thought to get rid of it, but times are changing. Cable companies keep increasing the price of cable, and with streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO NOW – there’s no reason to keep paying for cable TV service. 

It is possible to ditch your monthly cable bill by subscribing to these different services. You can watch a lot more in-depth content than you could on network channels without spending a fortune each month! 

This article will go over how to get rid of cable and still watch tv, so I could save money while still being able to watch movies & shows when I want them. 

How To Get Rid of Cable And Still Watch TV?

The easiest way to get rid of cable is to use a device called a smart TV. The major broadcasting companies have figured out how much people are willing to spend on content and have made their programming available through streaming services. These devices require you to pay for internet, but they also offer additional benefits that cable never did!

How Do I Get Rid of Cable And Still Watch TV

I have a smart TV that I use now, and it’s the only way I would choose to watch tv. This guide will focus on using a smart TV as your primary source of television content, but you can still do this with streaming services if you don’t have the internet at home or want to use something else. Like CBS All Access, some channels will also let you watch live TV, even if you do not own a smart TV.

How to Watch Streaming Channels on a TV?

In order to get rid of cable, you’ll need a TV that has the ability to use streaming services. That’s pretty much all smart TVs and very few other models – especially older ones. 

If you own a smart TV, you can use almost every modern streaming service available today. Choose from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, or Crunchyroll. If you’re looking for local channels, see how to get rid of cable and still watch tv using an antenna.

If you don’t have a smart TV, you will need to use the best media streaming devices. There is a various streaming device on the market like the Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, or Apple TV. The Roku Streaming Stick is the cheapest option if you’re looking for channels like Netflix & Amazon Prime Video.

How to Watch Local Channels or Sports without Cable?

With these services, you can get the majority of your local channels and sports. You can also use an HD antenna to pick up network channels if you don’t live in a major city.

If you want to keep watching baseball, football, or other sports – there’s still a way to do it without paying for cable. For example:  

– Sling TV offers ESPN & ESPN 2 for $20/month – you can subscribe to MLB.TV to watch out of market games for $90/year – if your local team is in the playoffs, you could spend an extra $50 and get NBA League Pass which gives you access to all NBA games, or pay for them individually – NHL Center Ice will give you access to both local/out of market games for $40/year.

What programs can I watch on these streaming services?

If you’re interested in seeing what types of content are available, check out the list of movies currently available on Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Video. Some channels have different movies available at different times. For example: 

– HBO NOW has a rotating choice of HBO content, so new episodes of your favorite show will be added and taken away – you can find many older shows like Sex and the City or The Wire on Netflix.

But not all seasons are available at once, and some seasons may only be available in certain countries like Germany or Australia. Amazon Prime Video has a rotating collection of Amazon Originals like Alpha House & Bosch. Hulu Plus offers some current season TV shows, but usually only one season.

How do I make it work?

It’s may the hard part. There’s no good way to get rid of cable without making any sacrifices like missing your favorite team or having to wait until the season is over.

At the very least, you’ll need an antenna for any local channels and a streaming device. If you want access to popular movies, TV shows, and live sports, you’ll need even more devices.

You may also need some patience when it comes to waiting on new episodes of your favorite show and finding new movies to watch.

For example, you might have to buy an episode on iTunes or Amazon Instant Video if it’s not available on Netflix or Hulu Plus yet. You may also use short-term rentals from Blockbuster On Demand if the movie you want is not available for streaming yet.

How much will this cost?

Depending on what service you use, you can get started with streaming for as low as $35/month (plus taxes). If you only want to watch shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, or Silicon Valley, between $8-13 will be enough.

What other ways to get rid of cable?

What other ways to get rid of cable

Sling TV: Sling TV has several packages available. The cheapest option is $20/month for 25+ channels, including ESPN & CNN, Playstation Vue.

Sony’s service costs $30/month and includes live streaming of local sports. HBO and Showtime – Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Prime Video are usually enough to replace most of your favorite shows.

Antennas: Many new TVs come with a digital tuner built-in. If your TV is more than a few years old, buying a new one or an external antenna maybe your best option to watch local channels without cable.

HD Antenna: If you live within range of some broadcast towers, you can pick up network channels as well as local news & weather using an HD antenna.

Streaming Video On Demand: (SVOD) – Sites like iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, or Vudu gives you access to pay-per-view movies and first-run TV shows for a rental fee of between $2-6 per episode.

Services like Crackle, Pluto.TV, Xfinity On Demand, or Yahoo View allows you to watch online content from sites like Comedy Central, CNN & Hulu for free.

Streaming Live Sports: Sites like MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter Live, and NBA League Pass give you access to live sports without cable for a subscription fee starting at $90/year.

DVR Service: DVRs are not essential but are helpful if you plan to watch many sports or don’t want to wait until the season is over to watch popular TV shows.

Does Getting Rid of Cable Save Money?

The short answer is yes. For the 1st month, it will cost you more to subscribe to all of these services than sticking with cable. However, your total costs may be lower or higher after one year depending on what you use this new setup for.

You’ll save a few dollars a month if you are currently paying for a DVR rental from your cable company.

If you miss live sports, this setup won’t be as cheap. To watch all of your favorite games, you’ll need pay-per-view subscriptions from MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter Live, and NBA League Pass – if you don’t want to buy separate subscriptions for each team, it’s $90/year.

To stream videos from Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu Plus, you’ll need a streaming device like a Roku or Chromecast and an Internet connection with enough speed to handle HD video.

These devices usually cost between $50-100 each – you may also end up having to pay for an additional service for live sports if your streaming service does not cover your games.

If you want to watch Game of Thrones or other shows without cable, you’ll have to buy the episodes from Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, iTunes, or a less convenient service if it’s not available for free on a streaming site yet.

Best Free Streaming Channels

There are several free live streaming tv services, but be aware that they are not always legal. Here are a few most reliable places to get your TV fix without paying a dime –

  • Crackle has recently added full episodes of Mythbusters, Seinfeld, Heroes, and other shows to its lineup for free. They also have original programmings like Sports Jeopardy, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and Joe Dirt.
  • Pluto.TV has more than 70 free internet TV channels covering movies, news, sports & music
  • Yidio has hundreds of titles available for streaming on their site, including full episodes of The Simpsons
  • Xfinity On Demand allows cable subscribers to watch past episodes of TV shows on Comcast cable networks for free.

This is a great way to catch up on a new show without having to buy each season individually 5. Vudu allows you to rent or buy TV series & movies directly from your computer, laptop, or smartphone

FAQs About the Rid of Cable And Still Watch TV

If you’re interested in dropping cable, but aren’t sure what to use instead, here are a few questions you may have –

Q: What is the best way to watch TV without cable?

I think the best solution is a combination of services. If you get an HDTV antenna and stream shows from Netflix, Hulu & Amazon Instant Video, you should get all the shows currently on TV.

To do this, you will need an Internet connection with enough speed to stream HD video and either a Roku streaming stick plus or Chromecast to send video from your computer/mobile device to your TV.

If you play sports, buy the DVR service, buy MLB.TV for out of region games, NHL GameCenter, Live for the NHL, and NBA League Pass to get all your team’s games.

If you still want to watch live sports on a website, I recommend visiting World TV Chart, checking what sport has the most viewers in your area, and going to a free site like Justin. Tv.

Q: What is the cheapest way to get rid of cable?

The cheapest option would be to choose one streaming service and use an HDTV antenna or connect your TV directly to the internet.

If you want DVR, I’d recommend DirecTV Now because it has unlimited DVR storage, is cheaper per month than Sling Blue+Orange ($40/month) or Sling Orange only ($30/month), and doesn’t have any of the limitations that you get with Sling. To watch TV shows online, I’d recommend getting Netflix, Amazon Video, or Vudu.

Q: What is the best service for sports?

If you play sports, buy the DVR service, buy MLB.TV for out of region games, NHL GameCenter Live for the NHL, and NBA League Pass to get all your team’s games – if you are still interested in watching live sports online.

I recommend visiting World TV Chart, checking what sport has the most viewers in your area, and going to a free site like Justin.tv.

Q: What is the cheapest way to watch Game of Thrones?

To watch Game of Thrones online, you’ll need HBO Now, which costs $15/month. If you don’t have cable or want to watch other shows without cable, buy past seasons on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes or Vudu.

Final Verdict

Cable is expensive, but you can get a lot of programming for free. If you follow my guide of how to get rid of cable and still watch tv and cancel your cable, you should be able to watch most of the TV shows that are on right now unless there is a blackout in your area.

You may even find a streaming service that has a free channel with movies or shows from abroad. To save money, combine your Internet connection with streaming services & you’ll have all the programming you want for less than $40/month.

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