Should You Ditch Your Cable TV Subscription For On-Demand Streaming Services?
When you think of the name Netflix, you might think of the DVD submission service that you can subscribe to that is more convenient and cost-effective than in-store video and game rental. The problem is, that is no longer what Netflix is primarily about. In fact, companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Blockbuster are embarking on a new way of providing customers with the television programming, movies, and games they want, through an innovative technology called streaming services.
The most amazing thing about these subscriptions is that they are very inexpensive compared to a cable or satellite TV subscription. With a general price of $ 8 to $ 15 per month, subscribers can access unlimited streaming of movies, including new releases, TV shows (including full seasons of classics and current programming), music or games.
All companies that offer these services have different ways of participating in the market.
- Monthly subscriptions or rental / purchase options
- Ability to put your account on hold during months when you may not see many media, such as summer or holidays.
- Annual subscriptions that not only give you access to streaming media, but also other services and benefits
- Options for viewing on various devices, such as Internet-enabled TV, mobile broadband devices, game consoles, and more
When you consider the monthly subscription cost for cable or satellite TV, you can easily see the cost benefits as well as the myriad additional options available for such a low price. But let’s consider what these subscriptions lack. For starters, you won’t be able to watch local news through these services. If this is important to you, you can downgrade your cable subscription to the basics, including local news and programming. You will most likely save a considerable amount of money by having a basic cable subscription in conjunction with a streaming service plan, and you will get a lot more for your money.
Another problem you are likely to encounter is that you may need to purchase an acceptable device to see your new programming options. Unless you already have a device compatible with the service you are interested in, or you don’t mind sitting in front of your computer all the time to watch TV, you will have to do a few things.
- Buy some kind of device as stated on the streaming service providers website that is compatible with that company.
- Be able to configure and fix any technical problems. If you have a tech-savvy friend, this won’t be a big deal. But you may need to calculate the cost if you need to hire technical services.
Without a doubt, if you are an avid movie and / or television fan, or you love to play games or stream music, there is a great plan available for you that will open up your options for a great price.