Cord-Cutting Still Doesn't Beat the Cable Bundle (wired.com)

I'd like to cut the cord, writes Brian Barrett for Wired, then, the very instant I allow myself to picture what life looks like after that figurative snip, my reverie comes crashing down. From an article: Cutting the cord is absolutely right for some people. Lots of people, maybe. But it's not that cheap, and it's not that easy, and there's not much hope of improvement on either front any time soon. Not to turn this into a math experiment, but let's consider cost. Assuming you're looking for a cord replacement, not abandoning live television altogether, you're going to need a service that bundles together a handful of channels and blips them to your house over the internet. The cheapest way you can accomplish this is to pay Sling TV $20 per month, for which you get 29 channels. That sounds not so bad, and certainly less than your cable bill. But! Sling Orange limits you to a single stream. If you're in a household with others, you'll probably want Sling Blue, which offers multiple streams and 43 channels for $25 per month. But! Sling Orange and Sling Blue have different channel lineups (ESPN is on Orange, not Blue, while Orange lacks FX, Bravo and any locals). For full coverage, you can subscribe to both for $40. But! Have kids? You'll want the Kids Extra package for another $5 per month. Love ESPNU? Grab that $5 per month sports package. HBO? $15 per month, please. Presto, you're up to $65 per month. But! Don't forget the extra $5 for a cloud-based DVR. Plus the high-speed internet service that you need to keep your stream from buffering, which, by the way, it'll do anyway. That's not to pick on Sling TV, specifically. But paying $70 to quit cable feels like smoking a pack of Parliaments to quit Marlboro Lights. You run into similar situations across the board, whether it's a higher base rate, or a limited premium selection, or the absence of local programming altogether. It turns out, oddly enough, that things cost money, whether you access those things through traditional cable packages or through a modem provided to you by a traditional cable operator.

Comments

Antenna is cheaper

[Ken_g6]

For between $20-$50 up front, plus maybe a $20-$50 tuner, you can get several channels at no additional cost!

Re: Antenna is cheaper

[saloomy]

Even so. Seems like a poorly researched article.

Direct Tv Now starts at like $10 if you have AT&T Wireless, doesn't count against your data usage, and has like a hundred channels and add-on packages.

Even if you don't have AT&T Wireless, it was available with their "go-big" package for $35 for life. They gave me an AppleTV just for signing up.

With all the apps on that device, you absolutely don't need a cord unless as far as I can tell you have to watch sports.

Re:Not anymore

[HalAtWork]

Also forgot to mention we often hit the library to borrow seasons of shows and movies, and of course trade with friends and family. Pretty good and low budget.