Does anyone still need cable?

New streaming services can deliver your favorite TV shows for a lot less money than cable, and many Americans are experimenting with “cord cutting” to get a better deal. Close to 800,000 Americans dropped their traditional pay TV package in the first three months of 2017, according to research firm Moffett-Nathanson.

Today’s consumers have more options, from familiar services such as Netflix to new takes on streaming from Sling TV, HBO and others, says Consumer Reports. These choices are exciting, but they also can be hard to navigate – and industry jargon doesn’t help. Even the term “cord cutting” is misleading. It implies you can dump your cable company altogether, but you’ll probably still need it to provide internet service.

Your Expanding Options

Today, you can watch many of the same shows and movies using cable, satellite providers, online services or even antennas.

Cable TV. You know these guys – companies such as Comcast, Charter and Optimum that charge you monthly fees, ranging from occasional promotional rates as low as $30 per month for TV to more than $100. If you like familiar, programmed television, as well as live local sports and news, it’s hard to get around a traditional pay TV package. These same providers also supply internet and landline phone service.

Satellite TV. Satellite companies such as DirecTV and Dish provide paid TV services, just like cable companies – but Consumer Reports notes that you’ll probably need a separate line to your home for internet. Prices usually range from $50 to $125, depending on the amount of programming.

Online cable replacement. Services such as Sling TV and Hulu With Live TV compete directly with cable by offering live channels online for a monthly fee of around $20 to $40. But the choices can be limited. You can get a smattering of broadcast (such as ABC and NBC) and cable-type (Bravo, CNN, HGTV) channels. Premium channels (HBO, Showtime) may be on tap for an added fee.

Single-channel websites, apps. You can subscribe to some TV channels’ websites and apps to watch just their shows without signing up for a larger TV package. CBS, HBO, Showtime and Starz all offer this option. Many channels have apps that let you watch their content only if you are already paying through a cable or satellite subscription.

Subscription streaming. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other smaller players charge a subscription fee, usually around $8 to $10 per month, for unlimited viewing of all their TV content and movies, including original shows such as Netflix’s “House of Cards.” Shows are delivered over the internet, Consumer Reports explains, so you can watch on a computer, smart TV or mobile device.

Pay-per-view services. Services such as iTunes and Vudu let you rent or buy single titles – a movie, one episode of a show or a whole season. Amazon Video – the company’s pay-per-view service – offers this option, too. (Note, Amazon Prime members: Not all of Amazon’s content is included with your subscription.)

To learn more, visit ConsumerReports.org.

2017, Consumers Union, Inc.

Distributed By Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS