With the plethora of streaming TV services available these days, it’s not an exaggeration to say your TV watching experience will likely suffer if you don’t cut the cord. Yes, you’ll pay less than you would with cable—but now thanks to the variety of content available, any worry about missing out on your favorite programming is no longer a factor. Your favorite news channels are available through OTP streaming and you can even get most live sports events as well. In fact, now you’re more likely to have the opposite problem: too much streaming. Without realizing it, you may be paying for duplicate content or content you don’t need, while inadvertently missing out on programming more suited to you. Not to worry; we’re here to help. Here’s how to streamline your online TV experience with a streaming TV cleanup.
This is the simplest way to start cleaning up your streaming TV. First, think about the services you have and how much you actually use them. Haven’t used Amazon Prime in a month and a half? Cancel it immediately. Keep in mind, there aren't any installation fees or penalties for canceling. If something shows up on a service that you absolutely must watch, it’s as simple as putting in your payment info and instantly having access again.
Now let’s say there’s a single program that you watch on one service, while heavily using another. Remember that some streaming services including Amazon Prime and Hulu offer add-ons such as Showtime, Starz, and other channels. See if there’s an add-on for your main streaming service that carries that program. If it’s cheaper than paying for the entire other service (also look at bundles), then that’s a good way to save a few bucks.
If you have or have had multiple recurring charges due to streaming TV subscriptions and other services, you’ll want to look into these. Subscription monitoring tools save you from having to sort through long credit card or bank statements, which isn’t only tedious but can result in something being missed. Services like Trim and Hiatus show you all recurring charges and can even cancel unwanted ones for you. They actually do a lot more, going so far as finding you the best possible rates for certain services, so they're worth looking into as a convenient financial tool.
Another progression in the realm of streaming TV that has helped users cut the cord is the increase in live TV subscriptions. SlingTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV among others all offer live TV packages that more closely mirror cable TV than on-demand services like Netflix. While YouTube TV and Hulu’s Live TV service come in a one-size-fits-all package, providers like Sling TV, Fubo TV, and others allow you to choose packages at different price points. If your streaming TV service follows this model, take a look at the tier below yours and see if it’ll work for you. You could save quite a bit!
We talked earlier about opting for add-on channels instead of a whole new streaming service. On the flip side, you should take a look at any add-ons you may have and consider whether you need them.
For some of us, rather than completely cutting the cord, we’ve found a streaming TV service that works for us and kept a slimmed-down cable package. If you’re in that group, the same logic applies—perhaps even more so as with cable, it’s more common to add single channels and pay a bit more. Go through the channels you currently have and unsubscribe from any premium ones you aren't using.
This is a great way to make sure you always have lots of content but at the same time, won't be paying more than you need to be. Every now and then, consider swapping out add-on packages or channels for new options. This can be really fun around holidays or special occasions. Getting AMC around Halloween means you’ll have access to lots of horror classics, while the Hallmark Channel has made a name for itself offering up gooey feel-good programming around celebrations like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day (pretty much any time there’s reason to send a Hallmark card).
Now that you’ve got your streaming TV services organized to perfection, the last thing you want is a sub-par connection. Ting Internet offers blazing-fast gigabit fiber internet, which means crystal-clear 4K and 8K streaming, even when it’s live. Check your address to see if you can get Ting Internet today!
To help make your streaming subscription clean up a bit more enjoyable, we’re giving away a new Amazon Fire TV Cube, which combines the capabilities of Fire TV with hands-free control of Amazon Echo in one package. Enter below for your chance to win!
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