1 / 20

Cut the Cable

Learn how to cut the cable and choose the best streaming services and devices for a more personalized and cost-effective entertainment experience. Discover the technology, channels, and apps to consider, along with the cost and factors to consider when making your decision.

timothyjsmith
Download Presentation

Cut the Cable

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Cut the Cable Vernon Area Public Library District

  2. Introduction • According to the FCC the average cost for basic cable was $66.61/month in 2014 • You pay for a lot of content that you do not watch Cutting the cable means you “pick your poison” rather than accepting whatever your cable company decides you want to watch.

  3. What we will cover • What does it mean to cut the cable? • What do you need to cut the cable? • What technology, channels, and apps should you consider? • How much does it cost the cut the cable? • How do you choose from so many services?

  4. What does it mean to cut the cable? Substituting your cable box includes using: • HD Antennas to capture all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS), along with 10-15 other selections (PBS, CW, etc) • Internet-based options with an access device for on-demand and streaming media

  5. What do you need to cut the cable? Internet Connection • Minimum download speed of 5 Mbps per streaming user in your household • Check on the internet service available for your home Access Device • Set-top boxes • HDMI sticks • Not every device has access to the same channels and apps.

  6. Access Devices

  7. Apple TV • Price: $69 • Why it's great: An excellent iOS companion • The Highlights: • It “just works” in the Apple ecosystem • AirPlay Mirroring • Plenty of apps (except Amazon)

  8. Roku Stick • Price: $50 • Pros: More choice of devices, more apps • The Highlights: • Multiple hardware and pricing options • Over 2,000 apps • Best-in-class cross-platform search • Content-agnostic

  9. Google Chromecast • Price: $35 • Pros: Cheap, simple and small • The Highlights: • Major apps covered, catalog growing • No onscreen user interface or standard remote • No cross-platform search • Screen mirroring can be spotty

  10. Technology, Channels, and Apps

  11. HD Antenna • Price: $15 - $80 • A good HD antenna offers all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS) along with 10-15 other selections (PBS, CW, etc) in full HD, for free • Antenna analysis tool • FCC Reception Map

  12. Amazon Prime (Instant Video) • Price: $99/year or $8.25/month • Exclusive rights to a host of classic HBO series • Original series • Extensive catalog of young children’s programming • Video on demand content • Rent or buy newer movies and TV shows • Free 2-day shipping from Amazon

  13. Netflix • Price: $8.99/month • Full TV series (past seasons only) • Movies • Original shows (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black) • Commercial free

  14. Hulu Plus • Price: $7.99/month • Current seasons of popular TV shows, most of which show up on the site soon after their original air date • Works like a DVR • Good way to stay current, or catch up • Contains commercials • Full list of networks

  15. Sling TV • Price: $20/month • Sling is web TV • Stations stream live • No pause, rewind or fast-forward • You can only watch on one device at a time (except for HBO) • Contains commercials • Available for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, and Mac and PC computers • Base package includes many channels • Add HBO live and on demand for $15/month, Sports Extra for $5/month, Hollywood Extra for $5/month, and Lifestyle Extra for $5/month.

  16. HBO Now • Price: $14.99/month • Instant access to HBO’s award-winning original programming, as well as exclusive Hollywood blockbusters • Available a la carte for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV

  17. Crackle • Price: Free • multi-platform video entertainment network of full length movies, TV shows and original programming • Crackle contains commercials

  18. Vudu • Price: Pay-per-view • Rent or purchase movies • Cost of a purchase is about the same as if you had purchased the movie in the store • Often cheaper than ordering episodes a la carte on Amazon Instant Video

  19. How much does it cost to cut the cable? • HD Antenna + Access Device + Monthly & Annual Subscriptions + Internet = Total Cost • Slate Magazine has a useful tool for calculating your cost with and without cable for the things you want to access.

  20. How do you choose from so many services? • Time Magazine recommends plans based on your interests. • Plans are included in your handouts.

More Related