My final suggestion for accessing local channel content without cable is to simply go straight to the source on the internet. Many times you can watch free but ad-supported on-demand replays of your favorite shows from the networks. And your local network affiliates may have their own apps or websites that offer clips, streams, articles and highlights from locally-produced programming.
So, in tandem with the national apps, you may be able to create a workable free content mix from your local channel without paying for anything.
Many streamers have been in search of a new local channel source since Locast ceased operations in The good news is that there are several viable alternatives. For many people, the only way to fully recreate the local channel experience that you get from cable is to sign up for a live TV streaming service. If I lived outside the geographic area I could get them.
Fubo is a live streaming service that specializes in sports. If you are paying for cable or satellite primarily because you watch an enormous amount of live sports, Fubo is going to rock your world.
Here are the sports channels that come with the basic package there are tons of other cable channels included as well :. Fubo gives you up to 30 hours of DVR recording with the basic package. You can also replay nearly any game, show or movie that aired in the last 3 days if you forget to record. Like Sling, it works on any streaming device, your phone, tablet, or computer.
You can stream live TV on up to two devices at a time. Available channels vary by location that will affect mostly your local network stations , but everyone should get the following sports and news channels:.
Of course, if you have an addiction to a particular cable channel, check with YouTube TV to see if they carry it in your area. Fantastic range of boards from best recipes and tips for frugal living to gardening and budgeting help.
This post may contain affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Thanks for the tip to get a streaming service or indoor antenna for an HDTV.
All depends on how much the antenna costs compared to multiple streaming services. That is a deal breaker for me. What service and device would you suggest? We have a smart TV with amazon prime and a fire stick.
The question is what internet speed would we need for two devices? And would we need the antenna? Unfortunately Amazon Prime is no longer offers all its prime content free of commercials!!! How can I record from a digital antenna like we used to be able to do with a vcr? Thank you for your article. Everyone is doing what they can to save a dollar where possible. No one in our home watch football, etc. Thank yothe so much for your time and reply.
Stay safe and well, Susan. No, Step 1 is: Internet connection. So you need an internet service from Verizon or some other provider.
Take that, [insert your local expensive cable provider]. Get internet. Both cable TV and satellite TV costs have risen drastically over the last several years.
I found other hobbies to occupy my time instead of TV. The best part? Here are a few ways you can watch TV without cable, too. Hulu is my personal favorite way to watch TV without cable.
Plus, there are a number of tiers to fit just about any budget. The basic plan has two tiers depending upon whether you want to sit through commercials. Selecting this plan gives you unlimited access to stream on your choice of devices, with limited commercials.
And, you can always mute the TV during commercials. No problem. With Live TV, you will have access to major networks, along with sports networks. This means you can watch live sports, which is often a deal-breaker when trying to watch TV without cable. Even if you sign up for the higher-priced plan you could still save money vs having cable. You can also cancel or switch plans at any time without having to pay a disconnect fee. Hulu is easy to use with many different devices to stream it to your TV.
One of the downsides of Hulu is that you may not be able to watch local sports or news in every city. But it will cost an additional fee for each.
Tip: You can save even more on Hulu if you use Rakuten! It allows you to stream live programs or record them for later using its cloud-based DVR.
Sling TV offers viewers two base plans: Orange or Blue, plus you can also choose from some premium add-on services if you like sports, comedy, kids, news, or lifestyle shows. If you choose the Blue plan , you can stream on 3 devices at a time and you get more channels than with the Orange, but the options for watching sports may be limited, though it does include the NFL Network, FS1, and Stadium. The channels in this package are better for news and entertainment watchers.
But, if you purchase the Orange plan , there are fewer channels to choose from and you can only stream on one device at a time. This is one of the easiest ways to watch sports without cable. You can watch SlingTV on nearly any device. Plus, you can try it free for 3 days when you use my link. Tip: You can save even more on Sling if you use Rakuten!
Amazon Prime Video includes thousands of videos and TV channels Prime members can watch without paying any additional fees. Paying for an Amazon Prime annual membership is a much better deal. After you sign up, all you need to get started watching is an Amazon account and a device that is connected to the internet. One other drawback to choosing Amazon Prime Video is that your credit card will automatically be charged for the next month if you do not cancel it.
However, as long as you did not use the service, Amazon should issue you a refund if you contact them. Another way to watch TV without cable is to sign up for Netflix. You can watch on just about any device from anywhere, but only on one at a time unless you upgrade to another plan.
After you sign up for Netflix, you can add additional users so each person has their own queue of shows and watch history. This is helpful if you have a roommate or if other family members watch Netflix and enjoy different shows. Many devices have a connection for Netflix on them, which may eliminate the need for a streaming device. Netflix is commercial-free, so you only watch what you want to see.
For that price, you can watch your favorite shows with limited commercials. Not all live-access TV is available in every city or town. In addition, some programs are not available for viewing by cell phone. When you cut the cord offers a tremendous opportunity to cut expenses, but you will face a couple of drawbacks: Local channels and live sports.
Believe it or not, there was a time when stations broadcast shows, movies, and news only over the airwaves … there was no cable or satellite TV or internet. However, the way we consume watching our favorite shows and movies has switched to cable, satellite TV, or streaming.
When you opt to cut the cord and stream programming, it can be difficult to find local programming. Before you write this off, hear me out. These days antennas are much more powerful and TV signals much stronger than they used to be. Using the right antenna can help you get as many as 50 channels without paying for a monthly subscription to anything.
The exact number of channels you can get with a TV antenna will depend on what antenna you get and where you live. Perhaps the No. Streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Video are great to watch TV shows, movies, documentaries, and mini-series on-demand, but they lack live programming.
Sports programming adds another layer of cost when you are trying to cut the cord so you can watch TV without cable. But, they also know they are great for finding a wide selection of free television shows and movies. You can access services that offer free TV shows and movies on both streaming sticks. The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Filmrise are just a small sample of the channels you can view with either for the streaming sticks.
You can also access YouTube videos from them, too. Includes Alexa Voice Remote with power and volume buttons. All-new preset buttons get you to favorite apps quickly. Plus, control power and volume on your TV and soundbar with a single remote.
However, be sure to set a reminder so you know when to cancel the service and avoid any fees. Admittedly, watching TV without cable does typically require the use of high-speed internet or mobile data if you choose to watch on your cell phone.
With this in mind, make sure you factor in the cost of the internet plus any of the plans above. Depending on what you were paying for cable, it may or may not be worth it to switch. Bundling is one of the big reasons cable TV prices have become so high in recent years.
Many people believe the cable providers are to blame for bundling and price hikes. Sure, they do make some good money from the bundling of channels. However, it is the large networks that are actually behind higher prices. They force cable providers to bundle unwanted channels along with the popular ones. Those big networks have all the power. If the providers refuse to bundle channels, the networks will respond by simply finding a different provider who will.
Therefore, the providers keep agreeing to the demands of the networks and customers keep paying high bills because many are locked into a long-term contract. Nevertheless, dissatisfied customers are looking for —and finding— alternatives.
Thinking about what you like to watch will also help you decide which of these alternatives is right for you. For example, if all you want to watch is the news and shows from the major networks, like CBS and NBC, you might be able to get away with only having an antenna. You might not need a streaming service at all! However, if you prefer to watch other shows and movies, check to see which streaming service offers the best selection for your tastes before you sign up for one. Something to keep in mind is that not all of these alternatives will have the latest and greatest shows.
In my experience, Hulu is better for newer TV shows from cable and Netflix is better for older content, like shows that are no longer airing on cable. Both also have a good variety of original content to choose from too. How and where you want to watch TV may affect your decision to cut the cord too. I actually use three of the five options in this article. Between these options, I can watch nearly any show or movie that I desire. To stream my favorite movies and shows, I use a Roku device.
It is indisputable that cable prices have gotten high over the last several years. We can use other options to watch TV without cable and save money for other things.
Ahhhh I love the explanation on why cable is so pricey! I thought it was just cable people being greedy. What is my vest alternative to cable? I think with most options for movies, you will have to have internet unless you purchase the actual movie. I like a lot of channels except for sports channels. You will need internet. There is no way around that. What is a hot spot? What is required to use a hot spot?
How does it connect to the TV? Can I use a hot spot to connect to internet on my lap top? If your carrier allows it, you can get a certain amount of gigs each month some plans allow unlimited hotspot and you can connect your phone to your laptop, tv if a smart tv , etc and get TV through channels like Netflix, Hulu, Sling, etc.
Beware though. I have Verizon jet pack 4G Verizon wireless internet and it can run out of signal strength at a certain level even if it is on unlimited! Then you are backed down to crawling internet speed where you can cook dinner while waiting for an internet site to come up or go to the next page.
We live on the edge of our town and it is either Dish satellite or Mediacom where your monthly bill goes up every month and commercials are almost all of the tv programming. I agree. My parents used to have cable once upon a time.
I just watch tv with an antenna. I get every network channel except cbs,. About 40 channels in all. I live in Palm Coast, Fl. I am experimenting with jail-breaking Fire stick K4. Trying Troypoint. Different options adding to fire-stick are a lot of time and work. Not as easy to do as they say. At different times of the day of course. How does sling show on my tv?. Is it by internet connection for those channels or some other form. I dont want hulu on my tablet or tv. I really appreciated all the information.
Can I watch PBSwith an antenna? Any suggestions? We have cable, and love it, but not the high cost. And my spouse loves baseball and football. Can we get all that with an antenna plus on of your choices? Who would we get internet from — our mobile phone provider Verizon?
Would we have to change to unlimited data? Thanks for listening. Did you ever make a decision that your happy with? Please share with me. We cut the cord nearly 10 years ago and have no regrets. My husband built an antenna out of PVC pipe and wire hangers there are plans online for this for the last house we lived in, and mounted it in the attic.
We got approximately 50 over-the-air channels that way. When we moved, we did use Sling for a little while, and while that was great, we opted to install an antenna on the roof of the current house and cancel Sling. That said, I highly recommend Sling for popular channels. I think people are scared to change over because they don.
Its scary. I switched over to internet only — no cable at all, I love it. There are some adjustments though. The coax cable acts like an antenna. I have no outside or inside antenna. It just when you scan your tv make sure to set it on cable and not antenna.
Try it on one of your TVs that are not set up with cable anymore. Works great. I axtually feel sorry for your poor brain cells!
All utilities are underground, and there is this terrible obstruction to a clear sky view, lol?. Growing up, it was a sign of distinction and prosperity when someone had an antenna on their roof, because it suggested they had a television!
I remember, when some of us year-olds would drive around with the windows up in the heat of summer to make others think we had air conditioning in our cars.. And to check out the roof antennas, that was exciting! My how times have changed! I had the same reaction, What are they trying to say and to who, sorry my lower keys are not working.
I have learned so much in the past hour on cable vs streaming etc. Not sure how that would affect property values?? Try to be a nicer human. Thanks for the commentary N Rich…. There are much worse things than antennas that bring down property value.
Get a life! Watching your favorite TV shows nowadays have been made easy through the advancement of telecommunications technology. The entertainment industry has gradually expanded and with the advent of Netflix and other online video streaming services hitting the web, there are tons of options to explore to get exactly what you want. High-speed internet services have made it possible so far, with 5G talks around the corner, who knows what transitions we may experience when wireless speeds hit 6, Mbps!
Technology just keeps getting better and better which just improves our options. If you mean an internet provider, yes you would. If not, then it would add to what you pay each month, of course. Hi there! I have to get rid of cable! But you never know! Most allow you to cancel cable and pay the difference or cancel your contract when the time comes.
I am moving to an area that only uses Mediacom. I am a senior and can not afford cable. I have Netflix and amazon prime. This rental forbids antennas. I have a smart tv. We are die hard LSU fans and for years we kept our Dish satellite because we wanted the games 3 months a year.
I finally had enough of the kids watching mindless television and we called to shut it off. Nothing I have concern over for the kids. We also use Amazon Prime which we love. And all you had to do was place a call and find out about it.
Good thinking! They should inform you of that! My basic problem is that we pay so much money with cable TV. I am really sick of this. I am really ready to cut the cord. Thanks for all of the information that this forum has provided.
I will look into some of them. So, when you say they take it away and you still get charges, you misunderstood their program. They let you have a free peek and if you love it, you can pay to have it all the time.
We ended up with ID Discovery because my husband and I fell in love with Joe Kenda and let me tell you we paid for it! I currently pay I tried to get the Cable company to take the phone off my plan thinking it would be cheaper but to my surprise my monthly bill would have increased even more.
The only other thing I have to pay for is the High Speed Internet connection. I researched many articles on cutting the cord but thanks to this site and it members, I have been convinced and sold. Thank You for the honest article and comments. Good for you! Spectrum is now requiring a box for all TVs to receive their signal. I have a TV in the basement that I use while exercising and watch only news programs.
Is their a way I can use one of your suggestions that will allow me to watch the news. We have Amazon Prime and Netflix and would love to cut the cable if there were a way to also get these news channels. Hulu might work for you, but it may depend on what news stations you want to see and where you live. It may take a little bit of research on your part to figure out which option is the best.
No one option is going to be best for everyone. You can go into settings and add, take away channels, and they do it instantly. Have a great day! I just need to make sure I can get Disney including Disney Jr and Nickelodeon including toons and teens because of my special needs daughter her favorite and only channels she watches.
Can anyone confirm which subscription I would be able to access these channels? Thank you so much. I have been trying to look without signing up, but its not doable so far. So glad I came across this article. After reading it I think we are ready to take cut the cord and save some money. We have Netflix and the only reason we have cable is to watch those channels occasionally, election coverage every few years, and local news.
To get local news you may have to get an antenna. We just cut the cord this weekend! We have Hulu free with our Sprint service and decided to go with Directv Now. I think the key is to carefully look through the options and make sure you are getting the shows that you want most. Then you can cut the cords and save a bunch every month!
Is there a way to get it free?
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