CORD CUTTING MADE EASY
Kiplinger's Personal Finance|September 2023
With an expanding menu of streaming services, saying goodbye to your cable company's entertainment options has never been easier.
EMMA PATCH
CORD CUTTING MADE EASY

THE world of streaming media is constantly evolving and expanding. All you need to enjoy TV shows and movies is a good internet connection and a smart TV or internet-capable device.

And unlike traditional cable, streaming services are typically paid month-to-month and have no cancellation fees. Signing up takes only minutes online, and it’s easy to cancel your subscription or temporarily pause it.

“Today, over 80% of households have one of the top three streaming services: Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime,” says Bruce Leichtman, of Leichtman Research Group, which specializes in research and analysis of the broadband, media and entertainment industries. And lately, the options for streaming live TV, such as live sports, news or events as they broadcast, have been growing. Not only do streaming services offer on-demand video content and a reserve of popular shows and films to tap into whenever you’d like, but you can also watch major broadcast TV events such as the Super Bowl, the Oscars and the Olympics with a live TV streaming plan.

Finding the best sports coverage can still be dicey. Many live TV streaming services ask you to pay for an add-on, such as ESPN+, NFL RedZone, NFL Network, MLB.TV or NHL Network, to get your favorite sports content live.

STREAMING LIVE TV

Cable bills have increased by 52% in the past three years alone, according to CordCutter News.com, averaging about $147 per month. So it comes as no surprise that replacing cable with a streaming service continues to be a popular trend among value-conscious consumers. Cable providers lost about 2,215,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2023, the steepest loss of any previous quarter, according to Leichtman Research Group.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCEView all
FREE HELP FOR COLLEGEBOUND STUDENTS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

FREE HELP FOR COLLEGEBOUND STUDENTS

This program’s mentors assist applicants as they fill out the FAFSA, write essays and more.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SPOUSAL IRAS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SPOUSAL IRAS

You typically need earned income to contribute to an individual retirement account, but a spousal IRA provides an important exception to this rule.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
SELLING SHARES? HERE'S HOW TO MINIMIZE TAXES ON YOUR GAINS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

SELLING SHARES? HERE'S HOW TO MINIMIZE TAXES ON YOUR GAINS

ET'S say you've been regularly buying shares in a booming tech company over the past few years, but now you want to start taking some of those profits, perhaps to rebalance your portfolio.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
Strategies for Novice Investors
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Strategies for Novice Investors

AS part of a lifes kills program for young, single mothers, I was asked to teach a class on how to get on top of your finances.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
ANSWERS TO YOUR 529 PLAN QUESTIONS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

ANSWERS TO YOUR 529 PLAN QUESTIONS

Thanks to recent policy changes, families have more options for what to do with money sitting in these tax-advantaged accounts.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
Rate-Cut Winners and Losers
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Rate-Cut Winners and Losers

NOW that the Federal Reserve has cracked the interest rate ice, the next development will be to separate winners from losers.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
SHOULD YOU BUY THESE RED-HOT FUNDS?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

SHOULD YOU BUY THESE RED-HOT FUNDS?

Covered-call ETFs are popular but come with plenty of caveats.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
DIVIDEND STOCKS ARE READY TO REBOUND
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

DIVIDEND STOCKS ARE READY TO REBOUND

Our favorite dividend payers are poised to benefit as falling interest rates lure investors back.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 2024
IS A 55+ COMMUNITY RIGHT FOR YOU?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

IS A 55+ COMMUNITY RIGHT FOR YOU?

These age-restricted developments appeal to older adults seeking abundant amenities and an active lifestyle.

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
AT LONG LAST, RATES ARE DROPPING
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

AT LONG LAST, RATES ARE DROPPING

Consider these portfolio moves now that the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024