How To Watch TV Without Paying A Cable Or Satellite TV?

Do you sometimes wish you could watch TV without paying Cable or Satellite bills? Cable and Satellite TV are quite expensive in U.S. The average client spends anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 annually. Those who go for Basic packages may spend a little less, but Premium subscribers pay a lot more. Let’s face it though: whether basic or average, Americans spend a great deal of their income on Cable or Satellite TV.

Of course, people with a decent income will have no problem paying TV subscription fees. But what about those who may not be so as financially strong? What about those who really want to enjoy great movies and shows but cannot afford the Cable or Satellite TV? It turns out there just might be a way out for those individuals. Today, it is possible to watch TV without paying a Cable or Satellite subscription. You’re eager to know how? Don’t worry. That’s exactly what you'll be discovering now.

Custom Tailored TV - To Your Needs!

Just a few years ago, it was hard to believe that people could enjoy video content without spending a fortune. That is not the case today. Americans have grown in their thinking, and many more people are considering alternative options to access their favorite TV and entertainment programs.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to decipher the cause of this sudden inclination. The introduction of new streaming services like Dish Network’s Sling TV and HBO Now should give you an idea. These services make available the most common, yet standard cable channels. And with high-speed Internet available almost free in America, it is possible to stream TV channels and other interesting entertainment content.

There is an interesting coincidence in all these. Popular entertainment services like Amazon and Netflix have upgraded their services. They have become major producers of television and entertainment, and they also have their products available for streaming. So think about the following options... New streaming services like Sling TV that permit you to watch Live TV and other content online; Amazon and Netflix who now produce TV content and actually operate their own television (readily available online), and high-speed Internet available at virtually no cost in America. All of these result in a greater possibility of people being able to watch TV without paying Cable or Satellite bills. Of course, they may have to pay basic subscription fees for online streaming services, but these will be quite minimal compared to Cable or Satellite.

So how does the 21st-century American access TV content without bothering about the bills? There are two options. Some people go for what is today known as Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) while others use OTT video (Over-the-top) TV watching. Smart people use a combination of the two to enjoy even more TV and entertainment. SVOD and OTT are great because they add more options to conventional TV channels provided by cable or satellite providers.

Watch TV Without Paying Cable or Satellite Bills

Research shows that young Americans aged between 18 and 34 largely watch TV through OTT services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu Plus. Another study shows that a considerable amount of individuals below 35 get all their TV and movie content from the Internet avoiding cable and satellite bills. The study reveals that only one in three youths still watch TV the conventional way. Today, America is witnessing a remarkable decrease in the number of people still paying for Cable or Satellite TV. Research firm SNL Kagan notes that the number decreased by more than 250,000 in 2013.

It may sound exciting knowing that you can watch TV and enjoy great entertainment services without paying heavily for them. But in the midst of the excitement, it is important to note that there could be challenges. The first of such challenges is understanding the new and rather unfamiliar services that provide you “free TV’, and figuring out which combination of those would best suit your needs and budget. The second challenge you must deal with to be able to watch TV without paying cable or satellite bills is your TV and entertainment needs. You will be watching TV in a brand new way and you will have to learn to adjust to this new trend. Once you learn to deal with these, you can be considered ready to start the exploits. So how do you get around this?

Option #1: Go Cord-Cutting

Websites like The Verge give clients the opportunity to choose the services that interest them the most. They permit you to enjoy your favorite programs and then tally up the cost. While this is a fairly good option, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to buys shows a la carte through popular stores like iTunes and Amazon.

For those who may not understand the light technicalities of cord-cutting services, an indoor antenna may be a better option to watch TV without paying bills. They may cost a little less than $10 but they are not available on demand. You may need to go for a recording device that will then be accompanied by an antenna. Indoor antennas give free access to network content and will enable you to watch great events like the Super Bowl and the Oscars. But of course, most TV viewers will need a lot more than just network content. So what else can they do to avoid exorbitant cable and satellite bills but still enjoy great content?

Option #2: Use A Video Streaming Device

Watching TV and other content through streaming services is a new trend in the technology world. But who wants to be limited to a Smartphone, or an iPad when there is plasma TV? So why not make your TV stream the content? You might not have known this, but with the help of an HDMI port, you can actually connect your TV to a video streaming device. The device connects wirelessly to the Internet and your TV presents whatever is streamed. Isn't that cool?

According to the NPD Group, 47% of households in America used this technology in 2014. The streaming devices are increasingly becoming affordable. In 2014, the average one-time price was as low as $35. So, if you hate watching TV on your smart devices, just make them show on your TV. And as we’ve just seen, that’s not only possible, it’s affordable. And if you were wondering which devices and services can connect to your TV, let’s check out a few.

One of the prominent services we can’t miss talking about is Roku. A pioneer streaming service for Television, Roku provides built-in streaming players that connect to your TV. When installed, all you need to do is connect your TV to the internet and set up a Roku account. Available for just $49 at Walmart online, the tiny device is loaded with hundreds of free and paid SVOD apps accessed with its own remote.

Another interesting streaming device is Chromecast. Available for $34.99 at Walmart online, Chromecast uses your smartphone, laptop or tablet as the remote. If you decide to use your laptop, the app pulls up any webpage onto your TV. Developed by Google, the device is designed as a small dongle that enables users with a mobile device or personal computer to initiate and control playback of Internet-streamed audio/visual content on a high-definition television or home audio system. This is done through mobile and web apps that support the Google Cast technology.

For Apple users, Apple TV is your deal. The Apple TV is a little pricey though; $92.95 at Walmart online. It permits you to watch on TV, all content from your iPhone and iPad, as well as a huge library of TV and movie viewing apps.

Some other streaming options include; NetGear and Amazon Fire TV. Older devices like Blu-ray Disc players and gaming consoles such as PlayStation 3 or Xbox One have long served the purpose of streaming video devices.

Option #3: Get The Best Of SVOD Services

It is well agreed that streaming is the real deal for those who want to watch TV without paying a cable or satellite bill. But on which platform will you stream the shows that best suit your needs? That’s what we’ll be finding now.

A couple of the streaming services have been around for a while now. And as many more people switch to streaming their TV content, so have these services learned to adapt to the new trend. Major service providers like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have made online TV a lot more fun, accessible and affordable.

Netflix

Want to watch the latest and hottest TV shows? Netflix will provide these for you. Enjoy a huge catalog of documentaries, and exciting shows for the family. You can also access reality TV, stand-up comedy, and movies. As you constantly watch your favorite shows, Netflix gets to learn what you like. Based on that, it makes suggestions for new movies and entertainment programs that could be of interest to you. So if you really want to watch TV without paying bills on cable or satellite, Netflix is a great alternative.

Hulu

Another interesting streaming service, Hulu Plus offers episodes of fascinating TV shows and other entertainment content one day after they are originally aired. Available for as little as $7.99/month, Hulu also has many original and exclusive shows. They offer programs from FOX, NBC, ABC and the CW. To spice up the experience a little, add CBS shows, like The Big Bang Theory, for another monthly fee of $5.99. At the moment, they offer a special discount for new clients. Subscribe to Hulu before 1/9/18 and for a whole year, you can enjoy the service for just $5.99 per month. Do you want to watch TV without paying heavily for it? Hulu is designed and made for you.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is another place where you can find interesting content to stream. This service stream a vast amount of past and present HBO content. Amazon Prime is just another source of new, current and past programs readily available for you. If you like to follow the latest network and non-premium cable shows as well as current programs from some major channels, Amazon is for you.

Sling TV

If you are not satisfied with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, Dish Network’s Sling TV will probably make you smile. Great for serious TV fans, the service offers entertainment from enticing TV channels like AMC (Mad Men, Walking Dead), TNT (Falling Skies), TBS (Conan), A&E (The Returned), and ABC Family (The Fosters). Who says it impossible to watch TV without paying cable and satellite bills? Not only is it possible, it is affordable. In fact, this is a highly useful streaming service if you want to save some bucks.

TV - As It Was In The beginning

Before cable and satellite systems were made, people were enjoying TV channels in their homes by installing local network antennas. Today, things have so evolved so that people have totally drifted off that option. But there are still tons of interesting content we can enjoy with a cheap local setup. By buying an antenna for as little as $30, you never need to worry about paying bills for the thrilling TV content you will get. You want to watch TV without paying cable or satellite bills? Maybe it’s time to go back to TV as it was in the beginning.

Final Words

Are you one of those who doubt the possibility of watching TV without having to worry about exorbitant cable and satellite bills? Doubt no more. These days, you may be doing yourself a huge favor if you make up your mind to start watching TV online.

You get to watch TV without paying high bills, and you have the possibility of receiving recommendations on what to watch. Wherever you are, it is possible to make the switch. All you need to do is decide whether to go “cord cutting”, connect your TV to a streaming device or get the best of Over-the-top content. If these options are not good enough for you, it is probably time to get an antenna and start enjoying TV content from the local channels. Whichever option you go for, you will spend only a fraction of what would have gone for cable or satellite bills.