7 Things you should know about dropping Pay-TV and saving a bundle!

Cable television customers are increasingly saying farewell to their cable and satellite-TV subscriptions, and saying hello to their internet-based competitors This is not just about saving money, it is also saying hello to the fresh generation of cable television alternatives  People all over the world are now subscribing to these budget clever wizards, without losing options or quality.  This cord-cutting trend has lowered the share prices of some media companies thanks to a mass exodus of customers who are now paying less than $100 a month for Pay-TV, Internet, and Phone Service.  In some cases, customers are grabbing deals under $50 a month.  Here are seven things that you should know about this new progression.   

What does Cord-Cutting mean?

'This term is basically defined as a person who cancels their service from their pay-TV provider. There are also "cord-shavers," which are people who mitigate their services by cutting back on their pay TV services, and "cord-nevers," or people who have never had a pay-TV service.

This trend can get very tricky when a customer drops the traditional Pay-TV service in favor of an Internet-delivered service from one of those same providers, such as AT&T's DirecTV Now, Dish or Network's Sling TV. Some experts count them as cord-cutters while other companies don't.
To be clear, the changes are much more about viewership and corporate strategies than they are about subscribers (and overall spending on pay-TV)," said Bruce Leichtman of Leichtman Research Group in an email.

What do the numbers look like?

Though researchers and analysts may define the term differently, they agree that the rankings for traditional Pay-TV service are without a doubt on the decline. The vast majority of customers, however, haven't taken the leap, although you can expect those numbers to change drastically in 2019 and beyond.

Why the Panic?

Since the pay-TV industry's peak in the first quarter of 2012, long-established service providers have lost more than 7 million customers while internet-delivered offerings have gained more than 3.7 million, according to Leichtman Research Group. 

The generation of cord-cutters is likely to continue to grow. Almost 8 percent of pay-TV subscribers said they're "extremely likely" to cancel their service in the next year, compared with about 6 percent in 2017, according to a recent survey released by Frank N. Magid Associates. Meanwhile, 14 percent of millennials say they plan to do so. Those numbers are staggering.

Exactly how much money can potential customers save? 

 As Consumer Reports and other personal finance sites have noted, the number of money consumers can save on their video entertainment bill can vary vastly. For instance, people who are only interested in a just a few channels can rely on an old-fashioned antenna and add about $75 per month for phone and broadband service, which will allow them to stream YouTube and tune into the over-the-air TV. On the other hand, those with more expansive viewing interests can spend as much as $172 per month after adding in paid streaming services like Netflix and HBO Now, according to the magazine. Cord cutters oftentimes will use multiple services to replicate their pay-TV service. Remember, those fees can quickly add up. 

It is reported that about 7 out of 10 cord-cutters pay for a video-on-demand service like Netflix or Hulu, according to Leichtman Research Group. And out of those, about 60 percent pay for at least two streaming services.

Don't forget the Broadband option

Consumers sometimes forget about the cost of broadband. On average, consumers pay $60 a month for high-speed internet access, which is often bundled with video, phone, and other services, according to Leichtman. 

Consumers may need to get a faster connection, which can boost up monthly expenses, in order to stream HD video across multiple devices, according to Brett Sappington, director of research at Parks Associates. "You simply can't go with the lowest-cost connection," he said in an interview.

The "One Million Dollar Question" Why hasn't everyone abandoned Pay TV?

More than three-quarters of cable subscribers were also customers of a streaming service, according to research firm Taleria. The report indicated that four out of 10 cable users erroneously believe they need cable to watch live events such as sports. Another 55 percent said they found non-traditional TV options to be "confusing."

Remember you don't have to wait to be a part of this growing trend. 

Cable TV stand-alone service is becoming more outdated, and is quite antiquated, especially the outrageous monthly cost.  So don't delay your shift in moving to a much cheaper version of expansion TV and Internet Services, and call today to start saving money. The quality is comparative, and in many instances, you will have more options.