cable

3 TV Must-Haves Once You Cut the Cable Cord

Kyle James — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:30:33 +0000

Is it time for you to join in on the cord cutting movement? You know that you're only watching a few channels out of the hundreds that you're paying for. And cutting the cord on your cable bill will undoubtedly be good for your budget. But can you still watch the shows you love? Yes. You'll be surprised at the variety of options you have without paying for hundreds of channels you don't use.

Here's a basic breakdown of the great options you have available when cutting the cable cord. (See also: How to Cut Cable and Still Watch What You Love)

An HD antenna

The first option to consider when you're ready to cut the cord is an HD antenna that you can install in your home. Here are a few of your best options.

Mohu Leaf 50 Indoor Antenna

For about $50, you can pick up a Mohu Leaf and depending on where you live, score a bunch of HD channels for free. The Leaf has a 50-mile range and can be placed indoors on a window or bookcase shelf. To figure out how many free HD channels you can get at your home, visit NoCable.org and enter your address.

Antennas Direct 50 Clearstream Eclipse

If you're cutting the cord from DishNetwork or DIRECTV, the Antennas Direct 50 is a great alternative. This is due to the fact that you can install the antenna directly onto your abandoned satellite dish, or a wall or window indoors, making installation really easy. You can then connect the antenna to the existing infrastructure of your home and start watching free HD channels immediately.

Mohu Sky 60 Antenna

If you live in more of a rural area, especially with mountains and hills, the Leaf probably won't get you many free channels. So instead, check out the Mohu Sky 60, which should be attic- or roof-mounted and will offer a much better solution. For example, I live 10 miles out of town with hills in every direction. The Leaf gives me only two HD channels, while the Sky 60 gives me six HD channels including FOX, CBS, and ABC.

A subscription to a streaming service

For the rest of the TV shows and movies you've come to depend on through your cable or satellite service, choose among these affordable streaming services.

Netflix

A Netflix streaming account starts at $7.99 per month, or $9.99 per month if you want HD quality. While you won't pick up cable channels with Netflix, you will pick up a ton of original programming as well as thousands of movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Besides viewing on your TV, you can also access all of Netflix's programming on your tablet, computer, or smartphone.

Prime Streaming

Prime Streaming is available free to all Amazon Prime members. Prime membership costs $99 per year and gets you access to thousands of titles, including popular TV shows and movies. You can also use Amazon's streaming service to rent or buy current TV shows and new movies to view immediately. You can also pay an additional fee to get access to HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime. Plus, get access to special programming like animé, foreign dramas, and more, as add-on services.

Hulu

If you're interested in streaming the current season of your favorite TV shows, get Hulu. For $7.99 per month, you can stream many of the current shows that won't be available on Netflix until next year. Movies are also available on Hulu.

DIRECTV NOW Streaming

Just recently DIRECTV introduced a streaming option to try and capture a new customer base and it actually looks promising. For $35 a month, you can stream live TV from over 120 channels plus over 10,000 on-demand titles. With the cheapest DIRECTV satellite package coming in at about $55, this is a solid alternative if you don't want to give up your satellite options.

HBO Now

For $14.99 per month, you can access HBO's original shows, documentaries, and their movie selection, without having a cable subscription. This is the main difference between Now and HBO Go — which you're only able to access with cable.

Livestream

There still aren't many streaming options for sports programming, but Livestream is one of the few available at the moment. This app allows you to stream live events through your Chromecast, Roku, or Apple TV. The app is free and you can also use it on your iPhone or Android device.

Sling TV

If you're one of the many who hasn't cut the cord because of a lack of streaming sports options, Sling TV just might be for you. Sling TV is the first true internet-only alternative to a traditional cable package. For only $20/mo, you can get the Sling TV Orange package which includes ESPN, TBS, and CNN plus about 25 other popular channels.

A streaming device

Using streaming services doesn't mean you can only watch on your computer. There are some nifty devices that allow you to stream these shows to your TV, so you can sit back and still enjoy shows and movies on your big screen TV. Most newer TVs have the required USB port that the streaming sticks and players directly connect to. On older TVs without a USB port, you might be able to use an HDMI-to-USB adapter cord, but it depends on your HDMI setup in the back of your TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick plugs into the back of your TV and lets you immediately start streaming. Of course, you need a Wi-Fi connection in your home, too. The Fire TV Stick is compatible with all of the popular subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video, as well as free streaming options like YouTube.

Roku Streaming Stick

The Roku Stick stands out from the Fire TV stick in the number of apps available, as well as a convenient search feature. The Roku Stick actually searches across all streaming services to find you the exact program you're looking for.

Chromecast

This is Google's streaming device, and it also uses your Wi-Fi connection to stream music and videos on your TV. The main difference with Chromecast compared to the options above is that there's no remote. You use your phone, iPad, or laptop computer to control your programming.

Apple TV

Much like the two options above, Apple TV comes equipped with all the video/streaming apps you could ever need. Apple TV has over 1,600 of them, and the video quality is outstanding. It also connects to your iTunes library so you can seamlessly access your favorite music on your TV.

Gaming consoles

If you're a gamer, you might not need a streaming device at all, because new gaming consoles come equipped with a streaming interface. Nintendo Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS4 are all gaming consoles that are able to stream TV through their wireless connection, so you can download the streaming apps (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) and watch your favorite shows and movies through your console.

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 6 Monthly Telecom Bills You Can Negotiate

Kyle James — Mon, 09 May 2016 10:30:04 +0000

Opening and paying the monthly bills is usually something we dread. This is especially true if you feel you’re being gouged by your cable, phone, or wireless provider. But with just a little bit of knowledge on the proper way to call and negotiate a lower bill, you can easily save hundreds of dollars per year. Here are six telecom companies notorious for working with customers to lower their bill, along with some insider negotiation tips for each.

1. DirecTV

When it comes to negotiating a lower monthly bill with DirecTV, the first thing you have to do is analyze the competition, namely Dish Network. DirecTV is typically more expensive than Dish, which makes the “competition is cheaper” card great ammunition when making the phone call to DirecTV customer service. Find out what current specials Dish is offering and use those when explaining why you’re considering leaving DirecTV. This will typically only work when you’re not under contract, as they can’t do much for you when you’re locked into a specific rate for a set period of time.

When making the call, tell the first person you speak with that you’d like to cancel your service as it’s more than you can afford right now. They’ll then transfer you to the retention department, who are the folks who have the authority to actually lower your bill. Then explain why you’re considering switching to Dish Network and be as specific as possible. In other words, tell them exactly what Dish is offering new customers and ask if they can meet it, or at the very least get close to it. Be polite and conversational in tone, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the result of a lower monthly bill, in most cases.

2. Dish Network

Same drill with Dish Network. Tell the first person you speak with that you want to cancel your service, and they’ll get you to the customer loyalty or retention department. When it comes to negotiating a lower monthly bill with Dish, it’s important to understand that they’re already lower in price than DirecTV. This means that in most cases, you can’t say you’re switching to DirecTV, because they’re already cheaper.

Instead, you should tell them you’re considering cutting the cord entirely by switching to an over-the-air HD antennae and cheap streaming options like Netflix and Hulu. These “other” options serve as excellent ammunition when talking to Dish. Stick to the facts, don’t get emotionally involved, and remember that you can simply call back later if the person is having a bad day and not willing to work with you.

Once you‘ve told them why you want to leave, they should offer you something to stay on as a loyal customer. You can also take the bull by the horns and start the conversation by asking for $15–$25 off your monthly bill depending on what package you subscribe to. You can also ask for a few free movie channels if that means more to you. Remember that they’ve invested a lot to get and keep you as a customer, and are willing to throw you a bone to keep your business. Always be willing to take your business elsewhere if they can’t come close to what you want. If you actually don’t want to leave and they won’t budge, you can always say you want to reconsider other options before canceling.

3. Comcast

I recently had an anonymous Comcast retention employee give me the scoop on what to say to get your bill lowered. She told me that the worst thing you can do is tell the rep that you’re switching to a competitor. Instead, she said to tell them you want to stay with Comcast but can’t afford your monthly bill and will have to switch to a streaming service if the bill can’t be lowered. She even said that Sling TV was the best streaming option to use as ammunition. She said that in most cases this will work and get you up to 20% off your monthly bill, as that percentage is the biggest discount they can offer.

Lastly, she told me not to ask to speak to a supervisor as that will typically only get you a call-back request that rarely happens. Plus, they are authorized to offer the same discounts as the retention employee, so it’s not worth your time.

4. Verizon

Verizon can be a tricky company to convince to lower your bill. They have created a coverage map that beats the competition and they know that many customers are bluffing when playing the “cancel card” to try and negotiate a lower bill. Because of this, it’s important that you do ample research on the competition before making the call. What are Republic Wireless, T-Mobile, and Straight Talk currently offering, and how long will it take you to recoup your money, in terms of savings, if you have to pay to get out of your Verizon contract?

By having these numbers at your disposal when making the call, the Verizon rep will sense your seriousness and often offer you a lower rate in return. I recently did this and was able to secure $10 off my bill for 12 months. Not a huge savings, but I really didn’t want to leave Verizon as I live in a rural area where Verizon is my only coverage option.

5. AT&T Wireless

While you may not be able to negotiate a lower rate with AT&T the old-fashioned way, you can get rid of services you don’t need and look for little-known discounts. Start by analyzing your bill very carefully as AT&T is notorious for sneaking in add-on services like AT&T Navigator, Family Map, enhanced voicemail, and smart limits. If you don’t use them, get rid of them immediately. Also, check to see if you’re eligible for an employer discount. Many organizations work directly with AT&T to offer their employees a pretty sweet discount so be sure you’re not missing out.

6. Time Warner Cable

Time Warner is notorious for raising your rate without informing you as to why. So once you get a rate you’re happy with, be sure to keep it by calling them every 12 months. Simply call their customer service line, be polite, and get straight to the point by telling them you want to keep your low rate for another 12 months. If the operator is unwilling to extend your rate for another year, simply hang up and try back later. Be persistent and you’ll eventually get an employee willing to work with you and help you keep your low rate for another year.

What bills, if any, do you consistently try to negotiate a lower rate on?

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Things That Cost More in 2016

Mikey Rox — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 18:00:06 +0000

If your New Year's resolutions included trimming the fat from your budget, you'll want to avoid these nine purchases that will see a price hike this year. (See also: 8 Necessities That Will Be Cheaper in 2016)

1. Cable and Satellite TV

NBC recently reported that DirecTV and AT&T's U-verse packages, channel bundles, and premium channels will see increases ranging from $2 to $8 per month, a change that went into effect Jan. 28. Dish Network customers also will experience a similar pricing increase on its bundles, which started on Jan. 14.

Cable industry watchdog Chris Brantner (Mr. Cable Cutter of CutCableToday.com) says these increases are not limited to just a couple companies. In fact, most of the big national names in the cable and satellite TV game will be jacking up prices.

"Comcast is raising its broadcast fee to $5 from $1.75, and its sports programming fee to $3 from $2," he says. "Time Warner is raising both broadcasting and sports fees as well — from $1 to $3.75 and $2.25 to $5, respectively. This seems to be a yearly trend, as pay-TV prices have skyrocketed over the last few years, with average bills breaking $100 a month."

2. Medicare Premiums

If you're retired and new to Medicare Part B, beware. Double-digit price hikes — about 16% over last year — went into effect at the beginning of the year. Previously enrolled Part B recipients aren't faced with the increase because Social Security didn't see a cost-of-living adjustment in 2016, and Medicare payments, by law, are prevented from increasing faster than SS payments. Thus, just consider the $16.90 more you have to pay per month than older retirees your dues for being the new kid on the block.

3. Netflix

Remember back in 2011 when Netflix announced it would increase its then $10 dual streaming-plus-DVD-by-mail combo plan to $16, and the Internet lost its collective mind? Netflix stock dropped 40% after the announcement, and some called on CEO/co-founder Reed Hastings to resign. Because unlimited DVDs, y'all!

Well, Netflix has learned several lessons since then, and while it abandoned all those 2011 plans (including an ill-fated breakaway brand called Qwikster), it raised prices $1 to $8.99 in 2014, and it plans to increase the price of its streaming service by another dollar to $9.99 this May for new customers. If you're already a Netflix subscriber, however, you won't get hit until 2017.

4. Chocolate

If you can't trust Forbes, who can you trust? Its 2016 consumer predictions include higher prices for chocolate. According to the publication, "the Ivory Coast, center of world cocoa production, is under strain from drought — putting the world's chocolate industry at risk."

Better start rationing those leftover Kisses from Christmas.

5. Domestic Wine

If you fancy a nice glass of wine, you may have to switch up what you're drinking — at least from domestic bottlers.

The blog SVB on Wine reports that according to its annual State of the Industry report, 41.74% percent of winemakers plan to implement a small price increase, while another 16.12% are planning a moderate increase in 2016. Another 2.07% are really going for the jugular with a strong increase. Alas, at least 34.71% of respondents will have pity on your pocket when you're at the liquor store: They'll hold prices steady they said, while an additional 5.37% will decrease prices slightly.

6. Postage

A summary of postage rate increases show prices for First Class Mail Letters, metered mail for First Class Mail Letter, and First Class Mail Flats will remain constant into 2016, but most other services will see an increase.

Priority Mail Express recently saw an average rate increase of 15.6%, while traditional Priority Mail has increased 9.4%, as of Jan. 17. Other hikes include 11.6% for Priority Mail Express International, 10.2% for Priority Mail International, and 21.6% for First Class Package International Service.

7. Girl Scout Cookies

Your undying love for the Girl Scouts' Thin Mints will make your wallet a little thinner now that boxes of the good stuff are $5 in some areas like Massachusetts and California, up from $4 last year. Pricing is set based on factors like ingredient costs, market size and availability, and shipping costs. From the new fee structure, troops would receive about $.90 per box sold opposed to the $.62 they made on the $4 box. Expect more troops across the country to adopt the new pricing in 2016.

8. Hotels

MarketWatch reports that according to the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, hotel prices around the globe are expected to rise this year, with North America taking the lead with a 4.3% increase. Hotel prices are estimated to increase 1.8% in Europe, 3% in Asia Pacific, and 3.7% in Latin America. Luckily, there are plenty of deals to cash in on — if you're a savvy shopper — and you can also save some dough by booking private short-term accommodations from services like Airbnb and Roomorama.

9. Prescription Medication

Drug companies aren't relenting on seemingly never-ending price increases. The Wall Street Journal reports that Big Pharma players like Pfizer, Amgen, Allergan, and Horizon Pharma "have raised U.S. prices for dozens of branded drugs since late December, with many increases between 9% and 10%, according to equity analysts." Vanda Pharmaceuticals increased by 10% the price of its new drug Hetlioz, which treats a sleep disorder in blind people, resulting in a 76% hike from when it was introduced in 2014.

Has "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli started offering classes on how to rip people off that we don't know about? What are you spending more for this year?

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 8 Best Ways to Stream TV and Movies for Free

Kyle James — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:00:29 +0000

"Cutting the cord" to cable and satellite TV seems to be everyone's dream these days. However, getting rid of your cable bill often only makes sense if you can find cheap (or free) replacements for your viewing habits. Fortunately, cord-cutters have some pretty amazing free — and totally legal — streaming options available to them. While many of these are still fairly unknown services, they can provide some terrific options for your viewing needs. Here are eight streaming services worth checking out.

1. Crackle

Owned by Sony, Crackle has an excellent selection of free streaming movies, TV shows, and original content. If you have a smartphone, tablet, smart TV, PlayStation 3 or 4, or current Xbox, you can stream Crackle content for free. Current top movies include Joe Dirt, Click, and Underworld, while popular TV shows include Seinfeld, The Shield, and Damages. The original content available on Crackle is what gets it on my list; popular programs include Sports Jeopardy with Dan Patrick, and the highly acclaimed series The Ropes produced and directed by Vin Diesel.

2. Hulu

Hulu is by far the most recognizable service on my list, and for good reason. While they have a premium service that will cost you $7.99 per month, their free content is pretty darn amazing as well, and worth a look. As I type this, I'm watching last night's The Daily Show for free, without commercials. Other network programming that you can watch for free (eight days after they air), includes Once Upon a Time, Modern Family, Nashville, and The Mindy Project. It's also worth noting that they offer a free 30-day trial.

3. PopcornFlix.com

While PopcornFlix.com has hundreds of movies and TV series available for free streaming (most of which you'd never heard of), they make my list simply for their awesome selection of kids' titles and "general family" viewing. A few that immediately caught my eye include Jim Henson's Mee-Shee, Jack and the Beanstalk, Benii, and School of Life starring Ryan Reynolds. Supported devices include Android phones, Apple devices, Roku players, Samsung Smart TV's, and Xbox consoles.

4. MoviesFoundOnline.com

The movies tend to be indie classics along with some cult favorites, but it's the variety of TV shows available for streaming that makes MoviesFoundOnline.com stand out from the crowd. A few examples include The Lucy Show, Mr. Bean, BattleBots, and stand-up comedy acts from Robin Williams and Zach Galifianakis. Watch shows on their website, as they do not have an app available for mobile viewing yet.

5. RetroVision

If you're a big fan of classic TV shows like Bonanza, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Star Trek, or Dragnet, you'll want to give RetroVision a solid look. Many of these classic shows are hard to find on DVD, or regular cable, making RetroVision a pretty cool and valuable service. Supported devices are limited, and thus requires you to view via your computer or with their free Google Chrome app.

6. Watch Documentary

The name Watch Documentary pretty much sums up what's offered. They stream over 9,000 free high-quality documentaries for your viewing pleasure. A few of their currently popular documentaries include Planet Earth, Roger & Me by Michael Moore, From the Earth to the Moon by Tom Hanks, and The U by ESPN. While they allow viewing from any computer or Android device, they currently do not have an app for Apple products.

7. SnagFilms

The folks at SnagFilms differentiate themselves by specializing in over 5,000 indie films and what they term "hidden movie treasures." A few of their current favorites include cult classics like Heavy Metal Parking Lot, Murder on Flight 502, and The Boogey Man. You can stream content via their iOS or Android app, Kindle, smart TV, computer, or Xbox 360.

8. Yidio

Yidio is a popular streaming service that allows you to search and watch TV shows and movies "across Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and hundreds of other providers in one place." While they do have free stand-alone content available, the power of Yidio is shown when you pair it with a Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime subscription. Essentially they pull all content available into one handy interface to make searching and viewing a breeze. Yidio is compatible with iOS, Android, and smart TVs.

The amount of free content available online for free streaming is truly remarkable. If you're on the fence about removing cable or satellite from your monthly bills, these resources are definitely worth a look. It's easy to make an argument that a combination of several of these free services can easily satisfy your family's TV and movie needs.

Have you used any of these streaming services after cutting the cord to cable? If so, what's your favorite?

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Everyone Can Cut Cable and Still Watch What They Love — Even Sportsfans

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 09:48:24 +0000

More and more people are cutting loose their cable TV providers nowadays, and no wonder. Cable and satellite services offer big packages of channels for big fees, and have been refusing to provide less expensive a la carte options. Streaming online services have been winning over longtime cable customers by offering selections of programming at much smaller monthly prices. (See also: You Never Need to Pay to Watch Movies)

But if you are a big fan of certain types of programming, you might be afraid to cut the cord. Fear no longer. This post will help almost any kind of TV watcher find their ideal cable-free solution.

Most of these solutions require broadband Internet access. You can watch online programming directly on a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen, or you can purchase a Chromecast, Roku box, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Wi-Fi enabled Blu-ray player, or video game console to bring the programming to your television set.

The Sports Fan

This has traditionally been the most cable-bound type of viewer, so let's get it out of the way first. It is increasingly possible to watch televised sports without paying for cable. (See also: Save Money on Live Sporting Events)

Basketball fans can subscribe to NBA League Pass for $16.99 to $59 per season to watch live games without cable. NFL Game Pass offers replays of games, or live audio of pro football games. A subscription to MLB.tv, which runs $109.99 to $129.99 a year, can keep you up to date on our national pastime.

For fans of professional ice hockey (both of you!), you can stream out-of-market NHL games to your devices. A $49.95 fee gets you a subscription to NHL Gamecenter Live for the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which have just begun.

There are drawbacks to these Internet sports services. The main one is that local games can be blacked out on streaming services. However, many local games are broadcast over the air. If you don't get good broadcast reception without cable, you can invest in one of the newer high-powered indoor antennas to fix that.

If you haven't subscribed to a streaming package for the season but just feel like catching one game or browsing a large number of sporting events, check out VIPBox Sports.

The News Junkie

Despite the low quality of much of the content on 24-hour cable news channels, some people really like having them on for large chunks of the day to keep up on what's happening.

CNN does provide a streaming feed on its website, but unfortunately you have to subscribe to a paid TV service in order to view it. But you can watch the BBC's all-day-all-night news, BBC 24, at Wherever TV with no sign-up or cable subscription needed.

The same site also streams Fox News and various local news stations, and it purports to show MSNBC and The Weather Channel, although I could not get those last two to load. You can get some access without signing in, but if you want more, you can subscribe, which is free on PCs or $4.99 a month on GoogleTV, Android, or iOS.

Of course, you don't need a 24-hour news channel to stay informed. You can watch video stories one by one on the CNN Web site, as well as PBS and a host of other sites. Or just turn on the radio to your local National Public Radio affiliate, or check into a newspaper website, or sign up for news alerts on your phone.

The Reality Nut

When it comes to watching episodes soon after they are broadcast, reality bites for those who don't want to pay for TV. But that doesn't mean you have to break down and pay for cable. You just have to decide which is more important to you: instant gratification or free? (See also: Is Instant Gratification Financially Responsible?)

First of all, a lot of the top reality shows are on broadcast TV; you can watch "The Bachelor" on ABC or "American Idol" on Fox live for free with a good HD antenna.

If you must watch a reality show less than a week after it airs, you can probably download it for a fee. Most shows on Amazon are $1.99 each, or $2.99 in HD — including "Shark Tank" and "The Real Housewives of New York City." Much of the same is available on iTunes for $2.99 per episode.

If you can wait a week, your options broaden. For instance, Hulu Plus (which costs $7.99 a month) offered episodes of the last season of "The Bachelor" eight days after broadcast. The Bravo website posts episodes of "The Real Housewives of New York City" for free streaming, after a week.

If you just want to binge on old reality series, especially the TLC lowbrow documentary style, you can find plenty on Netflix, like six seasons of "Toddlers in Tiaras" or four seasons of "Hoarding: Buried Alive."

The Series Devotee

After reality TV pushed most of the well-written TV dramas and comedies off the networks, you almost had to subscribe to premium channels like HBO to watch a high-quality series.

Not anymore. Netflix has "Breaking Bad," "Mad Men," and "Sherlock," not to mention Netflix Originals such as "Orange Is the New Black" and "House of Cards."

What's more, Amazon recently announced a deal with HBO that will give Prime members access to unlimited streaming of old series like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire," as well as older seasons of current shows like "True Blood" and "Boardwalk Empire." The deal also includes miniseries, original movies, documentaries, and comedy specials.

Those who must see the most current episodes of their favorite series can always pay per-episode — "Walking Dead" and "Mad Men" is $2.99 per HD episode on Amazon, or $1.99 regular.

A lot of us like watching series online even better than watching them as they are broadcast, because we can binge. When the final season of "Breaking Bad" finally showed up on Netflix, I watched it in a week, saving myself the agony of waiting seven days between each suspenseful installment.

The only big downside to waiting to watch a series instead of as they are released on cable TV is the spoiler. It can be hard to avoid finding out about major plot twists, especially if you spend time on Facebook and Twitter every day. (See also: Ways to Break Your Social Media Habit)

For TV watchers outside these three types, finding replacements for cable is likely to be simpler: Just set up a Roku with a monthly subscription service and browse the broad offerings in TV series, documentaries, and movies. And don't forget the offerings of broadcast TV — PBS in particular has been on fire lately with high-quality series including "Sherlock" and "Downton Abbey."

Have you cut the cord? Tell us what you're watching — and how!

This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Save on Cable and Internet

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:48:03 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on ways to save on cable and internet, frugal birthday parties for kids, and steps before tying the knot.

Best Money Tips: Negotiate Your Way to a Lower Cable Bill

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:48:36 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on negotiating a lower cable bill, brilliant uses for beer, and saving money at theme parks.

Best Money Tips: Cheap Alternatives to Cable

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:48:37 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on cheap alternatives to cable, tips to save money in the new year, and savings ideas for online shopping.

Best Money Tips: Cancelling Cable Without Changing Your Viewing Habits

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on cancelling cable without changing your viewing habits, retiring rich, and real estate 101.

News & Events

So You Think You Can Finance: Reality Show — Don't miss NerdWallet's online reality show! Challenge 4 is live now!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask The Readers: Do You Pay For Cable TV?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:36:16 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Renee, Lisa, and Money Beagle for winning this week's contest!

Almost everyone has their must watch TV show. Whether you are into reality TV or dramas, turning on the television is a great way to unwind after a long day at the office. However, if your favorite show is on cable, sometimes paying for cable can put a strain on your budget.

Do you pay for cable TV? Why or why not? If you don't, how do you watch shows on cable channels without paying for cable?

Tell us if you pay for cable TV and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below

For extra entries (1 per action):

Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 13th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 13th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email, Facebook, and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Tell us if you pay for cable TV and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Want Free HBO or Showtime? Just Ask.

Paul Michael — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:01:43 +0000

Premium channels come with premium prices. Usually, between $10 and $20 a month, depending on the channel and your cable/satellite company. But here's something that applies across the board. They're usually available for free.

I used to be employed by one of the big premium channels, and I can tell you right now that there are ALWAYS deals going on. The basic idea is one that drug dealers and razor blade companies alike will use time and again — get you hooked with a free sample, and then hope you come back for more later on, at full price of course. So, they'll do deals with you, via your cable/satellite company, to try them for free. Many people will cancel after the free period (this is called "churn" in the biz) but a good percentage will stick around because they like it, or they forget to cancel it. The latter is the most common reason.

Right now in my zip code all FIVE premium channels have something special going on. I just got my mother-in-law a great deal — six months of HBO for free from Comcast. And all I had to do was call and ask for it. In this digital day and age, activation is instant and can be done remotely. Ten minutes after reading this article, you'll almost certainly have a free premium channel that you didn't have before.

Just give your service provider a call, or use live chat if you prefer, and ask what special offers are currently available for the premium channels. If you're met with any kind of resistance, simply tell them that someone you know in the area got a deal for 6 months of free HBO, or Showtime, and then see what happens. As these deals are always going on, you will get offered something.

If that fails, then the good old fallback is to say you'd like to cancel your cable or satellite service and go elsewhere. The customer service rep is usually authorized to give you a special offer as part of a "save sale," which can also net the customer service rep some extra cash for keeping you around as a customer. And it makes good sense. It's far less costly to retain a current customer than to try and find a new one, and it doesn't really cost the service provider, like Comcast, anything to do this. They're already piping the feed through, they just have to turn it on at your end.

Give it a try today and see how you do. Remember, insistence and determination is the key. No one wants to give you something for free at the drop of a hat. But a few minutes of your time can get you a few months of free entertainment.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Looking at Your Expenses with New Eyes

Catherine Shaffer — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:41:18 +0000

A lot of people think that banks have high security, but the most fortified brick-and-mortar institution in my town is the local Comcast office. This is where you have to go to drop off broken cable boxes or pay your bill if it's late and you don't want your service turned off. The clerks work behind a thick shield of bullet-proof glass, and there are two-sided, bullet-proof boxes at every station for transferring equipment. Surveillance cameras are placed in the corners of the room, and a large poster by the door makes it easy to estimate your height as you leave the building with that bag of loot.

One day, after a couple of visits, I finally asked why there was so much security. I was told that the office takes in ridiculous amounts of cash each day. Enough to make it a more attractive target than many gas stations and convenience stores. Why so much? Well, to understand that, you have to spend some time waiting in line. If you watch carefully, at least fifty percent of the people in line ahead of you will be there for two purposes. One, to pay their overdue cable bill in cash, and two, to argue with the clerk about some aspect of the bill that they find unfair. For this reason, it's a good idea to go to there when you're in the mood for people-watching, as opposed to running late for something important.

Cable television isn't a life necessity. There's no bullet proof glass (as far as I know) at the local supermarket where you can pay your heating bill in cash at the last minute. But apparently people are willing to spend their last dollar on cable. As a case in point, last time I was at the Comcast office, dropping off a spare second cable box that no one was using anymore, a gentleman in front of me in line went to the window and offered to pay $150 in cash on his past due account, which was $495. That brought his balance down to $345. He then asked what his charges would be for his next bill. “You have $345 outstanding,” the clerk said.

“No, I just want to know what the new charges will be on the next bill,” he answered

“One hundred ninety-five,” she told him. He nodded, put away his receipt, and left.

This seems incredible to me. Obviously he can't afford $195/month for cable, or he wouldn't be so far behind on his charges. What kind of service even costs that much? Is there a cable package that cleans your house and polishes your silver while you watch? And he couldn't even pay the equivalent of one month's charges after running up a $500 tab. He paid just enough to keep the cable turned on for another month, but anyone with eyes could see this was a terrible financial choice he was making.

I'm not real comfortable making judgments on other people when I don't know the whole story, so I got to thinking. What are my blind spots? What do I maybe spend $200/month on that others would consider excessive? Chances are my overall family budget is greater than his, and includes luxuries that he would find excessive. Maybe he would think my pets are a waste of money. Maybe he would disapprove of my habit of driving decent cars and eating organic foods. Maybe he would frown on my SUV. (A lot of people would, but you try taking two mastiffs on vacation in a Toyota hatchback.) The truth is, if someone were standing behind me, watching me make all of my purchases, I would probably squirm a bit.

So, for me, there are two take-home lessons here. One is that entertainment in the form of cable television is very important to some people, to the point that they will take the last of their grocery money to the local Comcast office at the end of the month, instead of using it on groceries. We should all respect a force of nature this powerful. Second, that managing your money is always subject to personal priorities, and those priorities vary between individuals. Maybe the mythical $4 latte is really worth $4 to someone who really treasures that Starbucks run each morning. Maybe it is the one thing keeping him sane. The real question is do we know what our priorities are and how much they are costing us? What would our choices look like if they were examined with fresh eyes?

This article is from Catherine Shaffer of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Now It's Easier than Ever to Cut the Cable

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:17:19 +0000

Think your cable bill isn't that big a deal? Think of it this way: It's "Like buying a new 50" TV each year and tossing it in the dumpster," asserts the Web site Cancelcable.com.

Fortunately, it's now easier than ever to enjoy a good picture and a wide range of programming without paying the cable company. Here are the changes and services that are allowing more and more people to cut the cable:

1. The Digital TV Transition: Clearer picture, more programming

As Linsey Knerl reminded us earlier this year, you can send away for coupons to get those digital TV converter boxes for pretty cheap. I've been putting off buying mine (in fact I let the coupons expire, doh!) and grumbling about the inconvenience of it all -- until recently. That's when I heard that once we hooked up this box, we would receive the kind of clear picture that cable subscribers receive -- on many more channels. In fact, when I checked a helpful site called AntennaWeb, I found that my zip code should receive TONS of stations, including five different versions of PBS.

One reason some folks pay for cable is to get quality programming for the kids. With five versions of PBS, I feel pretty confident I could find something they want to watch at about any time of the day.

And although the transition to digital TV doesn't happen until early next year, you can buy the converter box and begin receiving broadcast channels now with better reception than you've been getting with an antenna.

2. Free Programming: Hulu.com and network Web sites (and don't make me remind you about the library, people)

The one thing we miss most by not having cable at our house? "The Daily Show," of course. So lately we've made it a little night-night routine to watch "The Daily Show" on my laptop via Hulu.com in bed. Yeah, it's yesterday's episode, but is getting the same episode 24 hours earlier worth $60 a month? Not to me.

And since I'm busy tomorrow night during the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy," I'll be watching it Friday -- on ABC.com.

3. Low-Cost Programming: ITunes and Netflix

Netflix is the one thing that makes me wonder why ANYONE has cable. Then I remember all those poor football fans being held hostage by the Cable-Atheletical Complex. But back to me: With Netflix, anytime we feel like vegging out in front of the tube, we usually have something we're interested in sitting here to watch. And if we're between movie deliveries, there's also Netflix's streaming service. Or, you know, Blockbuster.com, Redbox, whatever floats your boat. Whichever you choose, you're looking at a monthly cost from $0 (if you use Redbox coupon codes) to $4.99 (Netflix's cheapest tier) to $19.99 for Blockbuster's top plan. Beats the pants off cable.

Need more instant gratification? You can also buy TV episodes one-by-one from iTunes for $1.99-$2.99 a pop.

Now you have the tools you need to figure out if cancelling cable would save you money: Write down what shows you watch. Use the Showfinder gadget on CancelCable.com to figure out where you can get those shows besides on cable TV. Take the cost per episode on Netflix, iTunes or whatnot, and multiply it by the number of episodes you watch per month. Is the product less than the cost of your current cable package?

For example, if you pay for cable in order to get HBO shows, you'd have to download 31 "premium" episodes a month to run up a bill that matches the $93.99 that Comcast charges for a digital package with HBO.

I'm guessing that almost everyone will feel that cutting cable would save them money, even if they watch a lot. Then it's just a matter of the reception quality. If you don't have one of those digital converters, I urge you to stop by the home of a friend who does and take a look at their picture. If you like what you see, there's your answer. I know what MINE is.

This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Last night I threatened to disconnect my cable

Paul Michael — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:51:25 +0000

Sit down, relax, and let me tell you a story. A story about how you get to be a hero, and how to get your cable company begging on all fours like a dog.

See, I got my cable bill last night. It was not a shock, or a surprise. I know what I'm paying, and I know I'm paying too much. Way too much. Compared to either Dish Network or DirecTV, Comcast (or your own cable co., they're all the same) is undoubtedly the most overpriced way to watch TV and get Internet service.

After seeing substantially cheaper offers, free equipment and all sorts of additional cool stuff, I had reached my breaking point. Why should I pay almost 50% more for almost exactly the same service? This is not the life of frugality I am preaching.

So on behalf of Wisebread (and for my own selfish reasons) I called Comcast. I said right out I wanted to disconnect my service, and was not interested in any offers to make me change my mind. Of course, that's all I was interested in. I don't want to go through the hassle of returning equipment, stopping service, and setting up a new account with a new provider. That's way too much work. I just want more for less.

After taking my account details, the customer service rep then went into SAVE SALE mode. You know it, I'm sure. It went something like this.

CSR: Why do you want to disconnect sir, is it because of the high price? (wow, talk about an admission)

ME: Yes.

CSR: Getting too much for you? (again, this is way more than I was expecting already)

ME: Yes, I can get a much better package somewhere else for what I'm paying now. I'd just like to disconnect please.

CSR: I should let you know, as you are a loyal customer I can offer you some very special deals right now.

ME: Oh, really? (acting surprised and delighted) What would they be?

CSR: Well, for what you're paying now I can upgrade you to the GOLD package (two movie channels, not one) plus I can hook you up to Comcast Digital Voice with unlimited long distance. That means you get rid of your QWEST phone bill, saving you around $30 a month, and no longer pay for long distance calls.

ME: Sounds ok. But these other offers I'm getting offer free DVR.

CSR: Let me talk to my supervisor (I am put on hold for 5 seconds)

CSR: Yes, we can offer you free DVR equipment. All you would need to do is pay for DVR service.

ME: Ummm, if I can get FREE service too, I think that would be something I can go with.

CSR: Let me check (I am put on hold again, for 10 seconds)

CSR: Yes, we can do that.

ME: Is there any charge for installation of any of these services?

CSR: Yes, the digital voice is $49.95

ME: Ummmm

CSR: I can waive that!

ME: OK, I'll do it.

So, here's a quick summary. I was on the phone for 10 minutes.

Before I started, I had Comcast Digital Cable Silver (Around $78 a month) and High Speed Internet ($43 a month). I also got my phone through Qwest for another $30 a month, and that had no long distance. Total = $151 a month.

After my 10-minute call, I had upgraded to Comcast Gold (2 movie channels) plus High Speed Internet, also got my phone service through Comcast (dumping my $30 Qwest phone bill) with free installation, I got long distance free, plus a DVR with DVR service and free installation. Total = $129 a month.

The moral of this story. Ask. It never hurts to call and see if your provider can do something to keep you around. It costs them a lot of money to acquire new customers, it costs a lot less to keep old ones. They will always try something. If they can't lower your price, they can most likely add services for no extra charge, like the DVR.

Now, go forth and call your own providers. And let me know how you get on.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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Looking at Your Expenses with New Eyes

Now It's Easier than Ever to Cut the Cable

Last night I threatened to disconnect my cable