By David Gracey
Cutting the cable cord is an accelerating trend that the large cable providers are keenly aware of. Cable subscribers have begun leaving in droves, driven out by the exorbitant cost of cable television. My family pays about $280 per month for a fairly basic subscription that has no premium content. The cable industry is ripe for a shake up, which is coming in the form of Internet content delivered through NetFlix, YouTube and Hulu. These providers, which have both free and paid offerings, have been growing exponentially. The movement toward internet-based content is is a game- changer that has cable companies terrified, and rightfully so.
One of the last hurdles for many potential cord-cutters is getting local broadcast content, which is most often not included or even available through the internet-based providers. Many of these lost channels can be found by using a standard television antenna. Over-the-air (OTA) broadcast amplifiers have been around for decades but have greatly improved in the past few years.
Those of us who are of a certain age remember a time before cable television changed the way in which we viewed broadcast content. Our channel lineup consisted of the big 3:, ABC, NBC and CBS, along with a public broadcasting channel and, if we were lucky, TBS “The SuperStation,”, which showed old Godzilla movies and Braves games.
A few things to know about broadcast channels:
Free content:. The broadcast networks are paid for by advertisers, not subscribers. All your local news, weather, sitcoms, cooking shows, kid’s’ shows, sports and movies are available free with an antenna.
The right antenna: There are many choices for buying an antenna, which you will need in order to pick up local channels on your television. Do some Googling to find the right solution for your area. Trees and other obstructions can affect the quality of the signal. Here is a link to some basic OTA information that can help you find the right antenna: https://www.antennasdirect.com/blog/antenna-work-live/
Digital: All local over-the-air transmissions are now available in HD format.
Storms: OTA signals work during cable outages. During emergencies or bad weather, bringing OTA signals to your TV with an antenna will keep you informed. Much like a radio, the frequency is more reliable and less subject to interruption.
An OTA antenna is a much-needed bridge between the world of pure internet-delivered content and the cable monopolies. Jump on the cord-cutting bandwagon and save hundreds of dollars each month.
David Gracey
David founded Network 1 in 1998 with a vision of building an IT support company dedicated to delivering top-notch support to small businesses in Atlanta. David sets the tone for Network 1 and is responsible for all aspects of the business.
DGracey@Network1Consulting.com or 404.997.7656
Network 1 Consulting is a 19-year-old, IT Support company in Atlanta, GA. We become – or augment – the IT department for law firms and medical practices. Our IT experts can fix computers – but what our clients value most are the industry-specific best practices we bring to their firms. This is especially important with technology, along with regulations and cyber threats, changing so rapidly. We take a proactive approach to helping our clients use technology to gain and keep their competitive advantage.
