Cutting the cable cord, explained

By Katie Brinn

It’s official. Americans are “cutting the cord.” In the last few months alone, more than 600,000 subscribers quit their cable and satellite companies, saying they’re content to find another way to catch their favorite shows.

And now, there are more alternatives than ever. Dozens of apps, subscription services and devices can help you ditch your cable company without facing any FOMO.

But if you’re looking to cut down on climbing cable costs, you’ll have to do your homework before cutting the cord for good. To attain a wealth of live TV, on-demand and movie options to get through those rainy days and Saturdays, the combined cost of the apps, devices and a high-speed Internet connection could out-price even the cable giants.

Numbers aside, the cord-cutting lifestyle provides a personalized access Americans crave more and more as on-demand culture becomes the norm. Cable companies are scrambling to catch up by building better bundles and providing more options to their consumers. But with services like Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and even HBO Now taking live TV straight to your televisions, laptops, tablets and phones, many consumers prefer the freedom and flexibility their apps and devices can provide, despite the sometimes hefty price tag cord cutting can carry.

To find out whether you should jump on the bandwagon or stick it out with your cable provider, watch the video above, so when it comes to cutting the cord, you can say, “Now I get it.”