My husband and I recently decided that we weren’t getting enough value out of our satellite service. We find the news too depressing so we only watch weather and traffic. We also don’t watch any of the nightly comedies or dramas. I don't want to offend anyone but we find most of the shows are the same storyline just told with different characters. We realized we had 800+ channels and we watched about 3 channels. Three channels for the monthly fee of approximately $80 just didn't make sense to us. Other than sports and the occasional movie, our television wasn’t being used much.
We decided we didn’t want to be completely cut off though. After doing some research we found the cable company that supplied our internet could provide internet streaming television also for about $10.00 more than we were currently paying. So we said goodbye to the satellite and set up a computer that would allow us to watch television on our big screen via the internet. The cable company provides live TV so if we want to watch the occasional local and national news we can. When my husband wants to watch motorcycle races he found the races were usually on YouTube. With our Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts, we find we have plenty to watch when we do decide to watch TV. A recent Hulu ad indicated that Hulu now has live TV so that may be another option for some people.
Don’t get me wrong, it was an adjustment to get used to using a keyboard and a mouse to watch TV. The “channel” numbers are different too and we’ve had to get better at searches. However, I think we are both happy with the change and the savings is definitely worth it.
I don’t think my husband and I are the only ones making this change. I’ve read that more and more people are cutting the cord and going without television service. If you watch a lot of live programing— then cable is still a necessity. I also think if we had children at home we would have made a different decision. You may find that this option is not for you. But if you find you want to make a change, here are some things to keep in mind to get and keep the best deals in television service.
Know what’s in store: Cable and satellite companies seemingly make it impossible to go online to downgrade your services, cancel service, or choose a new bundle. Cable and satellite companies love to sign customers to a two-year contract, but will dramatically raise your bill when a promotional period ends after one year. Suddenly, you’re paying $50 or more per month for the same services. Even online chat support gives the cable company the upper hand. Picking up the phone and negotiating remains the best way to get the lowest price for your television service. If you decide to cancel your service, be aware that some cable and satellite representatives make a bonus if they talk you out of canceling the service. I had the satellite company calling me two weeks after we canceled to trying and bring us back. You will need to remain strong!
Knowledge is power: Before you call, do some research. Understand the terms of your current contract, see which bundles your cable provider is currently offering to new customers, and price out similar service offerings from other companies. You’ll be in a better bargaining position if you have the freedom to cancel on your current provider.
Make the call: If monthly fees are the issue, make it clear to the support representative that you are calling because your rates have increased and you’re considering canceling if they cannot lower your bill. The support representative will initially try to offer higher-priced bundles or short-term freebies, but don’t give up on the negotiation—remember, you already know you can switch to another provider. If the sales representative won’t budge, you can even end the call, and try again with a different representative. In most cases, they would rather find a package that works than lose a customer.
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