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BEYOND CABLE TV
Are you still watching?
Watching cable TV, that is. If you have kept
up with the news lately, or have overheard
others talking about their experience with
cable TV and the high costs associated with
it, you may have heard them talk about
something called cutting the cord.
These “cord cutters” are moving away from
traditional cable TV subscriptions and
seeking out thriftier alternatives.
If you are wondering about cutting the cord
or think you might be ready to do it, this
guide will show you what it takes to go
Beyond Cable TV!
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BEYOND CABLE TV
Notes
The rising costs of
cable subscriptions,
coupled with
disappointment in the
options available, has
driven many people to
cut the cord. They are choosing to cancel
their cable TV and switch to streaming
services.
Streaming services are internet-based
services you can sign up for in order to
watch TV shows and movies. These services
use an internet connection to deliver video
content from the web to your computer,
tablet, phone, or special streaming device.
Before you make the choice to cut your
cable subscription, there are some things
you may want to consider: content options,
price, and your internet.
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THINGS TO CONSIDER
Content Options
When considering switching to streaming,
be sure to research the different services to
find the one (or more) that offer the shows
and channels you want.
Price
There are two costs
that are often forgotten
when making the switch
to streaming:
• Subscription Fees
• Streaming services charge a
monthly fee, which can be free or up
to $80 or more a month! If you
choose multiple services or an
expensive package, your costs may
be as much as a cable TV package.
• Internet Prices
• To watch content from any
streaming service, you must have an
internet service with connection
speeds capable of handling
streaming video.
• If you have cable TV and internet
bundled., check to see how much
standalone internet service would
cost from local providers.
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THINGS TO CONSIDER: SPEED
Just having an internet connection may not
be enough to make your home ready for
streaming TV. Internet speed is extremely
important for streaming video.
Slow internet speeds can lead to video
playing poorly or not playing at all. To
avoid this, ensure that you have enough
bandwidth to stream.
Bandwidth is a measure of your internet
speed. It is measured in Mbps (megabits
per second). Each device you connect to
the internet (tablets, streaming devices,
computers, etc.) uses a portion of your
home’s bandwidth.
Think of it like a family meal where there is
a fixed amount of food available. As each
person takes food, there is less to take. You
have a fixed amount of bandwidth; each
device connected to it takes some of that
available bandwidth.
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THINGS TO CONSIDER: SPEED
Tip: Already have home internet? You can
test your bandwidth at fast.com or
speedtest.net for free!
Basic streaming often
takes between 5-10
Mbps per streaming
device. For higher
quality video, it may
require up to 25Mbps.
On average, a small
household (1-2 people)
will be okay with a 15 Mbps connection,
larger households (3-5 people) may want to
look for 25-40 Mbps connections.
Notes
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THINGS TO CONSIDER: INTERNET
Notes
Depending on your
area, you may have
several or very few
internet options. These
could include:
• Cable Internet
• Fiber Optic or
Fiber Internet
• DSL
• Satellite
• Dial-up
Cable and fiber internet offer some of the
fastest speeds at the lowest prices. DSL and
satellite can offer high speeds (around 40
Mbps) but often charge more than cable or
fiber. Dial-up is the oldest and slowest
connection available today, and often
cannot handle streaming.
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STREAMING DEVICES
Once you have made the decision to cut
cable TV and switch to streaming, you need
to decide how you are going to watch your
streaming video. Many people choose to
use streaming devices.
These are small boxes or streaming sticks
that plug into the HDMI port on the back or
side of your television. There are several unique streaming devices
available including the following:
• Amazon’s FireTV Cube and FireTV Stick
• Roku’s Express, Premier, Ultra, and
Streaming Stick
• Apple TV or Android TV
• Nvidia Shield TV
• Google Chromecast
Tip: You can buy streaming devices from
the brand’s website or often in stores like
Best Buy, Wal-Mart, or Target.
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STREAMING DEVICES
If the idea of plugging in a box or stick
doesn’t appeal to you, you may want to
consider a smart TV.
A smart TV is a television that is Wi-Fi or
internet enabled. This allows you to connect
to streaming services and surf the internet
without additional hardware. Some are even
able to integrate with smart speakers, like
the Amazon Echo or Google Home.
There is one downside to smart TVs—they
tend to be expensive.
Some popular models available are:
• LG’s B8 OLED TV
• Samsung’s NU8000
• Sony’s X900F
• TCL’s R617 or S405
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STREAMING APPS
One of the best aspects of switching from a
cable TV subscription to streaming, aside
from saving money, is that you are not tied
to a television!
Almost all streaming services can be
accessed through the web or through apps
that can be downloaded onto your
cellphone, tablet, and notebook computers.
Although you are in front of a television,
many streaming services have apps
available on gaming systems like the Xbox 1
or the PlayStation 4.
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There are many
different streaming
services available
today. Many services
offer “on-
demand” content (TV
shows and movies
that are available at
any time), while
others offer live TV, providing access to
channels more like cable TV. Some services
offer a wide variety of content, while others
offer very specific content. It is best to
research several services to determine
which one(s) will best fit your needs and
your budget!
When selecting a service, keep in mind that
prices and content availability can change.
For services like Netflix or Hulu, content
changes/additions happen often.
Notes
STREAMING
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THE BIG THREE
There are three streaming services whose
names have become synonymous with
streaming video: Netflix, Amazon’s Prime
Video, and Hulu. All three services offer a
wide variety of popular movies and TV
shows and growing collections of movies
and TV shows created by the service.
Netflix: Offers three different packages.
Monthly Fee: $___
Amazon Prime Video: Is included with an
Amazon Prime membership or you can opt
for their standalone subscription
Monthly Fee: $___
Hulu: Offers live TV packages in addition to
on-demand video.
Monthly Fee:$___
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LIVE TV
If you are looking for something similar to
your cable subscription, there are some
streaming services that offer live TV. Live
TV streaming services offer packages of
channels similar to cable TV.
AT&T TV Now: Provides access to channels
through several different packages starting
with 45+ channels all the way up to
packages offering 125+ channels.
Monthly Fee:$___
Sling TV: Offers two different packages:
Blue and Orange. Each package costs
contains a different set of channels.
Monthly Fee:$___
YouTubeTV: Offers a single package of
popular channels for several users.
Monthly Fee:$___
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SPORTS TV
If you are worried more about how you’re
going to watch the Chiefs take on the
Raiders or can’t bear to miss a single Royals
game, some of these sports-centric
streaming services may interest you.
FuboTV: Is a unique sports-driven live TV
streaming service offering a wide range of
popular sports channels alongside several
regular channels.
Monthly Fee:$___
ESPN+: ESPN’s live and on-demand
streaming service offers live coverage of
many popular sports events as well as
on-demand viewing of ESPN originals.
Monthly Fee:$___
DAZN: Is a unique sports channel, in that it
focuses solely on the boxing and MMA
world. It offers over 100 fights a year.
Monthly Fee:$___
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Don’t feel like spending money on a
streaming service? There are a surprising
number of free streaming services available.
Their unique collections are an excellent
option for anyone seeking entertainment
while trying to save a few bucks!
Sony Crackle: Provides streaming TV shows,
movies, and even some original content for
free with ads.
PlutoTV: Offers a mix of live and on-demand
streaming, including a few familiar channels
and channels dedicated to a specific show.
Tubi TV: Boasts that it has the largest library
of modern classics and cult favorites
available. It offers on-demand streaming of
tons of TV shows and movies.
FREEBIES
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FREE FROM THE LIBRARY
Don’t forget the Library! MCPL is proud to
offer some free alternatives to streaming
services and cable. We also offer thousands
of DVDs and Blu-Rays including recent
releases, popular TV shows, and even
exercise videos!
OverDrive Video: Offers a wide variety of
on-demand films and documentaries as well
as a few TV shows.
Access Video On Demand: Offers excellent
on-demand documentaries, educational TV
shows, and independent films.
Just For Kids Access Video: Is a unique
resource that offers a huge collection of
children’s TV and educational series.
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Don’t have (or want to get) an internet
connection? No problem! There is one other
way you can watch some live TV.
The antenna has been around for a long
time, but modern antennas are capable of
picking up HD quality channels from
longer distances.
A new antenna can be plugged into your
TV’s HDMI port, just like the streaming
devices, and picks up over-the-air channels.
Typically, an antenna can pick up local and
public broadcast stations near you. For the
Kansas City area, this could include the
following channels:
• KCPT
• KCWE
• KCTV 5
• KMBC
HARDWARE — ANTENNA
April 23rd, 2019