Thousands of people are ditching their cable bill and turning to streaming TV for their viewing needs. Increasingly frustrated with the rising costs of cable television and being forced to pay for hundreds of channels that they do not watch, consumers are seeking a more cost effective and efficient way of obtaining their daily entertainment. Several companies have embraced the new trend, making their programs available on streaming platforms for consumers to buy as they choose. Here are some of the offerings that is making it easier than ever for consumers to ditch the cable bill and save a bunch of money on their entertainment costs.
Dish Network’s Sling TV
Sling is a good deal for serious TV fans looking to ditch the cable bill. The streaming platform includes a sampling of the most popular “basic” cable channels offerings from ABC Family (‘The Fosters’), AMC (‘Mad Men,’ ‘Walking Dead’), A&E (‘The Returned’), TBS (‘Conan’), and TNT (‘Falling Skies’), among others. The price for the service is $20 a month.
HBO Now
A new $15 per month streaming option called HBO Now is the only streaming service to include HBO shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Girls.’ HBO Now gives consumers instant access to new TV episodes and movies, as well as programs that aired months and years ago.
Amazon Instant Video
One of the biggest draws for Amazon Instant Video is the ability to purchase shows a la carte, typically within a day of them first airing. Amazon offers its own exclusive programs, including comedy Alpha House, crime drama Bosch, and the Golden Globe-winning Transparent, along with a wide selection of shows from other media companies. Consumers can buy individual seasons of popular favorites like Mad Men or Walking Dead or they can pay Amazon $99 per year for its video streaming service and a variety of other services bundled.
Hulu Plus
A Hulu Plus subscription is another good choice for casual television viewers who want to ditch the cable bill. For the $7.99 per month basic package, Hulu Plus offers current programs from multiple networks, including FOX, NBC, ABC, the CW, along with delayed or archived content from cable channels, including Comedy Central and FX. The platform as also recently signed an agreement with Turner Broadcasting for exclusive subscription rights to past seasons from Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, TNT and TBS. For an additional monthly fee of $5.99, consumers can add CBS shows, like Big Bang Theory.