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Cable TV or Streaming? It Doesn't Have to Be All or Nothing

Sarah Pike
Updated ·4 min read
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Las Vegas, USA - October 24, 2014: A man in his 30's browsing the channel selections on Apple TV at his home in Las Vegas. Apple TV is a digital media player developed and sold by Apple Inc. It is a small network appliance and entertainment device that streams movies and television shows to a television screen.



Streaming TV initially appeared on the scene as the antithesis of cable — a way to enjoy the shows and movies you love without being tied to the terms of a lengthy contract. And while the ensuing cord-cutter exodus hasn't led to a promised land of unlimited viewing access and huge cost savings, it has changed the landscape enough to give consumers more TV viewing options than ever before.

With this rise of options, it's also easier to customize your subscription preferences — you can stick with a traditional cable subscription, opt for streaming only, or blend your cable and streaming TV packages together. There's a TV viewing solution to match nearly every budget and viewing preference.

To help you decide between all the different options, check out the list below and see which is the best fit for your viewing needs.

Solo Subscriptions

Those with limited or specific viewing habits may be able to get away with ditching traditional pay-TV formats in favor of an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service. As long as you don't mind missing out on the most current season of a show, a single provider like Netflix or Hulu can probably provide all the viewing access you need.

Standard streaming subscriptions usually run around $10 per month and include original series, past seasons of network shows, and popular movies. These services don't provide access to live television, local news, or sports coverage, but if all you want to do is veg out to old "Friends" episodes after a tough day at the office, this simple solution could be ideal.

If you have more particular tastes, there are several other standalone channel subscription options that cater to niche interests. Premium networks like HBO and Showtime now offer streaming subscriptions that provide access to their current movie lineup, as well as all seasons of original shows. These subscriptions run between $10 and $15 per month, and they often also include comedy, music, and sports specials.

In addition to Netflix, Hulu, and individual channel subscriptions, you may also want to check out options like Sling TV or PlayStation Vue. These streaming subscriptions cost a bit more, but they also have lineups that mimic a typical cable or satellite package. You can stream live broadcasts from major channels, plus access on-demand movies and other programming.

Multiple Streaming Services

If you have broader viewing tastes but still don't want to be tied to a cable contract, consider subscribing to multiple streaming services. Because different streaming services provide different content and cater to different demographics, you may need to be a little creative to get the lineup you want.

Before you start signing up for the most popular services, take a good look at the shows or networks you care about. If you want to binge-watch the latest season of "House of Cards" and still have access to live news from CNN, figure out which combination of services — Netflix and Sling, in this example — will provide that lineup, and subscribe just to those providers.

Don't forget that most streaming services allow you to subscribe for just the months that your favorite show is airing, which can help keep costs down. That means that if you're paying for HBO Now to catch "Game of Thrones," you can cancel your subscription as soon as the season ends and pocket the extra dough.

Additionally, some streaming services, like Showtime Anytime, are available at a slightly discounted rate when ordered through another streaming service like Hulu Plus, making it easy to add them to your entertainment arsenal. However, you'll need to keep an eye on those monthly fees and note how they add up. It's possible that by the time you've added all the networks and premium channels you want, you may be paying as much as you would for a regular cable or satellite package.

Cable Plus Streaming Combo

If you like a broad spectrum of entertainment choices and are somewhat addicted to channel surfing, then you might do best with a combination of cable and streaming. This is a particularly good solution for those who don't want to give up the perks of a cable subscription — live broadcasts, local news, current episodes of trendy shows — but also want to make smart budget choices.

Thanks to recent partnerships between pay-TV providers and OTT services, it's easier than ever to find cable or satellite packages that offer built-in access to streaming plans with Netflix. Choosing one of these cable-plus-streaming plans could cost less than upgrading your cable package, and it saves you from adding a slew of extra channels you don't really care about.

Any way you slice it, streaming TV has changed the face of entertainment. Use that change to your advantage by taking control of your viewing options and customizing your subscriptions to deliver the biggest entertainment bang for each hard-earned buck you pay. You're in control of your viewing experience, and that's the sweetest deal of all.