64 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE^ 10/2019REWARDS
connection. You’ll also need a stream-
ing device, such as Amazon Fire,
Google Chromecast or Roku, or a
“smart” (internet-ready) TV with
built-in streaming capabilities. Then
you can select services that suit your
interests. Be sure to check whether
the services you choose support the
streaming device you’re using.
Don’t overlook an old-school an-
tenna. Antennas can serve up more
channels than basic cable without the
monthly bill. But they don’t work well
everywhere. To see how well you’ll be
able to pick up local broadcast stations,
visit http://www.antennaweb.org or www
.tvfool.com. Enter your address or zip
code and the site will show you which
channels are available where you live
and the type of antenna you’ll need
to capture the signal. If you live close
to a transmitter, try the Mohu ReLeaf,
a thin, f lat-panel antenna that costs
about $40 and mounts unobtrusively
in your home. For a more powerful
outdoor antenna, try the Winegard
Elite 7550 (about $150).
Next, consider your options for
streaming live TV as well as on-
demand programming. Live television
services such as Sling TV, Hulu + Live
TV, AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV
Now) and YouTube TV are more ex-
pensive than on-demand options, typi-
cally running $25 to $50 a month. On-
demand services, from the behemoths
to smaller providers such as Acorn TV
($6 a month or $60 a year) and DC
Universe ($8 a month or $75 a year),
offer an array of programming. Larger
brands, such as Netf lix, Amazon and
Hulu, boast expansive libraries of
movies, documentaries and past sea-
sons of TV shows; smaller providers
usually focus on niche content. Acorn
TV, for example, has hundreds of Brit-
ish mysteries, dramas and comedies.
To help you pick the best streaming
options for your family, use the table
on the next page, which lists some
of the most popular live TV and on-
demand services. For more help, visit
WhistleOut.com to compare plans
from various providers and Mohu’schanges as the streaming wars heat
up. Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal and
WarnerMedia plan to join the fray
with new streaming services set to
launch in the coming months. Many
of the new offerings will compete
directly with Netf lix. Disney, for ex-
ample, will offer a bundle of Disney+,
Hulu and ESPN+ for $13 a month,
starting in November. And in the next
few years, Netf lix is set to lose two of
its most watched shows: Friends to
WarnerMedia’s new HBO Max and
The Office to NBCUniversal’s forth-
coming streaming service. Disney will
also pull its content from the stream-
ing giant, including Star Wars, Marvel
and Pixar films and Disney classics.BUILD YOUR OWN NETWORK
Start by making a list of networks and
programs that you or others in your
household watch. Note which shows
you prefer to watch live and any pro-
gramming that is exclusive to a spe-
cific platform. To see where shows or
movies that you watch (or have been
meaning to watch) are available, visit
JustWatch.com. Enter the title of the
show or film and the site will tell you
where you can stream it, rent it or buy
it, and help you find the lowest price
on rentals and purchases.
To stream content, you’ll need a
speedy, reliable broadband internetto niche programs and on-demand
streaming to live programming. And
apart from the occasional regional
hole in broadcast or sports coverage,
you can watch virtually any program
you desire with online services.
Now, with hundreds of video
streaming services to choose from,
you’re faced with another problem:
Cobbling together the best options
without paying a small fortune can be
complicated. According to Deloitte’s
2019 digital media trends survey, the
typical consumer reports subscribing
to three paid streaming services. But
that could be an underestimate. Many
consumers use free, ad-supported op-
tions or forget about paid services they
already have, says Kevin Westcott,
who leads Deloitte’s U.S. telecommu-
nications, media and entertainment
team. “People appreciate the freedom
to select the services and content they
want, but it leaves many customers
frustrated as they try to manage mul-
tiple streaming services,” he says.
A spate of changes from streaming
providers further muddies the waters.
Recently, many services, including
Hulu, Netf lix, PlayStation Vue and
Sling TV, have raised prices for some
plans. Many have also changed their
lineups of channels, shows or movies
(see the table on the next page).
You’ll likely notice even moreCutting the CordTHE CABLE COMPANIES FIGHT BACK
Last year, more than three million people left major cable and satellite television provid-
ers, about a million more than in 2017, reports Leichtman Research Group.
The average household using pay-TV spends about $105 a month on cable or satellite
services. In a bid to retain customers, many cable providers now offer skinnier plans fea-
turing fewer channels and a monthly bill of about $50 or less. But many of the providers
lock customers into contracts, tack on fees and hike rates after introductory promotional
prices expire. (Cord-cutters can usually subscribe to two or three on-demand services for
less than the cost of a skinny cable bundle.)
If you get internet or phone service from the same provider as your cable service, you’ll
lose discounts you received for bundling services when you cut the cord. In that case,
switching to the smallest cable package the company offers may be more cost-efficient
than cutting cable altogether.