Television has an essential place in any modern household. It brings the best of entertainment from around the world to your TV set. If you have access to a cable TV line, you will never get bored. Cable enjoys traditional popularity in American culture. It is always high in demand. Due to which, cable companies do not hold back when increasing the rates of their cable TV plans. This price hike falls like a hammer on the consumers, creating awful turbulence in their budgets.
Nevertheless, modern problems give birth to modern solutions. More and more people, who are fed up with spending $200 on cable every month, are now seeking ways to enjoy free cable TV without having to pay anything at all. This does not mean that every cable company levies such a heavy bill on people. Some providers offer budget-friendly cable deals to their customers, even waiving off installation and other fees. For instance, Spectrum internet, a company that is known for its outstanding service and economical prices. In this post, we will learn about ways to save money when shopping for internet services.
So, how to reduce your cable TV bills?
Coming back to the issue at hand, how exactly can you watch cable TV in a cost-effective way? What could be the loopholes by which you can say goodbye to your monopolistic cable provider and still get the best of television entertainment? This post will cover the top tips and tricks in that regard.
The Role of Antennas & OTA Signals
Cable TV works when a provider transmits television programming to the subscribers’ homes via solid copper wires. This wired infrastructure gives the signal its stability and is also the main thing cable companies cash in each month. Once you decide to cut this cable connection, there is another way by which you can enjoy the same television content and for a much less price. It is via a broadcast signal.
Often called ‘Over-the-Air’, this system utilizes the local broadcasting stations in your area to beam TV programming over the radio waves to your home. These wireless signals are then caught by antennas, which translate the content into your TV sets, free of cost. If the antennas are of HDTV variety, they will intercept and play more than 109 cable TV channels in crystal-clear HD quality. And that too without making you go bankrupt in the process.
All you need to do is invest in the right kind of HDTV antenna, which is of two main types:
- Directional – Creates a one-way link between the nearby broadcasting tower and the antenna itself, heightening the signal’s focus in the process. You can get a high-grade directional antenna from Amazon for just under $50.
- Omnidirectional – Receives signals from all horizontal directions, even if they are bouncing off interfering objects, and feeds them flawlessly into your TV set. Due to this extra feature, an omnidirectional antenna is tad pricey. However, you can get a good quality one just under $100.
Once you pick an antenna type that compliments your needs, be sure to place it carefully so that the signal reception comes out to be perfect. As regards placement, there are further two types of antennas. Indoor (lesser mile range, lesser price) and Outdoor (higher mile range, slightly higher price). On the whole, with this Over the Air TV and HD antenna mechanism, you can enjoy cable TV content without having an expensive cable line.
The Streaming Possibility
If you are a big fan of ‘The Walking Dead’ series but cannot afford to watch it on your cable provider-sanctioned AMC channel anymore, then there is a simple way by which you can keep on watching the episodes as they roll out, without cable. It is via internet streaming. Yes, the World Wide Web is filled with DMCA compliant portals that allow you to stream cable TV programs online, for free! Streaming services require a minimal sign-up fee. Some ask you for negligible monthly payments, while others don’t even request a login from you. Here are a few streaming sites you can totally take advantage of in 2020:
- SideReel – This site gets a million unique visitors each day. It allows you to search for your favorite cable TV shows. In addition to this, you can also receive alerts for new episodes, bookmark what you have watched, and stream HD vides. You can use your social media profiles to sign up.
- Crackle – This site has a smartphone app too, which you can use to stream the latest Hollywood content that rotates on a monthly basis.
- Network Websites – NBC.com, FOX.com, ABC.com, and other channel sites upload their programs the same day they are aired on cable TV. You can watch both old and new episodes of your favorite shows absolutely free of charge.
- Netflix – This popular streaming service offers a free 30-day trial. You can catch as many shows as you like without having to pay anything. After that period ends, you can either sign up for an account (costs about $8.99 to $15.99 per month) or start over.
- Amazon Prime Video – Like Netflix, this service offers free access to cable content for a small monthly fee.
The list goes on, but the fact remains that it is possible to enjoy free cable TV without having to pay $400 every month. You can either purchase an HDTV antenna, or you can subscribe to a streaming service, which will be worth it.