Q. I don't watch TV a lot, can you share some easy to do ways to save TV bills?
A. Try 3 methods: cut the cord, downgrade to a lower priced plan, and use streaming service.
Cut the Cord
How to cut the TV cord? Easy, you can use a UHF-VHF antenna to get DTV. Consumer Reports has tested many of the antennas on the market and found the best ones are the RCA ANT 1650 ($32) and RadioShack 15-254 ($35). It also has a how-to article explains how to set it up.
Get a Lower Priced Plan
Time Warner Cable offers a $30-per-month "Starter TV with HBO" package with about 20 mostly broadcast channels plus HBO and HBO Go; Comcast has a similar channel lineup plus its Streampix streaming video service and high-speed broadband for $40 or $50 per month.
You can call the provider to negotiate, just ask to speak to a customer-retention specialist whose job is to keep you as a subscriber. You can always mention you are thinking to switch to another provider, for example, a satellite TV provider or Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse service.
Use Streaming Service
This is a fast growing area with many options. Most services charge either a subscription fee, usually $10 or less per month, or several dollars for each movie or TV episode you stream. Subscription services save you money if you stream a lot. Renting a few movies and TV programs every week can get expensive if you have to pay for each one individually.
YouTube
It has a huge selection of free movies and TV shows, though it's known mostly for amateur videos. But video quality varies more than with the paid services, which usually offer very good quality on a decent Internet connection.
Netflix
It costs $8 per month, is the most widely available service on TVs, media players, and other devices, and it has a large library of movies and TV programs. (Newer titles might be available only as DVD and Blu-ray rentals, which require a separate subscription.)
Amazon Prime
It provides unlimited access to a portion of the Amazon Instant Video library as part of its $79-per-year, two-day shipping service.
Hulu Plus
It costs $8 per month, is weighted more toward TV programming than movies. Redbox Instant, a hybrid service, charges $8 per month for unlimited streaming plus four DVD rentals from its kiosks, $1 more for Blu-ray.
Pay-per-view services such as Amazon Instant Video, Apple iTunes, Blockbuster OnDemand, CinemaNow, M-Go, and Vudu charge $2 to $7 a day to rent a movie or TV episode. The price depends on how new a title is and the quality you choose.
A. Try 3 methods: cut the cord, downgrade to a lower priced plan, and use streaming service.
Cut the Cord
How to cut the TV cord? Easy, you can use a UHF-VHF antenna to get DTV. Consumer Reports has tested many of the antennas on the market and found the best ones are the RCA ANT 1650 ($32) and RadioShack 15-254 ($35). It also has a how-to article explains how to set it up.
Get a Lower Priced Plan
Time Warner Cable offers a $30-per-month "Starter TV with HBO" package with about 20 mostly broadcast channels plus HBO and HBO Go; Comcast has a similar channel lineup plus its Streampix streaming video service and high-speed broadband for $40 or $50 per month.
You can call the provider to negotiate, just ask to speak to a customer-retention specialist whose job is to keep you as a subscriber. You can always mention you are thinking to switch to another provider, for example, a satellite TV provider or Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse service.
Use Streaming Service
This is a fast growing area with many options. Most services charge either a subscription fee, usually $10 or less per month, or several dollars for each movie or TV episode you stream. Subscription services save you money if you stream a lot. Renting a few movies and TV programs every week can get expensive if you have to pay for each one individually.
YouTube
It has a huge selection of free movies and TV shows, though it's known mostly for amateur videos. But video quality varies more than with the paid services, which usually offer very good quality on a decent Internet connection.
Netflix
It costs $8 per month, is the most widely available service on TVs, media players, and other devices, and it has a large library of movies and TV programs. (Newer titles might be available only as DVD and Blu-ray rentals, which require a separate subscription.)
Amazon Prime
It provides unlimited access to a portion of the Amazon Instant Video library as part of its $79-per-year, two-day shipping service.
Hulu Plus
It costs $8 per month, is weighted more toward TV programming than movies. Redbox Instant, a hybrid service, charges $8 per month for unlimited streaming plus four DVD rentals from its kiosks, $1 more for Blu-ray.
Pay-per-view services such as Amazon Instant Video, Apple iTunes, Blockbuster OnDemand, CinemaNow, M-Go, and Vudu charge $2 to $7 a day to rent a movie or TV episode. The price depends on how new a title is and the quality you choose.
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