After dealing with multiple TV service outages and equipment failures (in March I went two weeks without any TV service at all due to faulty equipment), I finally decided I've had enough with the cable TV company, and after doing my research and testing the alternatives, I've dropped cable TV. I'll still use the same company for Internet and VOIP phone because it's really the only game in town, but my monthly bill will be about $165 lower. Because of the way they "packaged" things and the confusing bills, I had no clear understanding of what I was paying for until now.
I determined that ALL of the cable channels I regularly watch are available on a streaming service called SlingTV at a cost of about $25/mo; for another $5/mo, I have a "cloud DVR" that allows me to record 50 hours of programs on most channels for later viewing. The one premium channel I watch is HBO; their HBO Now app is $15/mo, and includes all their current programming along with their full library of shows. Those are the only monthly fees I will have going forward. So I went from $165 to $45, and I can still watch the same stuff the way I want to without paying for unwanted channels and substandard equipment.
The only other thing I needed was a one-time purchase of a streaming device that attached to my TV because I don't have a "smart TV" that that could stream for me. I chose a Roku (under $100), primarily because it already integrated with Sling TV and HBO. Most Android TV devices (such as Amazon's Fire Stick) would probably work as well, but you might have to download the apps.
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