Quite a lot of people are thinking of cutting the cord, but these advantages of cable TV might make you think again. Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, and other streaming services offer many possibilities, but could they really replace good old cable TV? Decide after reading these advantages of cable TV:
1. You don’t have to depend on the internet
You largely depend on the internet connection when you use streaming services to enjoy your favorite movies and shows. This can turn into a problem if technical problems or the weather cause internet outages. You also have to rely on the speed of your internet connection which can create problems too. There’s nothing worse than making popcorns and getting comfortable on the couch, ready to watch a new movie, just to see it buffering every five minutes. One of the advantages of cable TV is that you don’t have to worry about all this because you don’t need to use the internet to enjoy your favorite show or to watch a new movie.
2. The number of channels
Are you aware of the number of channels you get with cable TV? Your viewing options are limited when you use HBO NOW or Amazon Prime, and you might not get to see your favorite team play. Not all streaming services offer all sports events, so you might even need to subscribe to several of them to catch every game that you want to watch.
3. Live sports
Speaking of sports, you’re not going to find the Olympics or the Super Bowl on Netflix no matter how great it is. The ability to watch live sports is one of the biggest advantages of cable TV, and you’re not going to see a sports fan cutting the cord. Trying to find live streams, watching the game later, or getting highlights online just doesn’t cut it for the big sports fans.
4. The News
Advantages of cable TV include the news channels. A lot of large media outlets don’t allow watching live unless you are subscribed to cable. Otherwise, all you’ll get will be short video clips instead of the news. Cable TV gives you access to multiple news outlets so that you can stay informed in the way that you like best. You can watch local news, which isn’t an option with streaming services.
5. Live events
If you like watching live events such as Grammys and Oscars, you need traditional television. Watch New Year’s specials and live coverage of Christmas with cable TV. Seasonal shows aren’t a part of the streaming service possibilities, so you need cable TV, especially during the holidays.
6. New on-demand titles and pay-per-view
Maybe you like streaming services because they give you the freedom to choose what you’re going to watch, but you can do that with cable TV too. You can find thousands of new On Demand titles that you can watch anytime and anywhere. You can also use the pay-per-view option when you want to watch new movie releases, MMA matches, or boxing, even before they’ll become available on some of the streaming services.
7. The cost of it all
Cable TV doesn’t come cheap, but neither do streaming services. If you add up the costs of all the streaming services you use, you’ll see that you’re not really saving money. The average bill for cable is $99 in the USA, and if you use more than one streaming service you probably aren’t getting a lower cost. In addition, you need to pay for a stronger internet connection to use streaming services, especially if more people in the house are going to use them at the same time.
8. Apps
Apps that most cable providers offer are also one of the biggest advantages of cable TV because they let you watch anything you want anywhere you want. You can watch TV on your phone, tablet, laptop, or other devices simply by using your login information. Another great benefit is that you can record your favorite movies and shows to watch them sometime later.
9. Negotiation
If I can’t convince you to stick to cable TV, your cable providers probably can. This is because most of them are ready to offer additional perks or lower rates if they think that they’ll lose you as a customer. Simply call your cable provider and let them know that you think that you’ll no longer need their services. Even if you don’t ask them, they’ll probably offer something to convince you to stay their loyal customer. If they don’t, don’t hesitate to ask.