Do you feel like your cable bill is putting a bigger dent in your wallet each year? Well, you’re not just imagining it. According to an analysis of government data by S&P Global Market Intelligence, costs for pay TV services have increased twice as fast as inflation over the last ten years. The average consumer now spends about $100 a month for cable and satellite TV services.

So what’s a New Yorker on a budget to do? Should you ditch your cable in favor of a la carte streaming services and what you can pick up with a digital antenna? Let’s weigh the pros and cons.

Pros of ditching cable

If you’re trying to imagine a life without cable or satellite TV, here are some of the benefits you might experience:

  • COST SAVINGS – This is probably the biggest reason that most folks ditch their cable. You could potentially save yourself approximately $1,200 a year if you cut the cord. Think about how many Broadway shows or concerts you could see instead. Even if you still subscribe to streaming services like Netflix or Amazon, you’re likely to see substantial savings.
  • WATCH LESS TV – Do you feel like screen time is taking over your life? By ditching your cable, you could find yourself with more time for all the fun things that New York City has to offer.
  • LESS FILLER – How often do you actually watch all the channels that are available to you? Chances are you have a few key networks that you regularly tune into. The rest is just filler. By ditching cable and only subscribing to services you actually watch, you can de-clutter your digital life.

Cons of ditching cable

Although there are certainly good reasons to get rid of cable, there could be some drawbacks. These include:

  • LOSS OF SPORTS – If you’re a sports fan, then you may have trouble getting the coverage you’re accustomed to. While you’ll be able to pick up some local games from an antenna, for deeper coverage you may end up having to pay a premium for a streaming sports package or spend the same amount in a sports bar on game days.
  • SPOILERS – Streaming services offer just about every show that you can see on cable and satellite. But there is often a delay in those releases. If you hate spoilers and you’re not sure you can stay away from social media, ditching cable may not be a good choice for you.
  • LOSS OF COVERAGE – If your Internet connection isn’t great, then you may have trouble watching streaming shows without interruption. Likewise, if you buy a digital antenna, you may find that your signal goes in and out depending on the weather.

The bottom line

Obviously, if you like to consume mass quantities of TV, especially sports, then cutting the cord may not be a great option for you. But if you feel like you’re spending too much on a service that you’re not using very often, why not try ditching your cable for a while? The worst that happens is that you discover you really do need to keep up with the Kardashians, in which case you can simply reconnect to your service.

More information

If you’d like more information about buying, selling, or renting in New York City, click here or call 646-681-5272 to speak with Platinum Properties. We’re always available to answer all of your questions.