Dropping cable or satellite TV isn’t the only way to lower your TV bill.
Even if you’re not ready to cut the cord, you may still be able to find some extra savings through your current pay TV provider. By renting less equipment, bundling some streaming services, and making sure you’re not overpaying for internet, you can save decent money while hanging onto cable’s creature comforts.
While switching to streaming or over-the-air TV will likely be cheaper in the long run, here are some other ways to reduce your TV bill before you make the leap:
Return your cable boxes and stream instead
Comcast
Cable and satellite companies dragged their feet for years on letting you access their TV services without expensive set-top box rentals. These days, though, many TV providers offer free streaming apps that mirror (or at least closely resemble) what you’d get through a cable box, including live TV, on-demand video, and cloud-based DVR:
Comcast Xfinity: Use the Xfinity Stream app on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, LG TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Xumo devices. Comcast includes one set-top box for free with TV service, but using the app on additional TVs can save you $14 per month, per TV.
Spectrum: Use the Spectrum TV app on Apple TV, Google TV/Android TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox, Fire TV, LG TVs, and Vizio TVs. In my experience, the Spectrum experience was better on an Apple TV 4K than on Spectrum’s own Xumo boxes, which cost $5 per month to rent.
Dish: The Dish Anywhere app is only available on Amazon Fire TV or Google TV/Android TV devices, but it can spare you from the $7 per month Dish charges for secondary Joey receivers.
DirecTV: Satellite and internet-only customers can both use DirecTV’s apps for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV/Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG TVs, and Vizio TVs. Using the free apps instead of DirecTV’s receiver boxes can save you between $7 and $15 per month, per TV.
Optimum: Optimum only offers a TV app on Apple TV streaming boxes, and you still need at least one Optimum TV box at home. Still, using the app with additional televisions can save you $14 per month, per TV.
Cox: Cox’s Contour app is available on Apple TV devices only. You’ll need at least one Contour HD Box at home (the first of which is free), but using the Apple TV app can save you $8.50 per month on additional TVs.
If you’re already using your smart TV or a streaming device to access services like Netflix or Hulu, I suggest taking your TV provider’s app for a test drive. Make sure the experience meets your needs, then return some (or all) of your set-top boxes for instant savings.
Take advantage of bundled streaming
Comcast’s streaming bundles
Comcast
If you’re going to stick with traditional TV service, you should at least get your money’s worth by taking advantage of any free or discounted streaming that your provider may offer:
- Spectrum’s main TV plans include Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, AMC+, Discovery+, ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, and Vix at no extra charge. These are ongoing parts of your pay TV package, not limited-time promos, and you can upgrade to the ad-free versions by paying the difference in price.
- Comcast Xfinity lets customers bundle Peacock with any combination of Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, and the Disney+/Hulu Duo plan at a discount. (This offer is also available to internet-only customers.)
- DirecTV includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited with all of its main TV packages, both on the satellite and internet-only sides.
While you may still come out ahead by cutting the cable TV cord entirely, you may at least be able to defray the cost of some extra streaming services you’re already paying for.
Renegotiate your home internet
Comcast / PCWorld illustration
It remains a great time to threaten to cancel your home internet service, as cable providers are seriously afraid of losing business to 5G home internet from the likes of T-Mobile and Verizon.
Comcast, for instance, now offers much lower internet prices with price guarantees (including five years of 300Mbps service—more than enough for streaming—for $55 per month), but only if you demand the discounts. That will require a call to customer service, and possibly a request to reach their cancellation department, which may have more latitude to cut your rates. You might even get a deal on TV service in the process.
After all, if you’re not severing the relationship with cable TV anytime soon, you might as well make sure you’re not overpaying for what you already have.
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