Once again, Cable TV just can’t seem to help themselves as they bring up old anti cord cutting attacks. A great example is Jon Erlichman the Anchor of “The Open” on Bloomberg News. This time, jon Erlichman from Bloomberg is pushing the idea that a cord cutting set up costs $90.91.
Monthly subscription costs for U.S. streaming services:
HBO Max $14.99
Netflix $12.99
Hulu* $11.99
Showtime $10.99
CBS* $9.99
Prime $8.99
Starz $8.99
Disney+ $6.99
AppleTV+ $4.99Total cost: $90.91 per month
(*ad free versions)
— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) October 29, 2019
So let’s break down what Mr. Erlichman got wrong.
HBO, Showtime, and Starz are not exclusively cord cutting costs.
In this example, it seems Erlichman is saying you can get HBO, Showtime, and Starz with your basic cable TV package. The truth is if you wanted HBO, Showtime, and Starz it needs to be added on top of your cable TV bill just like it would with cord cutting.
So in reality, it means you would be paying an extra $34.97 on top of a basic cable TV package if you wanted HBO, Showtime, and Starz.
This Content Can’t Be Watched With Cable.
Want to watch Netflix’s Stranger Things? Or maybe the new Star Wars show on Disney+? Don’t waste your time with cable TV as these shows are not available through your cable TV provider. So services like Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV+ and Hulu can’t be replaced with cable TV as much of their must-watch content is not on cable.
The True Cost of Cable TV.
According to spectrum the average cable TV and cable internet subscriber pays over $180 a month. Fortune says the average cable TV bill for TV only in 2018 was $107 a month. When you compare that to all the services Mr. Erlichman listed you would still save money with cord cutting even at the inflated $90.91 per month list he presented.
Most Cable TV Subscribers Also Pay For Streaming Services
One thing most attacks on cord cutting fail to remember is that most cable TV subscribers also pay for streaming services. A recent study showed that almost 80% of cable TV subscribers also subscribe to Netflix or some other streaming service. So now you need to add the cost of Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime (as many people pay for Amazon just to get the free shipping) on top of the cable TV bill.
Final Thoughts
When looking at which is cheaper between cord cutting or cable TV, do your own research. In our experience, the vast majority of Americans save money with cord cutting, but find that out for your self. Don’t let anyone try to tell you how much you would or wouldn’t save based on an exclusive tweet like this.
So how much are you saving? Leave us a comment and let us know.
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