What Is Cord Cutting?
"Cord cutting" means canceling your traditional cable or satellite TV subscription and replacing it with internet-based streaming alternatives. The goal is to keep watching the content you love while dramatically reducing your monthly bill. Millions of households have made the switch — and for most people, there's no going back.
Step 1: Audit What You Actually Watch
Before canceling anything, spend one to two weeks tracking what you and your household actually watch. Note the channels, shows, and sports leagues. This prevents you from cutting the cord and immediately missing something important.
Common must-haves to check for streaming alternatives:
- Local news and network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) — often available free over-the-air with an antenna
- Sports — the most complex part of cord cutting; requires research per league
- HBO / Showtime / Premium channels — available as standalone streaming apps
- News channels (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) — available via live TV streaming services
Step 2: Get a Good Internet Connection
Streaming everything means your internet connection does all the heavy lifting. A reliable broadband connection is non-negotiable. For a household streaming on multiple devices simultaneously, aim for at least 50–100 Mbps download speed. Check with your ISP about standalone internet plans — you may be paying for a cable bundle when you only need internet.
Step 3: Choose Your Streaming Services
There's no single service that replaces cable. Instead, you build a custom stack of services that covers your needs:
| What You Want | Streaming Option |
|---|---|
| On-demand movies & shows | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Max |
| Live TV + local channels | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV |
| Free content (with ads) | Tubi, Pluto TV, Peacock (free tier), The Roku Channel |
| Sports | ESPN+, Peacock, Paramount+, FuboTV |
| Local OTA channels (free) | Indoor/outdoor antenna + free |
Step 4: Set Up an Antenna for Free Local Channels
This is one of the most overlooked cord-cutting tricks. An inexpensive indoor HD antenna can pick up local network channels — ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and PBS — completely free, in full HD. Many people find this covers their local news and live events needs without any monthly fee.
Step 5: Get a Streaming Device
If your TV isn't a smart TV (or even if it is), a dedicated streaming device improves the experience. Popular options include Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast. Most are affordable and give you access to every major streaming app in one place.
Step 6: Calculate Your New Monthly Cost
Add up your planned streaming subscriptions and compare them to your current cable bill. Most cord-cutters save significantly — though the savings shrink if you pile on too many paid services. Prioritize the essentials, use free tiers where possible, and remember you can cancel and re-subscribe to services seasonally (great for sports seasons or specific show releases).
Common Cord-Cutting Mistakes to Avoid
- Subscribing to too many services at once — start with one or two and add gradually.
- Forgetting about sports coverage — plan this carefully before canceling cable.
- Not checking internet speed first — streaming requires reliable broadband.
- Keeping the cable TV portion of a bundle — call your provider and negotiate a standalone internet rate.
Cord cutting is a process, not a single event. Give yourself a month to experiment with your new setup before making a final decision — and enjoy the flexibility of choosing exactly what you pay for.