One of the most burning questions you come across in recent years is probably whether to ditch cable TV altogether or avoid subscription to streaming services at all costs. In this current economy, we all want to save money.

At the same time, we don’t want to compromise on our entertainment needs. In a dilemma like this, you can only sit down and give this whole situation a good thought – whether to go for a streaming service or continue with the traditional sources of entertainment.

To help you decide, we have put together the pros and cons of both services so you can decide which one suits you the best.

On the other hand, if you want to keep your choices open, then there is always an option of getting a bundled service of internet and cable TV. This saves you from the hassle of keeping a check of separate bills at the end of the month. If you don’t know where to look in this regard, then don’t worry, we have the right answer for you; Xtream by Mediacom delivers impressive bundle options for people whose household needs involve both cable TV and internet.

With its internet and television bundle, you get to enjoy superfast speed – perfect for seamless streaming – and more than 165 channels along with the perk of Xtream Voice Remote Control. To know more about it, you can visit Mediacom paquetes and get all the information in your native language.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of streaming services and cable TV.

Pros and Cons of Streaming Services

Streaming services or OTT (Over the Top) services have taken a front seat in the last few years. There has been a massive increase observed in their popularity since COVID-19. People cannot stop talking about Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and several other platforms. But there are always two sides to the coin. When there are pros, there have to be some cons as well.

So, without much further ado, let’s dig deeper into this matter.

Pros of Streaming Services

1.     Cost

Compared to cable TV, streaming service subscriptions are significantly low. As of now, a Netflix monthly subscription to the Basic plan with ads costs $6.99, and the ad-free basic plan costs $9.99. On the other hand, Disney+ only requires you to pay $7.99/per month for a subscription with ads, whereas, without ads, the plan costs $11 monthly.

Additionally, Amazon Prime Video Only currently asks its subscribers for $8.99/month to enjoy the content of their choice. One of the top streaming services – Hulu – only demands a $6.99/month subscription fee for the ad-supported package.

On the whole, streaming services are quite affordable for any individual looking for quality entertainment.

2.     No Contract Policy

Except for live TV streaming services, typically OTT platforms do not have annual contract policies, unlike most cable TV providers. These contracts force you to continue with the subscription until the end of the year. Upon early termination, subscribers have to pay the penalty.

3.     Variety of Options

The variety of options in not only the tons of streaming services but the content available on them can make anyone hit the subscription button. You can mix and match on-demand and originals. You can take a stroll down the old path and put on some classics or stick to the current hit title. All in all, the variety seems to be endless.

Cons of Streaming Services

1.     Cost of Internet + the Subscription Fees

You don’t just magically get a subscription to streaming service upon your cable TV subscription unless your provider has mentioned it in the plan. The cost of the internet with the subscription fees can put a dent in your account. Therefore, you need to be very wise in terms of the plan you choose and how many OTT services you scribe to.

2.     Unreliability

Streaming services solely depend on the internet connection. Under the circumstances, you have lost an internet connection, you will no longer be able to use any streaming service. This dependency makes streaming services unreliable because, in case of bad weather or any damage to the wires under the sea, you can end up losing any source of entertainment.

Pros and Cons of Cable TV

The traditional means of getting your much-needed dose of entertainment have certainly come a long way. Cable television has evolved massively in the past few years. But with the newer technology, the trend of cord-cutting has also been on the rise. This goes to show the positives and negatives of cable television.

Pros of Cable TV

1.     Extensive Channel Lineups

Typically, a quality cable TV subscription offers you a vast extensive channel lineup, consisting of all major, minor, international, and local networks. The channel lineups of a few large companies even go up to 250, depending on the plan you opt for. You cannot see this large number of options with live TV streaming services.

2.     Live Events Programming

The programming of live sports and national events gives an edge to cable TV. You can get access to such content on live TV streaming services but the quality is going to hardly match the one you get from cable TV.

3.     News Networks

The availability of news networks on your cable TV subscription is not something you can get from streaming services. You might get pre-recorded programs but live broadcast is not something you can expect from them.

Cons of Cable TV

1.     Price

The price of cable TV keeps on increasing. The plan you subscribe to can change and it can go way over your budget quickly.

2.     Early Termination Fees

With cable TV, you cannot terminate the contract before the year ends. If you do so, then your cable TV provider can place penalties and some extra charges on you, which is not an ideal situation to go through.

Final Verdict!

We have laid down all the points necessary to make up your mind about whether to go for cable TV or choose a streaming service. We hope now you can make the right decision for yourself while considering your entertainment needs.