What is "Cutting the Cord" & Do I need to do it?

Posted September 23rd, 2021

These days it seems like you can't turn on your cable TV without being fed advertisements for shows and movies on services like Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, or Amazon Prime Video. The world is changing and in this new world how we watch shows and movies is transforming. It's happening fast and it can be a lot to digest. In this segment of QC 2-Minute Tech we'll break down what cutting the cord means and if it’s right for you!

The Good Ol' Days

Depending on how old you are, you might remember watching TV as a kid and when the picture was fuzzy one of your parents would ask you to walk over to the TV and adjust the antenna. If you were lucky, you got to sit back down, if not, they'd ask you to hold the antenna because you just became the conduit that allowed it to pick up a good signal. They could finish The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and everyone was happy.

Then along came cable and we rejoiced, and then satellites too and we rejoiced more!

We were happy for a long time, but as the internet got faster and our phone signals got stronger, there have been more "on demand" options emerging. That has led to new ways to engage with programming, on your time, watching what you want, when you want. So much content has been created that it's no longer necessary to subscribe to large bundles of channels that often include content that doesn't even interest you.

If this sounds interesting to you, it might be time to cut the cord.

What Does It Mean to “Cut the Cord”?

Cutting the Cord is the action of discontinuing typical cable or dish services and converting over to streaming services 100%.

Streaming services come through apps such as Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus. They offer programming of movies and tv shows that you can watch any time you want. The programming isn't scheduled at a particular time, you start it when it's convenient for you. Each usually has a subscription fee that you pay monthly, but they are typically considered good values for the amount of content and original programming they offer.

Streaming apps can be found on your phone, tablet, TV, or on a streaming device like Roku or Chromecast.

The only requirement to stream content on your smart TV or other device is a subscription to a streaming service and a strong internet connection.

There are now a wide range of streaming options available and new ones are popping up all the time. One of the reasons behind this growth and popularity is the convenience of enjoying content on your time. The assortment of streaming apps makes it easy to pick and choose just the content that interests you, so you aren't paying for content you don't want.

Is Cutting the Cord Right for You?

If you feel like you don't need a lot of the content in the cable/dish package that you are paying for or find yourself using streaming service more often, then it can be more cost efficient to cut cable/dish services and subscribe to the streaming services that have the programming you watch most often. However, if streaming services don't interest you and you prefer the simplicity of one pre-packaged group of channels then stick with your current setup.

To better understand these streaming apps on the new smart TV's and how they are creating an easier environment to find and navigate streaming services, visit one of our stores to see them in person. While it can be a lot to understand at first, seeing them with your own eyes makes it less overwhelming. And bonus, our associates are on hand to demo them and walk you through the differences!

2-Minute Tech is your easy-to-digest electronic series by Queen City. Be sure to check back here regularly as we break down more technology confusion and keep you up to date with the latest trends!