1. Fiber Optic vs Cable
Recently, two different companies installed fiber-optic service in our neighborhood, which got me thinking about whether it was time to switch from Spectrum cable. I compared the pricing two months ago, and the introductory fiber rates were within about $10 a month of what I currently pay Spectrum. I even called Spectrum to see if they would lower my rate to compete, but they wouldn’t budge, although they have added several free streaming apps—ones that I was paying money for—so that allowed me to drop Paramount+ and DIsney/Hulu at that time.
One drawback with fiber is that it only provides internet service, so I would still need to find and pay separately for my TV programming, although I’m already considering separating internet from television because TV costs have gotten too high. In the end, I decided to stay with Spectrum because the speeds have been good, downtime has been minimal, and their service has been reliable. I also had some concerns about the quality of a new fiber installation, particularly having relatively inexperienced installers drilling holes and running fiber into my home. When something has worked consistently well for years, it can be difficult to justify switching just to save a few dollars, so for now, I’m sticking with Spectrum.
2. Over the Air Antennas
3. Media Players
When it came to choosing a media player, the decision was fairly straightforward. I already own an Apple TV and have been very happy with its performance, reliability, and ease of use. Since the equipment is already paid for and works seamlessly with the streaming services we use, there really wasn’t a compelling reason to make a change.
I did spend some time researching alternatives, including the SuperBox, which a few friends of mine currently use. While it appears to offer a wide range of programming options, my research raised some questions about the user interface and overall ease of use. I also came across concerns regarding the legality and licensing of some of the content available through these types of devices, which is something I would want to consider before making a switch.
Ultimately, this was one of the easiest decisions in the process. Apple TV already does everything I need, I’m comfortable with the platform, and there’s no additional equipment to purchase. For now, I’ll stick with what I already own and know works well: Apple TV.
4. Streaming Apps
When I started looking at streaming services, I realized we already had a good head start. I was already paying for Apple TV+ through Apple One ($37.95 / mo), which I really enjoy and think offers excellent programming along with a number of other benefits including access to unlimited music and magazines / newspapers. We also have Amazon Prime for the free shipping, and Prime Video comes with it. Between the two, we already had access to many of the shows and movies we like, which made the decision easier.
We had tried Netflix in the past, but it wasn’t a great fit. It often felt like we had endless options, yet we’d spend 30 minutes scrolling and end up rewatching something we’d seen 10 years ago because at least we knew it was good. After talking it over with my wife, we decided the best approach is to keep our current services and add two or three more à la carte. That way, we can match our internet setup with the content we actually watch instead of paying for a large cable package full of channels we rarely use.
5. Programs We Watch
When we looked more closely at the programming we actually watch, Paramount+ was probably the one service I wouldn’t want to give up. I really enjoy Landman, and I watched Yellowstone for quite a while, so there’s enough programming there to make it worthwhile for me. My wife is a big fan of Masterpiece Theatre, so having access to that type of programming would also be important to us.
Beyond that, we’re already getting a lot of value from the services we have. Prime Video has shows like Reacher, which we’ve enjoyed, while Apple TV+ has given us Shrinking, Severance, and Ted Lasso—all shows we’ve watched and really liked.
As for adding another streaming service, I think that’s where we’ll take a more flexible approach. Instead of subscribing to five or six services year-round, we can rotate that third service depending on what new programming is available. Subscribe for a month or two, watch the shows we’re interested in, cancel it, and move on to another service. Rinse and repeat. It’s a simple way to have plenty of great programming without letting all those $10, $15, and $20 monthly subscriptions quietly turn into another cable bill.
