Cutting the cable cord is gaining in popularity daily and there’s plenty of devices that allow for getting our media fix, at home and on the go. But after spending $9.99 for a music service, $7.99 for Netflix and/or Hulu Plus – not to mention individual movie, music, and TV show purchases your bills start to add up fast. There are other services like Audible, Steam, digital magazines, and newspapers too.
The costs add up in a hurry and in the end you might end up spending more than you do before cutting the cord. So the question this week is how many subscriptions do you have? Are there some you started on a free trial and ended up forgetting about? Is it time to take inventory and cancel some of the subscriptions you have that you don’t use?
Here’s where my digital media subscriptions stand:
- MOG – but cancelling it at the end of the month as I am moving to Xbox Music.
- Netflix – I tried Hulu Plus for a while, but it doesn’t have what I’m interested in, and while limited, there’s still commercials to deal with.
- Amazon Instant Video via Amazon Prime – while there seems to be better HD quality streaming on Amazon, there’s more choice on Netflix in my opinion.
- Xbox Live Gold – which is necessary to do anything cool on the console.
We want to know your take. How many services are you subscribed to? Leave a comment below and let us know your opinion!
10 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
Dave
September 17, 2013 at 11:12 am
Hi Brian – Great question! For me the answer to cable-less TV is a simple one: Hulu + Vudu + Amazon VOD + Netflix + Mohu Antenna. With Hulu i get a ton of tv shows to watch, Vudu and Amazon Instant Video offers those must see newly released Movies, and my Mohu Antenna gives me free Live TV in HD – offering popular stations like ABC, CBS, NBC, and more. Plus if you love Sunday Football like me, you have to get an antenna. Hope this helps!
~~ Dave
KilltheCableBill
Brian Burgess
September 17, 2013 at 5:12 pm
I subscribe to a lot of these services so I can review them and write about them. Most have a free trial, then I forget and end up getting charged monthly.
So I did an inventory of what I’m subscribed to, and cut out $40 from my monthly media subscription bills. I decided to cut my subscriptions to the services I never use such as Hulu Plus and some others.
What sucks is not all content you want is on each of the services. Like, Amazon Instant Streaming and Netflix. One TV series you watch on Netflix costs money per episode on Amazon as it’s not part of the Prime free streaming package.
The thing is, a few bucks here, then a few bucks there — it adds up quickly.
shockersh
September 17, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I have only a Netflix account. I used to have Rhapsody but killed that after Pandora came out. Now I just use Netflix ($15??) and pandora (Free) and youtube (free).
I don’t have any Paid cable channels. just basic local service which costs me about $20 a month on my TV. I would kill that but I like my local news :)
Austin Krause
September 17, 2013 at 5:19 pm
As far as media and music? Amazon Prime.
That’s all nowadays. Canceled Netflix after finishing up the season of House of Cards. Will probably resubscribe for a couple months to watch the next season.
Other stuff I subscribe too is more site or service specific.
Vinylfreak
September 18, 2013 at 5:28 am
I had a Netflix streaming account, when Amazon Prime offered video streaming , I cancelled it an only have the 1 disc out program. I also have an XBox Music subscription pass that I have had since it was called Zune Pass.
Brian Burgess
September 18, 2013 at 6:04 am
Hey Vinylfreak!
You know, I wish they didn’t raise the price on the one disc out program. There is A LOT of stuff not available on streaming that I would like to get on disc at least.
Yep, I am going through and making sure all the albums I have on MOG right now are set up in Xbox Music Pass then I am cancelling it and doing Xbox full time.
Especially since I got the Nokia Lumia 520 I am going all in on MS.
Bill Wimsett
September 18, 2013 at 8:39 am
I have a Roku box and use mostly Pandora, Amazon On-Demand, and Netflix. I occasionally watch some of the classic B&W movies from other services.
ED
September 23, 2013 at 7:09 am
I only subscribe to streaming Netflix and Wealth TV 3D.
I occasionally watch a Vudo video (especially if it is on-sale)
I have 1 premium subscription on cablevision.
I watch a very limited amount of Netflix (do not like the movies available…lots of junk…the good ones I already saw). Subscribe many for my daughter…she watchs kids shows.
Wealth 3D I subscribe to since it is only 3D content that I do not have to pay per video, and I use it mainly as a novelty to demonstrate 3D contents.
I have lots of music available on premium music cable channels, Pandora and other streaming stations on Roku box.
Daniel
September 30, 2013 at 6:54 am
Hi Brian,
I have had Directv for eleven years now! When I think of all the money…..But now I have two Roku boxes and subscribe to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, and Vudu Plus, and I see where YouTube just started showing movies, so maybe I’ll try them too.
My plan is to mount an outdoor yagi antenna on a mast with a rotator (I live out in the country) and pick up all the local channels. If that works I’ll sever the relationship with Directv and just watch what I’ve listed. I’m glad the consumers are finally getting a break.
Btw, my primary “must-read” sources used to be only ZDnet and TechRepublic. groovyPost is quickly working its’ way to the top with them. Keep up the good work!
Daniel
Brian Burgess
September 30, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Thanks for the kind words Daniel! We’ll keep doing everything we can to make you and all of our readers happy!