by Rich Hein

8 Devices to Help You Cut the Cable Cord

News
Jul 14, 20145 mins
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As consumers become more savvy with their entertainment dollars, more devices have entered the streaming-media fray allowing even the digitally challenged to cut the cord on cable and satellite dependencies and save big money on movies and shows.

8 Streaming Media Players That Will Help You Ditch Cable

Cable and satellite subscriptions are on the decline. With streaming boxes, gaming consoles and other ways to connect, there are many products available to access popular services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and others. And it’s having an effect. A recent analysis conducted by Experian, a marketing services provider, reported that “cord-cutters” grew by an impressive 44 percent over the last seven years. The way we watch and get our entertainment is changing dramatically. With the proliferation of binge watching, on-demand video and DVRs we want our shows when we want them, not on someone else’s schedule.

Devices are available across the price spectrum and many offer simple intuitive interfaces.

Get an HD Antenna

Step 1 should to be to find out what broadcast channels are available in your area. Go to TVFool and check your area. It will provide a map that shows you the broadcast channels available in your area and the direction you may wish to point your antenna. You may be pleasantly surprised by the amount of channels available. There are many HD antennae to choose from such as indoor antenna for city dwellers to larger roof mounted antennae for homeowners.

Is your device not listed in this slideshow? Please tell us which device you use in the comments section.

Price: Prices Vary

Xbox or PS4

If you’re a gamer, chances are you’ve got all the hardware you need to cut the cable. In fact, according to a recent BusinessInsider article, gaming consoles are the largest part of the connected TV market accounting for 54 percent of the global traffic. While these units cost more than the other options on our list they do more, they include built-in Wi-Fi, a Blu-ray player and, of course, gameplay.

Price: Xbox One $399 PS4 $399

Company: Microsoft, Sony