Years ago, it was nearly impossible to get an internet plan that didn’t also include cable. It meant that even if you “cut the cord,” you probably still paid for basic cable. Now that it’s getting cheaper and more accessible to pick and choose with an internet connection and a variety of streaming services, are cord-cutters happier with this à la carte service? Is cord-cutting actually cheaper? Well, Roku has crunched some numbers for us!
There’s a lot of information that Roku has put together in their cord-cutting study, but here are some of the highlights:
- 57% of households have cut cable entirely or at least scaled it down to a base plan.
- 80% of households who cut the cord are pleased with the decision to do so.
- The lack and/or vast reduction in live sports due to COVID-19 helped to encourage cord-cutting further.
- On average, Roku users who cut the cord saved approximately $75 per month on home entertainment.
- Ad-supported streaming services and streaming services with extended free trials are especially popular.
Some of this isn’t too shocking. It makes sense that people would be more open to ways to save on expenses in an economically uncertain time. It’s also not surprising that since we’ve all spent far more time at home that we’re open to anything that lets you binge-watch. And if live sports was what was held people to cable, the lack of live sports (and/or the Olympics no one watched) is another reason we’ve become untethered from cable.
It’s much easier to live without cable if you can cobble together what you watch via Hulu, Netflix, and the various (insert network name here)+ streaming services. And while Roku didn’t look specifically at this in their report, I suspect the fact that cell phone companies are consistently tossing free or discounted streaming bundles in with various services probably sweetens the pot as well.
Roku also says that users of their devices are happier than other cord-cutters. Your mileage may vary, but Roku has quite a few advantages that make them an attractive choice if you choose to cut the cord. They’re fairly content-neutral in that they aren’t Apple or Amazon where there’s a flagship service being shoved front and center.
Roku offers a huge number of devices at multiple price points, with a consistent and easy-to-use UI. That’s not an ad for them, nor is it an affiliate link; we’re just big fans of Roku in particular here at Gear Diary.
Are you a cord-cutter? If you are, what are your top streaming services? Do you keep the same ones, or do you rotate depending on monthly content? And if you’re not a cord-cutter, what’s keeping you on cable? Is it the cost, or do you really love watching the NY Jets lose in real-time each Sunday?