With so many entertainment options available, do we still really "need" cable TV? It's convenient and all, but no one likes paying for the dozens--or even hundreds--of channels they never watch just to get a handful of favorite shows. Most of those favorites can be found elsewhere on a more à la carte basis, but where--and for how much? While we keep wishing for an easy-to-use website (or Apple's much-anticipated "iTV" television set) to do this legwork for us, for now we've got to do it ourselves. Here's how.
Make a list of your favorite shows. If you use TiVo, these are your Season Passes. We're nerds, so we did this in Excel (or, uh, Numbers). The following columns are possible sources to get those shows on their own: iTunes Season Pass, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Instant, network websites or apps, and so on. Under those columns is where you'll list the price. If a show is available on more than one source, you decide whether convenience trumps price. Finally, highlight and tally up the prices for the shows you can't live without, and compare that to your cable bill. Keep in mind that iTunes and Amazon will sell you entire seasons, which last longer than a month, while Netflix and Hulu Plus are monthly subscriptions, and Netflix is often a season behind. Then just get ready to do a lot of clicking around to see what's out there. It's tedious work, but if you decide to take the plunge and cut the cable, you could save a load of cash each month.
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