Television has evolved a lot from the beginning when it was only about over-the-air broadcast networks. Nowadays, the number of people who seek television without dealing with cable or satellite providers is increasing rapidly. A common query is whether or not it is possible to have a television with only an internet connection. The answer is yes, you absolutely can. Here’s a brief guide on how you can watch TV over the Internet and what choices are available for you.
Streaming TV Services
Thus, the primary method of cord-cutting is to use live TV streaming services that can be accessed without a cable or satellite connection. Some popular options include:
YouTube TV
YouTube TV provides more than 85+ channels for a monthly fee of $64. 99. Some of the channels include the main networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC and the cable networks including ESPN, HGTV, FX, and others. YouTube TV also has unlimited DVR capacity and lets you stream on up to three devices at a time.
Hulu + Live TV
The Hulu live TV package costs $69. 99 per month with more than 75+ channels. This specifically refers to not only the live television aspect of Hulu but also the full offering of shows and films that are available to stream at any time. Hulu Live has a cloud DVR feature that comes with 50 hours of storage and allows two streams at the same time.
Sling TV
Sling TV basic package goes for $35 every month and offers more than 30 channels. You can also opt for additional packages to further enhance the number of channels in your bundle. Cloud DVR storage and the number of streams allowed at the same time depend on the selected package. Sling is one of the cheapest streaming TV services out there in terms of price.
FuboTV
The target niche of FuboTV is sports and entertainment. Basic packages start from $69. 99 a month with over 120 channel packages. The streaming services offered by FuboTV come with 250 hours of cloud DVR and allow for up to 3 streams at the same time.
The main advantages of these services include no contractual agreements and no requirement to rent equipment to watch on several supported devices, both inside and outside of the home. The disadvantage is that some do not provide your specific regional networks or the local cable channels.
Media Streaming Devices
To watch internet TV, you'll need some type of media streaming device connected to your television: To watch internet TV, you'll need some type of media streaming device connected to your television:
Smart TV Platforms
Some of the smart TVs that are newer models come preloaded with streaming applications, which can be used to download and access services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and other similar applications without the need for extra gadgets. Some of these smart TVs come with apps for the live TV streaming services mentioned above.
Streaming Media Players
Streaming players such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV plug into your TV and let you access streaming apps. Prices start around $25-$50. Most of the streaming players also support the mirroring of the content you are displaying on the screen of your mobile device.
Game Consoles
Home theatre systems such as Xbox and PlayStation are also media centers. Moreover, you can enjoy streaming video services through apps and other features that include gaming, Blu-rays, and others. Remember, one has to buy the console and then pay an additional fee for online gaming.
So, if you have a high-speed internet connection capable of streaming video (a minimum of 8-25 Mbps is advisable), a media streaming device is all you require to ditch cable and stream your favorite TV shows.
On-Demand Streaming Services
Besides the real-time TV broadcasting services, there are standalone subscription-based video-on-demand platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, which have an enormous library of movies, TV shows, original series, etc. that are available for streaming on-demand.
These services do not stream live channels but the content available is huge, it may seem like having a choice of a lifetime. The monthly prices average from $5 to $15 per month.
OTA Antenna for Local Channels
For those who wish to add extra local broadcast stations from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and many others to Internet TV, one can get an OTA or an over-the-air antenna. These local stations for news, sports, and entertainment can be received from the indoor/outdoor antennas.
OTA antennas enable you to tune and program local broadcasts like cable. An antenna is particularly powerful when used in conjunction with given streaming possibilities, as it provides an effective cord-cutting setup.
The Bottom Line
So, you can find numerous streaming services, devices, and pieces of content to enable you to cut the cable and satellite contracts entirely. By using a combination of on-demand content, live streaming of the shows, and an OTA antenna for getting the local content, you can recreate and personalize a complete TV-watching experience over the internet for a cheaper price.
So to answer your question in short – Yes, you definitely can watch TV with just an internet connection. It will only require some changes here and there but overall it will always be cheaper.