Cut the Cord
How to Replace Cable TV for Only $25 a Month
Are you tired of paying a high monthly bill for cable or satellite TV? Are you looking for ways to trim your expenses? If so, then you’re in luck. We’ve found a way to assemble a decent TV plan on an ultratight budget of just $25 per month.
Here are our top three streaming picks:
Paramount+
Paramount+ has replaced CBS All Access as the company’s streaming platform and offers a no-brainer for sports fans. It has a deal to show all the local-market NFL games on CBS’ schedule through 2033, plus NCAA basketball and PGA golf, including the Masters and the PGA Championship.
It provides full-length episodes of CBS shows and new original programming, plus livestreams of local CBS affiliates in many markets. You can choose between two subscription options: Essential for $5 per month or Premium for $10 a month.
The Essential plan has a few ads, and you don’t get your local CBS station (except for NFL games). The pricier tier also lets you watch shows in 4K HDR (including Dolby Vision) and get mobile downloads.
Disney+ Bundle
Given the assortment of high-powered entertainment brands under the Disney umbrella, it should be no surprise that we’re adding Disney+ next. For $13.99 per month, you get Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu (with ads), which is a steal compared to what cable and satellite providers charge. You’ll have access to a variety of shows, movies, and live sports events.
Disney+ offers popular movies like Star Wars, The Lion King, and Avengers, plus original programming like The Mandalorian, WandaVision, and Loki. ESPN+ lets you watch live sports events, including MLB, NHL, MLS, and UFC, as well as original programming like Peyton’s Places and Detail. Hulu offers a vast collection of TV shows and movies, including original programming like The Handmaid’s Tale and Nine Perfect Strangers.
NBCUniversal’s Peacock
NBCUniversal’s Peacock is another great option that offers free content, as well as premium content for a small monthly fee. The free version includes current NBC shows, classic TV series, and movies. The premium version costs $4.99 per month (with ads) or $9.99 per month (ad-free) and gives you access to exclusive content like original shows and movies, as well as live sports events.
Peacock’s original programming includes shows like Brave New World, Girls5Eva, and Saved by the Bell, while movies like Jurassic Park, The Bourne Identity, and Fast & Furious are available for streaming. Live sports events include Premier League, NFL, and WWE.
To make the most out of your $25 budget, you might want to consider “subscription hopping,” or jumping in and out of streaming services on a monthly basis. You can sign up for a month of a service, binge-watch your favorite shows, and then cancel and move on to another service. Another money-saving tip is to get an indoor TV antenna if you live in a metropolitan area. You might be able to get even more programming free of charge.
