hj Loc: Florida

I need suggestions on cutting our $305 monthly bill from Spectrum. (It just jumped $18 monthly in one increase and is getting absurd) We would like to use Spectrum only for internet and then get TV streaming through another service provider, but totally confused with talk about Roku, Tivo, Fire sticks, Sling etc. If we use Spectrum internet, can someone identify a simple solution to use with our Samsung Smart TV without using an antenna? Wife insists on at least having Newsmax, HGTV, Hallmark channels and Fox News. We do not use premium movie channels. Will it be as simple as getting Spectrum internet and a streaming service like SLING? Is HULU a viable service? Thanks for any help you can give.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Internet services are regional so you will have to check locally. Ask your neighbors what internet service they use. And negotiate with Spectrum to find out how to reduce your bill.

Are you renting equipment to provide wifi from the internet connection? That is sometimes a significant cost that can be replaced by buying your own modem.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

One solution is Spectrum for internet (unless you can get Google), a Roku streaming device and UTube TV. That will cut your bill in half and give you all the channels you want plus local channels plus many more. The initial cost for the Roku device is in the $40 range including the remote. You can add as many TVs as you like (on simultaneously) you just need a Roku device for each. UTube TV also provides unlimited storage of recorded programs.

Spectrum’s constant price increases are absurd - I went to the system described above many years ago, and I’m so glad I did - I only wish I could drop Spectrum completely, but at the moment, Google Fibre hasn’t made it to my block.

jimkolt Loc: Sun City, AZ

Don't know about Spectrum, but here's my experience with Cox in Phoenix. We used Cox for internet and Sling for TV. Sling has various levels of programs, so you can sort of regulate your cost by what you watch. If you don't have a "smart" tv, a firestick or Rocku is about $40. You connect it to the tv and the internet. I agree owning your own modem usually makes sense from a cost perspective. In our area both Verizon and T-Mobil offer internet. I was able to switch to Verizon for internet and reduce my monthly cost to $55 from about double that. If you have choices for internet providers, you should check them out. (For what its worth, Verizon seems to be more reliable the Cox.)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Dang, that's outrageous!
We have cable with Comcast, TV (lots of channels) and internet are half of that.

fantom Loc: Colorado

I call my cable company once every year and demand they lower their prices. They generally do. If they don't, I ask to be transferred to the Cancel Service Line and they eventually get me a lower price. Or just cancel and go with a different service on their introductory offer.

tjmoore Loc: NewJersry

Look at youtube tv. For around $70 you'll get 95% of the chanels you had. So $50 to spectrum $70 to Youtube TV & you'll stream 95% of tje channels you had before

DRam11 Loc: Polson, MT

We dropped cable several years ago and bought a Fire Stick. There is a large choice of programs, some require a monthly fee, others are free. We don't miss paying for a bunch of channels we never watch.

Bret P Loc: California

If it is a Smart TV, that means it has apps and can stream content from the internet without a Roku, Fire Stick, etc.

Is it set up to connect to the internet?
Look at the manual for the tv if you don't know how.

Bret P Loc: California

There is undoubtedly a button for settings on the remote to set up internet on the Smart TV.

There is a button on remote to choose "apps" to view free content on the internet and a way to add other apps to view premium content on internet like Hallmark channels, and for Newsmax, HGTV, and Fox News.

Apps:
Hallmark is on Amazon Prime as an add-on, or from Hallmark.com, Frndly, Fubo TV, Hulu Live TV, Peacock, Philo, Sling, VDGO, and YouTube TV.

HGTV without cable on DirecTV Stream, Philo, Sling TV Orange, Sling TV Orange + Blue, Sling TV Blue, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream Ultimate, Fubo TV Elite, Now TV, Spectrum TV Choice, Xfinity Choice TV, or NOW TV and Peacock Premium Bundle.

newsmax on www.newsmaxtv.com, FuboTV, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Xumo, YouTube, Vidgo.

Fox News Channel - Fox.com and the FOX News app, included With Amazon Prime, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV.

You'll get certain free "apps" with your smart tv, probably different free ones if you go Roku or Fire Stick, etc.

You don't mention current network broadcasts (ABC, NBC etc.) or local channels.
If you can't use an antennae for those (like me, mountainsin the way), you'll need Sling or You Tube or some other app to see them.

Laramie Loc: Tempe

I have never had cable/dish at my house and recently purchased a Roku Stick. The Stick is convenient, but it is just a way to get to other streaming services, each with its own cost. What is nice is that the Roku device is a one time cost.

ELNikkor

We started Spectrum Internet at $44. Now, it is $126. TV is antenna only, but gets us enough.

tcthome Loc: NJ

How much is Spectrum's internet service good enough for streaming?

tcthome Loc: NJ

Optimum did that to me & wanted $146. They had 3 plans listed starting at $33, $60 something & $90 something at the time. Tried to get dropped to the mid-priced but they gave me a hard time. Dropped them & went with Verizon Wireless through a router only. $50 a month. I stream you tube without any problems.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

We do use spectrum for Internet and my bills around 40 a month I use YouTube TV streaming for all my channels. The problem is it works really good but the price is gone from 35 a month when I first started to almost 80 now.