Here’s what you’ll save by ditching cable TV

Do you want to see live programming, new shows the day they premiere, and premium channels such as HBO and Showtime? In that case, don’t cut the cord. But if you’re willing to part with some live TV, it’s worth reviewing your options if you’ve had enough of paying through the nose for cable TV.

As Internet streaming services improve, more Americans are deciding what’s lost by abandoning traditional cable. Cable bills have more than doubled over the last decade and the national average bill -- currently hovering at $90 a month -- will reach $200 in 2020, estimates market researcher The NPD Group. What’s more, over 80% of consumers already say their cable bills are too high, according to another survey by deal aggregator TechBargains.com. Increasingly, people watch shows illegally. “Cutting the cord for most people is easier said than done unless they go pirate,” says Craig Moffett, senior analyst at Moffett Nathanson Research.