Cable Cord-Cutting Workshop

Informational Packet

June 27th, 2017

Sponsored by:

Randy Hunt, CPA – State Representative, 5th Barnstable District

Mark Forest - Adjunct Professor, Cape Cod Community College

Matthew Cubetus - Planning Board Member, Town of Sandwich

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Over-the-Air (OTA)

3. Streaming Equipment

4. Streaming Services

5. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Telephones

6. What You Can Do Now

1. Introduction

With costs of cable TV and high-speed internet skyrocketing due to the

strong monopoly currently held by Cape Cod’s residential internet service

provider, Representative Hunt decided to examine how he could encourage better

pricing and faster internet speeds by introducing competition to this market. To

accomplish this goal, he organized a coalition of partners that includes Barnstable

County, the Cape Cod & the Islands’ delegation to the state Legislature, and

OpenCape.

In the meantime, while this project continues to develop, there is a way to

save money: Cord-cutting, or the process of replacing existing cable TV with high-

speed broadband and select streaming services such as PlayStation Vue and Sling

TV. Cord-cutting can offer a more personalized service and potential savings of up

to $100 per month.

By simply purchasing a streaming device, such as a Roku or Apple TV, you

can view all of your favorite content through the internet. By connecting the device

to your current TV, services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, CBS All Access, and

more, can be accessed. Devices are typically controlled by a remote, as well as an

app on your smart phone or tablet.

The goal of this workshop is to educate community members about how to

explore alternatives to cable or satellite TV subscriptions through cord-cutting, so

they can watch their preferred programming at affordable prices

We hope that this packet will serve as a supplemental resource that will help

deepen your understanding of all the options that exist by opting to cut the cord.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Randy through

his legislative office. His aide, Matt Liber, can be reached at 617-722-2396 or at

matthew.liber@mahouse.gov.

2. Over-the-Air (OTA)

What is OTA?

With the purchase of a TV antenna, consumers have the ability to receive

signals from their local broadcast TV stations for free. Consumers can choose

between purchasing an indoor antenna and an outdoor antenna. Indoor antennas

tend to have greater limitations in picking-up signals, especially those broadcasted

from faraway distances, as would be the case on the Cape.

The prices typically range from $20 for an indoor antenna to $100 for roof-

mount models. More expensive roof-mount models will be able to receive more

stations. Distance from the transmitting tower is the most important factor when

choosing your antenna model. OTA can be coupled with any of the streaming

services and equipment outlined in the following sections of this packet.

Available channels on the Cape include:

ABC

NBC

FOX

CBS

PBS

The CW

QVC

iON TV (out of Hyannis)

The Cape’s distance from the Boston transmission towers means that only

the best antennas with amplification are likely to work at all. The best bet is to

install an antenna in an attic or on an outside pole if your house is relatively high

up and on the north side of the Cape. Anybody beyond Barnstable is going to have

a difficult time accessing OTA signals.

Figure 1: OTA transmission range map for the Boston area

To choose the best antenna for you, visit www.antennaweb.org and enter

your specific address to see how far the signal would have to travel. A screenshot

of this site (Figure 2) is shown on the following page.

Figure 2: antennaweb.org screenshot

3. Streaming Equipment

What is streaming equipment?

Streaming equipment consists of the plug-ins you use to connect your

streaming services to your TV (streaming services will be discussed in the

following section). These are unnecessary if you only plan to stream your services

on a computer, smart phone, or tablet.

Some examples of streaming equipment include:

Roku

Other Roku streaming devices range from $39.99 to $109.99, with varying

streaming speeds and picture quality.

Roku is compatible with Playstation Vue, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Sling TV,

HBO, CBS All Access, and Starz.

Apple TV

Depending on storage preferences, the prices range from $149.00 to

$199.00.

Apple TV has over 1,600 video apps to choose from, including Netflix,

Starz, CBS All Access, FOX News, NFL Network, The Weather Channel, Hulu,

HBO, Sling TV, Playstation Vue, and more of your favorite TV channels.

Chromecast

To use Chromecast, simply plug in the device to your TV’s HDMI port and

use your phone as a remote.

Chromecast offers services such as Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Playstation Vue,

NFL Sunday Ticket, and Google’s own library of movies.

Amazon Fire TV

Depending on your personal viewing preferences, Amazon offers three

different devices. The Fire TV Stick is the cheapest and most popular of the three,

but streaming quality increases with each device.

You can use Amazon to watch Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, HBO, YouTube,

Sling TV, ESPN, and many others.

4. Streaming Services

What are streaming services?

Streaming services are the various packages that can be purchased at a

monthly rate so you can personalize which content you would like to receive.

Some examples of streaming services include:

Netflix

Large selection of TV shows and movies for all ages

Large amount of original content (e.g., House of Cards, Gilmore Girls: A

Year in the Life, Narcos, Bloodline, Stranger Things)

Commercial-free

Wide variety of pricing options and plans (Figure 3)

Figure 3: Netflix pricing options and plans

Amazon Instant Video

Lots of movies, TV, HBO, and original content

Feature allows for customers to add premium channels, such as Starz and

Showtime for a discount

30-day free trial available

Commercial-free

If you currently have an Amazon Prime membership, you already have

access to these services. However, certain channels require an added fee

(HBO has a 7-day free trial and then costs $14.99/month; Starz has a 7-day

free trial and then costs $8.99/month)

Hulu

TV content available for playback, such as Seinfeld, Fear the Walking

Dead, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Cheers

Shows added almost immediately after TV airing

30-day free trial available

Available on multiple devices

Commercial-free option

Children’s options are available

Multiple pricing options and plans (Figure 4)

Figure 4: Hulu pricing options and plans

Showtime

Includes shows such as The Affair, Homeland, Roy Donovan, Twin Peaks,

and Shameless the moment they air. Also includes children’s options.

Allows you to download full episodes and movies to your mobile devices to

watch offline at any time

Can be streamed through Amazon, Apple TV, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, Roku,

Sling TV, and other streaming services

Commercial-free

Free 7-day trial

Available on multiple devices

HBO Now

Free 30-day trial

Available for streaming on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon, or Roku

Includes shows like Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,

Veep, Real Time with Bill Maher, Westworld, VICE News, and various

children’s options

Includes movies such as The Accountant and Batman v Superman: Dawn of

Justice

Starz

Free 7-day trial

Available for streaming on Apple products, Google Play, Roku, and Amazon

Includes shows and movies such as Ice Age: The Meltdown, Inferno,

Madeline, Risen, Ratatouille, and many others

CBS All Access

Free 7-day trial

Commercial-Free option is available ($9.99/month)

Includes over 8,000 episodes on demand from shows such as NCIS, Blue

Bloods, The Big Bang Theory, CSI: Miami, and many CBS originals

Live-TV streaming available 24/7 that includes the news and sports

Available for streaming on Apple products, Amazon Fire, Google, Android,

Roku, Playstation Vue, Xbox, and others

Sling TV

Free 7-day trial

Includes channels such as ESPN, FX, NBA TV, Fox Sports, TNT,

FreeForm, CNN, MSNBC, many children’s options, and more depending on

which service you choose (blue or orange)

Available for streaming on Apple, Roku, Amazon, Google, Android, and

Xbox

Sling Blue: $25/month

Sling Orange: $20/month

DirecTV Now

Free 7-day trial

Depending on which service you choose, channels such as ABC, Bravo,

Cartoon Network, CNBC, Discovery, DIY Network, Fox, ESPN, CNN and

more can be accessed immediately

HBO is $5 extra per month

Available for streaming on Amazon, Apple, Chromecast, Roku, and most

smartphones and tablets

Variety of pricing plans and options (Figure 5)

Figure 5: DirecTV Now pricing plans and options

Playstation Vue

Free 5-day trial

Available for streaming on Roku, Playstation, Amazon Fire, Google

Chromecast, and most smartphones and tablets

Includes channels such as NBC, CNN, ESPN, FOX News, FOX Sports,

USA, Food Network, Showtime, HBO and many more depending on which

package you choose

Also includes the New England-specific networks NESN and CSN with the

purchase of at least the “Core” package

Variety of pricing plans and options (Figure 6)

Figure 6: Playstation Vue pricing plans and options

5. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Telephones

What phone options are accessible through an internet connection only?

There are a few services that allow you to keep your home phone for a low

monthly price.

Some examples include:

Vonage

CenturyLink

Ooma

Magic Jack

6. What You Can Do Now

Current pricing for Comcast service on Cape Cod (approx.):

Internet-only (25mbps): $74.95 per month + $59.99 set-up fee

Internet (25 mbps) + basic cable: $49.99 per month + $30.00 set-up fee

Streaming Services Pricing Chart

Comcast Double Play: $49.99/month + tax

Streaming Service Price/month Price + Comcast

Double Play

Netflix $12/month ~$62/month

Amazon Instant

Video

$11/month ~$61/month

Hulu $12/month ~$62/month

Showtime $11/month ~$61/month

HBO Now $15/month ~$65/month

Starz $9/month ~$59/month

CBS All Access $10/month ~$60/month

Sling TV $25/month ~$75/month

DirecTV Now $35 - $70/month ~$85 -

$120/month

PlayStation Vue $30 - $65/month ~$80 -

$115/month

Examples of cord-cutting bundles:

Comcast Double Play (25mbps+basic cable) + Vonage + Hulu= ~$72 per

month

Comcast Double Play (25mbps+basic cable) + Netflix + Hulu= ~$74 per

month