In a world where you can now stream virtually anything you want to watch, cable companies have begun to experience a sharp decline in profits. And while this changing marketplace may be difficult for cable companies to successfully navigate, it actually works to your advantage. To compete with streaming services and general consumer dissatisfaction, cable companies have been forced to slash their prices and are now offering some previously unheard of deals.
For decades, cable companies had a complete monopoly on what consumers were able to watch. They raised their prices frequently and unpredictably, much to the frustration of everyone paying for an already expensive package. As their monopoly grew, so did the customer dissatisfaction. In fact, a whopping 99 percent of cable subscribers report being unsatisfied with their cable companies. Over the past few years, though, many people have cut ties with their cable companies in favor of cheaper and more customizable streaming services. And here’s the good news: You can use this mass exodus to your advantage. Because with so many people jumping ship from traditional cable, it’s forced cable companies to reevaluate their strategies and remodel their prices in favor of the consumers. There are some truly great cable deals out there. You just have to know where to look.
Hint: It’s not where you’d expect. The best deals aren’t just going to show up in your mailbox or on TV. These mass-produced deals often aren’t really deals at all, but just clever marketing tools used to hook you into a long-term contract where you may wind up paying more in the long run. But don’t worry — the real deals do exist, and they’re waiting to be discovered. Here are some tips for finding them:
Sources:
Gilmer, Marcus. (2016, December 1.) Streaming is a Disaster, Do Not Cut the Cord, Just Don’t Do It. http://mashable.com/2016/12/01/cable-is-still-better-than-streaming/#BJaFzpsn8qq7
Barrett, Brian. (2017, August 20.) Cord-Cutting Still Doesn’t Beat the Cable Bundle. https://www.wired.com/story/give-me-a-bundle-for-cord-cutters/
VanDerWerff, Todd. (2016, October 13.) Netflix or Hulu Won’t Win the Streaming Wars. Your Cable Company Will. https://www.vox.com/new-money/2016/10/13/13156848/netflix-hulu-amazon-cable