1. Vernon Area Public Library District
Cut the Cable
Vernon Area Public Library District

2. Introduction
According to the FCC the average cost for basic cable was $66.61/month in 2014
You pay for a lot of content that you do not watch
Cutting the cable means you “pick your poison” rather than accepting whatever your cable company decides you want to watch.
Introduction
In 2014 the average cost of basic cable price was $66.61/month. (Scroll to page 3 in the link to view this stat.)
You pay for a lot of content that you do not watch
Cutting the cable means you “pick your poison” rather than accepting whatever your cable company decides you want to watch.

3. What we will cover What does it mean to cut the cable?
What do you need to cut the cable?
What technology, channels, and apps should you consider?
How much does it cost the cut the cable?
How do you choose from so many services?
What we will cover
What does it mean to cut the cable?
What do you need to cut the cable?
What technology, channels, and apps should you consider?
How much does it cost the cut the cable?
How do you choose from so many services?
Test it all out!

4. What does it mean to cut the cable?
Substituting your cable box includes using:
HD Antennas to capture all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS), along with other selections (PBS, CW, etc)
Internet-based options with an access device for on-demand and streaming media
What does it mean to cut the cable?
Cutting your cable means that you substitute your cable box using an HD Antenna and internet connection.
HD Antennas capture all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS), along with other selections (PBS, CW, etc) in full HD, for free
Internet-based options include on-demand and streaming media available through subscription apps or channels
On-demand media means you choose a specific item to watch and you can pause it, rewind it, or skip forward
Streaming media means you watch whatever is playing on the channel at the time

5. What do you need to cut the cable?
Internet Connection
Minimum download speed of 5 Mbps per streaming user in your household
Check on the internet service available for your home
Access Device
Set-top boxes
HDMI sticks
Not every device has access to the same channels and apps.
What do you need to cut the cable?
Internet Connection
Dail-up is insufficient
Minimum download speed of 5 Mbps per streaming user in your household
Megabits per second (Mbps) refers to data transfer speeds as measured in megabits (Mb). This term is commonly used in communications and data technology to demonstrate the speed at which a transfer takes place.
Average American home has 10 Mbps speed
Check on the internet service available for your home at broadbandmap.gov
Consider conducting an “internet speed test” to view what your actual speed v. what your ISP advertises. Good websites for this include:
Access Devices
Set-top boxes
Examples are Roku box, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV
HMDI sticks
Plugs into the HDMI port on the back of your TV
Examples are Chromecast, Roku stick, and Amazon Fire TV stick)
Not every device has access to the same channels and apps.
Access devices we will sample: Apple TV, Roku stick, and Chromecast

6. Access Devices

7. Apple TV Price: $69 Why it's great: An excellent iOS companion
The Highlights:
It “just works” in the Apple ecosystem
AirPlay Mirroring
Plenty of apps (except Amazon)
Apple TV
Price: $69
Why it's great: An excellent iOS companion
The Highlights
It "just works" in the Apple ecosystem: If you own a lot of music, movies or TV shows on iTunes, the Apple TV lets you access all that content on your TV and connected sound system. And if you use iTunes Match, all your cloud-stored music is available as well. iTunes Radio gives you a free radio option in your living room too.
AirPlay mirroring: If you have other iOS devices like an iPhone or iPad, or a relatively recent Mac computer, it's simple to push music, photos and videos from nearly any app to your Apple TV. It also gives you access to a lot of apps that aren't supported natively by the Apple TV.
Plenty of apps (except Amazon): The Apple TV used to get a lot of flak for its limited app support, but it's done a much better job recently, adding high-quality services like HBO Go and Watch ESPN.

8. Roku Stick Price: $50 Pros: More choice of devices, more apps
The Highlights:
Multiple hardware and pricing options
Over 2,000 apps
Best-in-class cross-platform search
Content-agnostic
Roku Stick
Price: $70
Pros: More choice of devices, more apps
The Highlights:
Multiple hardware and pricing options: Currently Roku has four different players, not counting Roku TV. If I could recommend only one, it would be the Roku 2 ($70).
Over 2,000 apps: Roku is the winner when it comes to content (see the attached chart), with a massive channel library that includes Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, MLB.TV, NFL Now, Amazon Cloud Player, Vudu, PBS, TWC TV, Sling TV, and YouTube. Roku is often the first to get new channels, plus the company has a good track record of bringing updates to its boxes and apps.
Best-in-class cross-platform search: No other device in this group offers the ability to search for a title or other keyword across so many services including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Fox Now, FXNow, HBO Go, M-Go, Time Warner Cable and Vudu. Roku's search can save you money by letting you know when you can avoid paying to rent a movie or show that might be available for "free" as part of a subscription. You can also search via voice using Roku's remote app for iOS and Android, or via the remote on a Roku 3.
Content-agnostic: Roku's interface doesn't push you toward one app or service. The platform has a refreshing "come one, come all" vibe that seems more customer-friendly than Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Android TV, which all more or less push you toward the hardware makers' own content.
Weak mirroring and gaming: There is no true AirPlay / Google Cast mirroring equivalent: Both Apple TV and Chromecast let you use native apps on your smartphone, tablet or computer to push content to your streaming box. The company recently added screen mirroring to the Roku 2, Roku 3 and Streaming Stick, but it's a beta feature that only works with recent Android devices, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone.

9. Google Chromecast Price: $35 Pros: Cheap, simple and small
The Highlights:
Major apps covered, catalog growing
No onscreen user interface or standard remote
No cross-platform search
Screen mirroring can be spotty
Google Chromecast
Price: $35
Pros: Cheap, simple and small
The Highlights:
Major apps covered, catalog growing: Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Showtime Anytime, Starz Play, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Google Music, Plex, Vevo, MLB TV, Crackle, Rdio, Vudu and numerous other apps. The ease of adding "Cast" support to pretty much any existing Android or iOS app has also helped the Chromecast library expand very quickly recently.
No onscreen user interface or standard remote: By design, the Chromecast doesn't have a true TV-based user interface. Everything is controlled through your smartphone or tablet, which means you may need to unlock your device every time you want to pause or rewind.
App selection could still be better: An increasing number of apps offer Cast support, but there are still some significant holes, including Amazon Instant Video, Sling TV, Vimeo (which is available for iOS but not Android), Spotify and numerous sports apps.
No cross-platform search: There's no equivalent of Roku's (or Amazon's, or Google's) search capability with Chromecast.
Screen mirroring can be spotty: Screen mirroring or "TabCasting" is a beta feature on the Chromecast and it shows. While being able to project any content from a Chrome tab to your TV sounds great, in reality it doesn't always work well.

10. Technology, Channels, and Apps

11. HD Antenna
Price: $15 - $80
A good HD antenna offers all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS) along with other selections (PBS, CW, etc) in full HD, for free
Antenna analysis tool
FCC Reception Map
HD Antenna
Price: $15 - $80
A good HD antenna offers all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS) along with other selections (PBS, CW, etc) in full HD, for free
Antenna analysis tool at:
I recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 Indoor HDTV Antenna ($70)
Low Profile and picks up signal as far as 50 miles away

12. Amazon Prime (Instant Video)
Price: $99/year or $8.25/month
Exclusive rights to a host of classic HBO series
Original series
Extensive catalog of young children’s programming
Video on demand content
Rent or buy newer movies and TV shows
Free 2-day shipping from Amazon
Amazon Prime (Amazon Instant Video)
Price: $99/year or $8.25/month
Exclusive rights to a host of classic HBO series (The Sopranos, Oz)
Original series (Transparent)
Extensive catalog of young children’s programming
Video on demand content
Rent or buy newer movies and TV shows
If you already shop on Amazon anyway a Prime account means free 2-day shipping

13. Netflix Price: $8.99/month Full TV series (past seasons only) Movies
Original shows (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black)
Commercial free
Netflix
Price: $8.99/month
Full TV series (past seasons only)
Movies
Original shows (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black)
Commercial free

14. Hulu Plus Price: $7.99/month
Current seasons of popular TV shows, most of which show up on the site soon after their original air date
Works like a DVR
Good way to stay current, or catch up
Contains commercials
Full list of networks
Hulu Plus
Price: $7.99/month
Current seasons of popular TV shows, most of which show up on the site soon after their original air date
Works like a DVR
Good way to stay current, or catch up
Contains commercials
Full list of networks here:

15. Sling TV Price: $20/month Sling is web TV Stations stream live
No pause, rewind or fast-forward
You can only watch on one device at a time (except for HBO)
Contains commercials
Available for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, and Mac and PC computers
Base package includes many channels
Add HBO live and on demand for $15/month, Sports Extra for $5/month, Hollywood Extra for $5/month, and Lifestyle Extra for $5/month.
Sling TV
Price: $20/month
Sling is web TV
Stations stream live
No pause, rewind or fast-forward
You can only watch on one device at a time (except for HBO)
Contains commercials
Available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, and Mac and PC computers
Includes: ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, Food Network, A&E, History Channel, History channel 2, TNT, El Rey Network, HGTV, IFC, Disney Channel, Polaris+, Maker, TBS, Travel Channel, Adult Swim, CNN, Bloomberg Television, Cartoon Network, ABC Family, Lifetime, Galavision as part of its base package.
Add HBO live and on demand for $15/month, Sports Extra for $5/month, Hollywood Extra for $5/month, and Lifestyle Extra for $5/month.
View details at

16. HBO Now
Price: $14.99/month
Instant access to HBO’s award-winning original programming, as well as exclusive Hollywood blockbusters
Available a la carte for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV
HBO Now
Price: $14.99/month
Instant access to HBO’s award-winning original programming, as well as exclusive Hollywood blockbusters
Available a la carte for Apple TV
Roku users can add the service to a Sling TV subscription

17. Crackle
Price: Free
multi-platform video entertainment network of full length movies, TV shows and original programming
Crackle contains commercials
Crackle
Price: Free
multi-platform video entertainment network of full length movies, TV shows and original programming
Crackle contains commercials

18. Vudu Price: Pay-per-view Rent or purchase movies
Cost of a purchase is about the same as if you had purchased the movie in the store
Often cheaper than ordering episodes a la carte on Amazon Instant Video
Vudu
Price: Pay-per-view
Rent or purchase movies
Cost of a purchase is about the same as if you had purchased the movie in the store
Often cheaper than ordering episodes a la carte on Amazon Instant Video

19. How much does it cost to cut the cable?
HD Antenna + Access Device + Monthly & Annual Subscriptions + Internet = Total Cost
Slate Magazine has a useful tool for calculating your cost with and without cable for the things you want to access.
How much does it cost to cut the cable?
HD Antenna + Access Device + Monthly & Annual Subscriptions = Total Cost
Slate Magazine has a useful tool for calculating your cost with and without cable for the things you want access to:

20. How do you choose from so many services?
Time Magazine recommends plans based on your interests.
Plans are included in your handouts.
How do you choose from so many services?
Time Magazine recommends plans based on your interests:
Plans are included in your handout