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Last updated on December 16th, 2024 at 01:42 pm
With YouTube TV just announcing a $10 monthly price hike, bringing their service to over $80 a month, many people are looking for more budget-friendly entertainment options.
Cable TV and streaming services might offer attractive content, but their ever-increasing monthly bills aren’t affordable for everyone. If you’re looking to optimize both your budget and viewing experience, consider the benefits of using a TV antenna combined with free streaming options. This combination can provide you with quality entertainment while helping you live more frugally.
Purchasing an outdoor or attic TV antenna is a great way to get quality broadcast channels when you’re trying to live frugally. There are so many reasons why using a TV antenna makes sense versus paying a high monthly cable bill. Keep reading to learn more about all the benefits of using a TV antenna.
5 Benefits of Using a TV Antenna
1. One-Time Purchase
There are different types of antennas, which differ by where they are placed, frequency ranges, the required distance from a signal source, the presence of an amplifier, etc., so their cost can vary. Depending on their features, the price range for TV antennas varies from $10 to about $150 (for attic or outdoor options). In any case, it is a one-time purchase, unlike a monthly cable or satellite bill (which comes with frequent increases too).
2. Free TV Channels
One of the best benefits of using a TV antenna is that no matter where you live and which kind of antenna you buy, there are several channels you can watch for free. In some areas, the number of free channels might exceed 100. Cable TV services will charge a fee to watch them, but you don’t need to pay for these programs with a TV antenna. Cutting the cable cord and using an antenna is a terrific way to keep your entertainment budget in check and can be a big part of your saving strategy.
3. Large Selection of Paid Streaming Packages
Nowadays, there is a huge selection of streaming services to choose from. Many of them are free or very low cost. For free streaming try Pluto TV or Tubi, and for a low cost plan with lots of choices, try hulu. They not only have “basic” programs; there are movies, documentaries, kids’ shows, and more.
With so many choices in streaming services, it’s not hard to find one (or more) that’s right for your family. More and more people are using an antenna along with a favorite streaming platform(s) to get all of the programming they want at a huge savings.
4. Independence from Bad Weather
After purchasing an antenna, you’ll no longer be dependent on weather conditions. Those with cable might be left without a TV signal when there is severe weather. Using a TV antenna means you’ll be better protected from the effects of a hurricane, heavy rain, or dense fog. Of course, some channels’ broadcasting might be stopped at the TV station if the weather is particularly severe, but you will be able to follow the breaking news of your area in almost any situation.
5. Better Picture Quality
The quality of a signal and, accordingly, the picture displayed on your TV screen can be affected by obstacles like tall trees, skyscrapers, mountains, and so on. In the absence of all these objects near your home, you can actually get an even better picture with an antenna than using cable TV–without spending money on a monthly bill.
Enjoy Affordable, Quality Entertainment
Using your own TV antenna paired with free or low-cost streaming services will help you save big on entertainment spending. This smart combination gives you access to both live local programming and on-demand content, while freeing up money for daily expenses, or even vacations or other big purchases you have your heart set on.
As you decide on the best antenna for your situation, keep in mind the terrain surrounding your home and the distance of the TV signals you want to pull in. There are free services that can help you pick just the right antenna to maximize the number of channels you can receive. They’ll analyze your location and recommend the best product for you.
The benefits of using a TV antenna plus free streaming are clear, quality entertainment without the burden of rising monthly bills. Do you use an antenna, or an antenna paired with streaming services? Leave us a comment below about your cord-cutting experience!
Also read:
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Ava Murphy
I loved that you said that you can watch several channels for free when you consider installing a TV antenna. This is something that I will share with my husband so can consider hiring a TV antenna installer within the week. We want to ensure that we won’t end up paying a lot of bills just to watch different TV shows, so we will do your tips.
Shammy Peterson
It sure was nice when you said that by installing an antenna, you could access several channels that are for free no matter where you live. This would be a good tip for me since I want to have a TV installed in our RV. I wanted to make sure that watching TV won’t be difficult for me, especially when I am on a ride with my family. I could imagine buying antenna mounts.