Your First Steps to Cutting the Cable Cord in 2025

So you've finally had enough of that outrageous cable bill and decided to join the millions who've cut the cord. Smart move! You're about to discover how much better (and cheaper) entertainment can be.

Don't worry if this feels overwhelming at first. My 73-year-old dad made the switch last year and now he's teaching his neighbors how to do it. If he can figure it out, so can you.

The streaming world has exploded since people first started ditching cable. What used to require multiple devices and complicated setups is now incredibly simple. Most of the time, everything you need is already built into your TV.

Before You Call to Cancel Cable (Don't Rush This Part!)

I know you're eager to tell your cable company exactly what you think of their latest price increase, but let's make sure you're completely ready first. Trust me, there's nothing worse than canceling cable only to realize you can't watch your favorite show.

Step One: Make Sure Your Internet Can Handle It

Streaming uses your internet connection, so you need enough speed for smooth viewing. Here's what you actually need:

• One person watching: 25 Mbps is plenty for 4K quality
• Multiple people streaming: 50-75 Mbps keeps everyone happy
• Busy household: 100+ Mbps if you've got teenagers gaming while parents stream

Run a quick speed test on your phone or computer. Just search "speed test" and click the first result. If your current internet is too slow, that's okay – you might save enough money dropping cable TV to upgrade your internet and still come out ahead.

Here's something important: many cable companies will try to scare you by saying you need their TV service to get good internet speeds. That's usually not true. Starry offers blazing-fast internet without any TV bundles required.

Figure out if your current internet bandwidth can handle it by running a simple test.

Step Two: Choose Your Streaming Device (Easier Than You Think)

If you bought your TV in the last few years, you probably don't need anything extra. Most smart TVs have Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and other apps already built in. Just connect to your Wi-Fi and you're watching.

For older TVs, here are your best options:

Roku ($30-60) – This is what I recommend to most people. Dead simple to use, works with everything, and the remote has buttons for popular services. My mom loves that she can just press the Netflix button.

Amazon Fire TV Stick ($40-50) – Great if you already use Amazon for shopping. The voice remote is handy for searching shows. Just say "find comedies with Steve Carell" and it searches across all your services.

Apple TV ($130-180) – More expensive but super smooth if you have an iPhone or iPad. Everything syncs up nicely.

Setup for any of these takes about 10 minutes. They plug into your TV's HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi, and you're done.

Step Three: Pick Your Streaming Services (Start Small)

This is where people get overwhelmed, but it's actually pretty straightforward. Start with one or two services and add more later if needed. You can always cancel services you don't use.

The Essential Streaming Services for 2025

Let me break down the most popular options without all the marketing fluff:

Netflix ($15.49/month)

Still the king of streaming. Netflix has something for everyone – original series like Stranger Things and Wednesday, tons of movies, documentaries, comedy specials, and kids' shows.

Best for: Families who want variety. If you only get one service, this is probably it.

What you get: Thousands of shows and movies, ability to download for offline viewing, works on every device imaginable.

YouTube TV ($72.99/month)

This is your cable replacement. You get live TV just like cable, including local channels, sports, and news. It's more expensive than other services, but it replaces your entire cable TV package.

Best for: People who want live TV, sports fans, news watchers, anyone who likes channel surfing.

What you get: 100+ live channels, unlimited recording (seriously, record everything), local channels in most areas.

Hulu + Live TV ($76.99/month)

Very similar to YouTube TV but includes Hulu's on-demand library too. You get live channels plus thousands of shows and movies.

Best for: People who want both live TV and a huge on-demand library.

What you get: Live TV, Hulu's entire catalog, ESPN+, Disney+ (all included in the price).

Netflix + Hulu (Basic) Combo

If you don't care about live TV, you can get Netflix ($15.49) plus basic Hulu ($7.99) for about $23 total. That gives you current shows, original content, and a massive movie library.

Best for: People who mostly watch shows on their own schedule and don't need live sports or news.

Amazon Prime Video (Included with Prime)

If you already pay for Amazon Prime shipping ($14.99/month), you get Prime Video free. It has original shows like The Boys and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, plus tons of movies.

Best for: Anyone who already shops on Amazon regularly.

Disney+ ($7.99/month)

Everything Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. Plus National Geographic content.

Best for: Families with kids, Marvel fans, Star Wars enthusiasts.

Max ($15.99/month)

This is the new name for HBO Max. You get all HBO shows (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us), plus Warner Bros. movies and DC content.

Best for: People who love premium original series and recent blockbuster movies.

What About Live Sports and News?

This is probably your biggest concern, right? Good news: you won't miss anything.

For Sports: YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV both include ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, and your local channels for Sunday football. That covers 90% of what most people watch.

For News: Both services include CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and your local news stations. You can also watch news free on YouTube, or get apps like CBS News that stream live for free.

For Local Channels: YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox in most areas. You'll get your local news, weather, and network shows.

A Simple Plan to Get Started

Here's exactly what I tell people who ask me for help:

Week 1: Sign up for YouTube TV (they usually offer a free trial). Keep your cable for now. Spend the week watching your usual shows on YouTube TV instead of cable.

Week 2: Add Netflix if you don't already have it. Most people end up loving the original shows and the convenience of watching anything, anytime.

Week 3: Make a list of everything you actually watch. Check if it's available on your streaming services. You'll probably find you're covered.

Week 4: If you're comfortable, call your cable company and cancel TV service. Keep internet unless Starry is available in your area.

Don't feel pressured to rush this. Take your time and make sure streaming works for your family before cutting cable completely.

Smart Money-Saving Tips

Rotate subscriptions: Sign up for Disney+ when there's a new Marvel show, cancel when you're done. Subscribe to Max when Game of Thrones is on, cancel during the off-season. You're not locked into anything.

Share accounts (legally): Most services let you have multiple users. Share Netflix with family members or let your adult kids use your account.

Look for bundle deals: Disney offers Disney+ plus Hulu plus ESPN+ for $14.99. That's cheaper than buying separately.

Use free trials wisely: Most services offer 7-day free trials. Try before you commit.

What About Recording Shows?

YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV both include unlimited recording. You can record as many shows as you want and they save for 9 months. It's actually better than cable DVRs because you never run out of space.

You can also "record" entire series. Tell it to record The Bachelor and it'll automatically record every episode, even new seasons.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Don't sign up for everything at once. Start with 1-2 services and add more only if you need them.

Don't keep cable "just in case" for months. Give streaming a real try for 2-3 weeks, then make the call.

Don't panic if you can't find one specific show. There are thousands of great shows you haven't discovered yet.

Don't pay for premium add-ons right away. See what's included in the basic packages first.

Real Talk: What You'll Actually Save

Here's what we typically see:

Before cord cutting:

• Cable TV + Internet: $160-200/month

After cord cutting:

• Starry Internet: $50-80/month
• YouTube TV: $73/month
• Netflix: $15/month
• Total: $138-168/month

Savings: $20-60 per month

That might not sound huge, but it's $240-720 per year. Plus, you get way more control over what you watch and when you watch it.

You're Not Alone in This

Over 65 million American households have cut the cord. The cable companies know they're losing customers, which is why they keep raising prices on the people who stay.

Here's what some of our customers told us about their experience:

"I was terrified I'd miss my morning news. Turns out YouTube TV has all the same local channels, and I can watch the news on my phone while I'm getting ready for work." – Linda, age 64

"My biggest surprise was how much easier it is to find something to watch. Instead of flipping through 200 channels of nothing, I can search for exactly what I want." – Mike, age 58

"The hardest part was learning to use the Netflix app on my TV. My grandson showed me once and now I'm addicted to British baking shows." – Betty, age 71

Ready to Take the Plunge?

You don't have to figure this out alone. Our team at Starry helps people make this transition every day.

Here's how we can help:

1. Check if Starry Internet is available in your area (call 1-888-STARRY-1)
2. Contact our support team to get the best promo for Starry Internet.
3. Get personalized recommendations based on what you actually watch
4. Start with a streaming service trial while keeping cable as backup

The goal isn't to make your life more complicated – it's to give you better entertainment for less money. Once you experience the freedom of watching what you want, when you want, for a fair price, you'll wonder why you waited so long.

Join the cord cutting revolution. Your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you.