This segment is most applicable to the The New New’s US readers who, like me, were hanging onto their cable television subscriptions for who-knows-why reasons.

As someone who:

• used to be on the board of the organization that bestows Emmy awards
• has worked in all aspects of media, from magazines to advertising to live events
• loves all sorts of technology, especially the audio-visual varieties
• loves to be hands-on with the bleeding edge of change

… I was very hesitant about cutting the television cable cord.

Over the years, I did some “hacks” to save money and keep things modern. For example, I avoided paying Verizon a ridiculous monthly fee for cable boxes in my house by using Tivos throughout. (Tivos in the 2000s and 2010s are still one of my favorite brand experiences of all time.)

I have now gone deeper. I am now saving $120/month and not paying a thing for any television — live or streaming.

It took a lot of research and reading way too many product reviews. There were purchases and returns. Trials and cancellations. In the end, this is how I pulled it together.

Local Television — Throughout the House and on Every Device

Living in the Boston area, we receive 66 channels from 23 over-the-air stations, including seven NEXTGEN TV stations. (I am not sure why they spell it in all caps, but they do. Also, NEXTGEN TV broadcast technology was new to me. If it is new to you, it’s worth learning about.)

To get these stations on both televisions and every device in the house, I made these purchases:

1. Tablo Over-the-Air (OTA) DVR: this device has an elegant app for smart TVs and mobile devices. Plus, now that Scripps owns it, it has zero monthly fees and is (relatively) cheap to purchase ($99 list price).
2. Channel Master Indoor Antenna: it goes flat against the wall and can be painted. Overall, it passed the Wife’s Aesthetics Approval Test.
3. Channel Master TV Antenna Distribution Amplifier: This box ensures that the signal from the upstairs antenna reaches the basement TV. It also filters out mobile and other wireless interference.

As a bonus, when you hook this up with a Roku TV, you get hundreds of FAST TV stations. (Yes, another TV technology in all caps. This one is an acronym, though.) These are all free as well.

One of my new favorite features of FAST TV is local television news broadcasts from across the US. During the LA fires, we watched the local LA news stations—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. All live. All free. (My wife grew up in LA; her parents are still there, so having the local angle was incredibly valuable.)

Streaming Platforms — Also Free

This is one that most people already do now, so I will keep this one brief. If you don’t mind ads, you can get (nearly all) major streaming platforms for free. Here is how we do it.

• Netflix (ad-supported plan), via T‑Mobile Go5G Plus plan (which we got via Costco, which is also a very highly recommended way to get T‑Mobile service)
• Disney+ and Hulu (no ads), also via T‑Mobile service
• Max (ad-supported plan), via Verizon FIOS (home internet)
• Paramount+ (no ads), via Walmart+ (which is free via American Express)
• Amazon Prime Video, via Amazon Prime (so, not really free, but feels free)

There are a few other services we are considering paying for (e.g., Peacock, NFL+), but are holding out for now.

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Okay, yes, I know I was late to the Cord Cutting world. For many of you, this is more of an Old New segment of this newsletter. Whew, it feels great to be saving this much money while adding so much more elegance and options—a rarity nowadays.