“It’s okay, Lily; this will be good for you,” I told myself the day my dad and brother built a TV antenna out of PVC pipe and wire.

“You don’t need TV…” my mind continued.

My dad walked in the kitchen.

“The antenna is up,” he said. “No more paying for Dish!”

Little did my siblings and I know, another world of streaming technology existed that we wouldn’t have explored without the encouragement of my dad’s minimalist attitude.

Seven years have passed since our “cord-cutting day,” and many other families have traded their $60-a-month satellite queues for inexpensive systems, fewer commercials and greater variety.

Netflix

As one of the most commonly used streaming networks, Netflix serves 86 million subscribers for only $7.99 a month, Netflix said. A few years after cutting the cord, my parents considered cutting off Netflix as well, but the service has continued to improve.

Netflix has always provided users with a variety of past-season cable TV shows and movies, but they have since added original TV shows, documentaries and movies in an assortment of genres.

“I’ve only been on Netflix for less than a year, but I think it has released better movies and shows,” senior Sarah Hangsleben said. “The shows are more current and (Netflix) is also making their own (content).”

Netflix originals like “The Crown,” “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Black Mirror” have caught the attention of a variety of different viewers. Like many other Netflix subscribers, Hangsleben was hooked Golden Globe winner “Stranger Things” after the first episode.

“I love the mystery/(science fiction tone) that comes with the show,” she said. “The series got me invested in the characters, so I couldn’t stop watching.”

Even though they haven’t done it yet, Hangsleben said her mom has considered cutting the cord multiple times because of Netflix.

“As a family we just don’t watch the news or sporting events that would require us to use cable,” she said.

Hulu

Hulu also offers a variety of TV shows, movies and originals at $7.99 per month. Turn-around time is one obvious difference between the two services. While it may take over a year for a new season to make its appearance on Netflix, watchers only have to wait one day after broadcast for the newest episode of their favorite show to be available on Hulu.

“Hulu offers a bunch of TV shows that aren’t broadcast (live) very often,” senior Benjamin Schlueter said. “It’s much easier to put on your favorite TV show and continuously stream it without commercials.”

With a selection ranging from oldies but goodies like “Drake and Josh” and “Seinfeld” to newer shows like “Modern Family” and “The Goldbergs,” viewers can find their preferred cable shows even after they cut the cord.

“Hulu appeals more to my type of TV show, and although it doesn’t have a lot of great movies, it has plenty of TV shows that I can watch for months,” Schlueter said. “Because of this, I think it would (be a good replacement for cable).”

Sling

If waiting one day for your show to appear on Hulu is still a stretch, Sling Television– released in 2015– live-streams cable channels contract-free. Despite having far fewer channels than cable, Sling only costs $20 per month to watch ESPN, AMC, Food Network, HGTV and other popular channels at your convenience.

“Sling TV’s bargain price and freedom from contracts make it well worth a test drive for prospective cord-cutters or ‘cord-nervers’ who can live with its stripped-down selection of live TV channels,” CNet’s David Katzmaier said in his article “Sling TV Review.”

Not only does Sling allow viewers to watch their favorite shows live, but spectators can pause, rewind and fast-forward. The program also offers on-demand options and mobile access.

“Sling TV offers you something that very few subscription services do,” Streaming Observer’s Ashtyn Evans wrote in “Sling TV Review: Channels List, Features, Free Trial And More.” “You receive a true cable-like experience. If you’re without cable, Sling TV can offer the fix you need at a price you can afford.”

Roku

For avid TV viewers who don’t have an app-compatible TV, the Roku plug-in can stream Netflix, Hulu and Sling from any television monitor.

“I think it’s nice because it’s just a small plug-in piece that I can travel around with,” senior Rylee Beegle said. “If I’m sick of watching the show in my room, I can take it and plug it into the basement TV.”

Users can also download channels outside of those already built in. Junior Mary Arth prefers Roku over cable because of the accessibility and variety that it provides.

“It’s a very easy system to understand and work,” Arth said. “The remote has only (a few) buttons and it has apps for everyone, like Netflix, (but also) a workout feature called Daily Burn, YouTube and many more.”

The average cable bill costs $99 and prices for satellite TV have climbed about 8 percent each year, according to NBC News. Meanwhile, Roku users spend about $70 to purchase the system and only $36 per month on Netflix, Hulu and Sling combined, making it easier to cut the cord and possible to spend extra money on other expenses.
“I feel like not all systems can offer so many features to so many different people,” Arth said. “After we got Roku, it seems like I hardly use cable anymore.”