Are you unhappy with your cable or satellite provider? Looking for a cost-effective alternative to those services that will allow you to get you the entertainment you want at an affordable price?

If so, chances are you’re shopping for the best streaming device, otherwise known as a streaming media player.

For our top streaming device recommendations, please see the product list above. We’re confident you’ll find something to suit your needs.

To learn more about streaming media players and how to make an educated purchase, please read our product shopping guide below.

Box vs Stick

Media boxes, which run the same way as a provider’s box
To the untrained eye, it may seem inconsequential which one you get. After all, they’re both designed to do the same thing.

Bu...

Save your wrath for the media giants that own lots of cable TV channels.

Cable TV is expensive. According to the FCC, the average cost of an expanded basic cable subscription reached $64.41 in 2013. The price of expanded basic cable has risen at about two and a half times the rate of inflation since 1995.

CABLE PROVIDERS LIKE TIME WARNER CABLE ARE NOT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF SOARING CABLE BILLS.

The inexorable rise of cable prices explains why so many consumers are eager to cut the cord. But why is cable so expensive in the first place? Many people assume it is because pay-TV operators like Time Warner Cable (UNKNOWN:TWC.DL), AT&T (NYSE:T), and DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV.DL) are greedy — but that is not the whole story.

It is all about the bundle

The most frustrating thing for many c...

The different types of streaming media services include television, movies, radio and live events. These services are accessible via the Internet, although may require specific software to access. The speed of the Internet is critical in the delivery of any streaming media service. A direct, high-speed Internet connection, such as through broadband, DSL or cable is required.

Growth of Streaming Video

Streaming media grew exponentially as the price for high-speed Internet connections dropped. Using a standard computer, most people can now access media from other countries that are not available on television. In addition to expanded access, television programs and movies also can be viewed via the Internet, usually without commercials.

The actual television program is owned by the...

We love our TV, but most of us aren’t using most of the pay-TV package that we’re paying for.

Bruce Springsteen famously sings about how “there’s 57 channels and nothin’ on.” In reality, for most traditional cable customers, there’s nearly 200 channels and a few things on.

The average household in the United States spent seven hours and 50 minutes a day watching TV in 2017, according to Nielsen. That’s actually down from a peak of eight hours and 55 minutes in 2009, but it’s still a stunning amount of time spent in front of the television.

Based on the time spent watching TV, a cable subscription actually offers a pretty good value. The problem is that most people only watch a fraction of the channels they have access to, according to a new study from Cordcutting...

NEW YORK — Cable and satellite TV providers are ringing in the new year with an unwelcomed gift: higher cable bills.

Comcast, for instance, says customer bills will rise 2.2%, on average, in 2018. AT&T is raising DirecTV’s prices by up to $8 a month in mid-January. Smaller providers are planning increases, too.

Over the past decade, prices for TV service have risen almost twice as fast as inflation, according to an analysis of government data. Data provider S&P Global Market Intelligence says customers’ cable and satellite TV bills have soared 53% since 2007, to $100.98 in 2017.

Annual rate hikes are as guaranteed as death and taxes. But you can push back and trim your bill.

Why prices rise

Cable companies point to rising fees they pay to carry TV networks...

Still wondering why you should buy a smart TV? Here’s what you should consider.

Just like TVs that feature 4K Ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR), smart TVs make up the bulk of what you’ll find on store shelves these days. Smart TVs aren’t just popular, they’re the status quo. As an example, every single model on our list of the best TVs you can buy is a smart TV. Even the models on our list of the best TVs under $500 are all smart TVs.

But what makes a TV smart, and which TVs are the smartest? We’re here to answer those questions, and ensure you’re well-educated heading into your next big purchase. Doing your homework can be the difference between spending hundreds on a stopgap solution and picking out a TV that’ll last you for several years...

1) How do I get started?

A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step, and so too does cord cutting. With so many choices, devices, and paths one can take; it can be a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry the internet has a wealth of answers, it just takes time or you can find someone that is knowledgeable to help

2) Can I still watch my favorite shows?

I get this question a lot, and for good reason. After all, what’s the point of cutting the cord if you can’t even get the shows and movies you love? Well have no fear intrepid cord cutters because there is absolutely no reason why you can’t cut the cord and still enjoy the same shows that you did with cable.

For starters, most of America’s favorite shows air on network television; which you can watch for free as long as y...

Cutting the cord can save you money as long as you go into it with the right mindset. If you’re aiming to completely replace your cable channels or to have every episode of every show at your fingertips, you likely won’t end up with significant savings.

Know your price

Regardless of whether consumers have bundled internet and television service or not, they spend on average about $103 per month on pay TV, according to Leichtman Research Group. So there are surely savings to be had if you’re willing to make some sacrifices.

You can often save money by trimming your cable package or cutting the cord completely...

If you missed your favorite TV show or didn’t have the time to visit the video store, don’t worry. With streaming TV there is no need for waiting or even getting off of the couch to view the video you want to see instantly. Streaming video to TVs is possible because of the streaming media download process and the availability of Internet TVs. These types of technology working together are transforming at-home entertainment

Streaming Media

There are two ways to access media like audio and video files from the Internet. One way is to completely download a compressed file, decompress it, save it to a hard drive and then watch or listen to it. The other way is to stream it...

These days, more of us are considering cutting the cord and getting rid of cable, and with good reason. One is that there are now more options. The other is simply the growing cost of traditional pay TV.

In fact, industry analysts say people are leaving traditional pay-TV services at an accelerating rate and turning to cable-like streaming subscription services instead. These aren’t services like Netflix that carry individual movies and TV series. Instead, they provide channels of content such as AMC, CNN, and HGTV along with broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC).

According to Bruce Leichtman, the president and principal analyst at Leichtman Research Group, the largest traditional pay-TV services lost almost 3 million subscribers in 2018, while the top two cable-replacement st...