Can Patrons Save Money by Getting Rid of Cable TV? Jonathan Upton of Old Bridge Library Presents the Ins and Outs
By Rich Wiest
Cutting the Cable Cord: How to Access Free and Lower-Cost TV and Video Content was presented by Jonathan Upton, who is the Managing Librarian for Digital Support Services at the Old Bridge Public Library, during the 2019 Adult Services Forum.
The daylong learning event was sponsored by the Reference Section of the New Jersey Library Association, held Oct. 22, 2019, at the Holmdel Library and Learning Center.
Mr. Upton started the presentation by asking the audience questions such as, the type of device they watch programs on, and the level of tolerance they have for advertisements.
Before dropping cable, there are a number of items to consider.
One has to look at their current cable bill and look at the items for which they are currently paying. Mr. Upton listed basic items that would be listed on a cable bill (digital package, TV box and remote, fees, and taxes/surcharge).
He also suggested taking stock of technology you currently have, researching deals that are available, and seeing if a lower price or different package can be negotiated.
Consumers looking to get rid of cable have many options. One is a digital antenna. There are both indoor and outdoor antennas. They provide reception and channel selection.
There are a variety of methods that can be used to stream films and television shows on mobile devices and PCs. These include:
- Apps. They can be downloaded, for example, from the app store on an Apple device. A cable subscription may be required to access some content. Libraries also offer subscriptions to video providers such as Hoopla, Kanopy, and Stingray Qello.
- Websites from TV channels (TNT, SyFy, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.). The only drawback is that they may only have a few of the most recent episodes.
- Sites such as YouTube, which offer a wide selection of videos that can be viewed without having an account.
This was an informative session. The presenter was very knowledgeable on the subject matter. He provided some really good examples for each topic covered. Plus, he provided some helpful resources at the end.
Rich Wiest is a Librarian at the Glassboro Library, a branch of the Gloucester County Library System.