From cable and satellite TV to antenna and streaming services, there are numerous options available to view your favorite types of on-screen entertainment. Most of us use one or more of these options to watch our favorite TV shows, sports, live events, and movies in the comfort of our home.

It's great to have so many choices, but how much is it costing you?

While it's great to have so many choices, how much is it costing you? There is the possibility that you could be saving money by choosing different or even less services. Use the tips and options below to determine your best option or figure out where you can cut out an on-screen entertainment expense to help save you money.

Review Your Current On-Screen Entertainment Expenses

First, add up all of your monthly total on-screen entertainment expenses. Be sure to include any movie subscriptions and streaming services. The total amount might surprise you.

Second, make a list of the shows, channels, and events you actually watch and what service you get each from. Group them in categories such as frequently watch, sometimes watch, and seldom watch. Use this list to determine if you are able to cut out any services you are currently paying for.

Now, look at your selections below to see if there are options worth considering or changing to, based on your viewing patterns you just determined.

Streaming

There are hundreds of online streaming services, and more coming in the future. From the well-known services to those services catering to specific tastes, there’s an option for anyone interested in on-screen entertainment. Even more, costs can range from $5 to $80 or more per month to fit a variety of budgets.

Examples of streaming services include:

• Multichannel streaming: Sling TV, Hulu
• Live TV services: YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, ESPN+
• Movies and TV shows: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Philo, HBO Now, Showtime
• Recently launched: Disney+, Apple TV+

Many streaming services can be accessed using streaming players such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, a game console, or an app on your smart TV. Some can be accessed using a computer browser or on mobile devices.

One of the benefits of streaming services is that you can typically cancel and restart at any time. You can subscribe only when you want to watch something. You’ll want to be sure to thoroughly read the subscription details prior to joining to make sure there is no fee for cancelling or a commitment for a certain timeframe.

With more services being launched, particularly by big name tech and entertainment companies, more content may be offered only by a specific service. This will probably make it harder for consumers to find the content they want.

To help you decide which services to use, there are many guides and reviews online. This guide from Consumer Reports is a good place to start.

If you watch only a few movies or shows each month you may want to use a pay-per-view video service instead. Examples include FandangoNow, Vudu, or Amazon Video.

If you choose streaming only, you will still need an internet service provider. Include that monthly cost in any comparisons you make. Another thing to consider is any monthly data limits with standalone internet service.

Cable or Satellite TV

Cable or satellite packages offer many channels and may be the perfect fit for a household with a wide range of viewing preferences. For sports fans, these packages may be better than streaming services. If your provider offers several tiers of channels, you will want to periodically review your selections to make sure they still fit.

The drawback with these packages is they typically require a contract that can be costly to cancel. So carefully compare costs before signing up or renewing.

Antenna

An over-the-air antenna can provide access to local channels for free. An indoor antenna can be very inexpensive. If you only watch local channels, this can be a good option.

If you have opted for only streaming, you may need an antenna to get local channels.

Bottom Line

There are a variety of options available to you with varying price ranges that can allow you to continue to enjoy your TV, but also save money too. Being mindful of your budget and what you watch will help you determine what option is the best for you and your wallet.