How to cut the cord from cable TV without losing the shows you love

Start with what you actually watch, not with the services. Write down your must-see shows, teams, and channels, then find which streaming services carry them. Add a live TV service or an over-the-air antenna if you need local channels or sports, pick a streaming device for each TV, and confirm your internet can handle several streams at once. Done in that order, most households find they can keep what they care about and still drop the cable box.

We hear about this constantly from customers around Arcadia and Monrovia, usually right after a cable bill goes up again. Giggle doesn’t sell TV service, so we have no stake in which streaming services you pick. That also means we can be straight with you about the part nobody advertises: cutting the cord can save real money for many households.

Step 1: Write down what you actually watch

Almost everyone starts by comparing streaming services. That’s backwards, and it’s why people end up subscribing to five things and still missing the one show they cared about.

Spend ten minutes listing what your household genuinely watches in a normal month. Be specific and be honest. Not “sports,” but which teams and which leagues. Not “news,” but which channel you actually turn on. Include everyone in the house, because the argument you want to avoid is the one in week three when someone discovers their show is gone.

Most lists come out shorter than people expect. That’s the point of the exercise.

Step 2: Match your list to services

Now go looking. Each show or channel on your list lives somewhere, and a quick search on the title usually tells you which service carries it. Group your list by service and you’ll see the real shape of your household’s needs.

Two things usually become obvious at this stage. First, a handful of services cover most of what you watch. Second, one or two items on the list are the expensive ones, and they’re usually live sports or a specific cable network.

You don’t need to solve everything at once. Subscriptions are month to month, so you can rotate: subscribe when a season is running, cancel when it ends, come back next year. That flexibility is the actual advantage of streaming over a bundle, and it’s the part most people forget to use.

Step 3: Decide how you’ll get local channels and live sports

This is where most cord-cutting plans succeed or fall apart.

For local channels, an over-the-air antenna is worth considering before you pay for anything. Local broadcast stations are free, they’re transmitted in high definition, and reception across much of the San Gabriel Valley is good because of how close we are to the Mount Wilson transmitter site. A one-time purchase of an indoor antenna covers your local network affiliates permanently. It won’t work everywhere, and the hills and taller buildings do affect reception, but it costs little to try.

For live sports and cable networks, you’ll likely need a live TV streaming service. These bundle dozens of live channels and cost meaningfully more than an on-demand service, which is why they’re usually the biggest line item in a cord-cutting budget. If your list has one team on one network, check whether that league sells a direct subscription before you buy a whole live TV bundle.

Step 4: Pick your devices

Every TV needs something to run the apps. Many recent TVs have streaming built in and need nothing else. Older TVs need a streaming stick or box, which is an inexpensive one-time purchase per set.

A few practical notes. Sticks and boxes from the major platforms all carry the main services, so the choice mostly comes down to which interface your household finds easiest and which ecosystem you already use for other things. If someone in the house isn’t comfortable with technology, pick the remote with the fewest buttons and set the home screen up for them. That single decision prevents most of the support calls that follow a cord-cutting switch.

Step 5: Make sure your internet can carry it

Streaming replaces a cable line with an internet connection, so the connection has to be up to it.

A single high-definition stream needs only a few Mbps. A 4K stream needs considerably more. The number that matters isn’t one stream, it’s how many run at the same time on a Saturday night, plus everything else your household is doing. Three 4K streams, a game console, and someone on a video call is a genuinely busy network.

Consistency matters as much as the headline speed. A connection that sags during peak evening hours will buffer exactly when everyone sits down to watch. And if the picture drops resolution only in one room, that’s usually WiFi coverage rather than the plan.

If you’re planning to lean on streaming for everything, it’s worth checking what’s available at your address before you cancel anything.

What you’ll actually save

Here’s the honest math. A traditional cable and internet bundle often runs well past $150 a month once equipment rental, broadcast fees, and regional sports fees are added, and those fees are frequently absent from the advertised price.

Replace it with internet plus streaming and the internet portion drops substantially. The streaming portion depends entirely on your list from Step 1. A household on two on-demand services saves a lot. A household that needs a full live TV package plus three on-demand services saves less than they expected, and a few end up close to where they started.

The difference is usually the live TV bundle. If you can cover live sports with an antenna, a league subscription, or a season-only signup, the savings are substantial. If you truly need 80 live channels year-round, be realistic about the number before you switch.

What you gain regardless is control. No contract, no equipment rental, no annual price increase you find out about on the bill.

The bottom line

Cutting the cord works best when you start from your own list rather than from someone else’s comparison chart. Sort out live sports and local channels first, since that’s the piece that decides your budget, and make sure your connection can carry the load on a busy evening.

We don’t sell TV, so if you want a second opinion on whether your plan will hold up, our local team is happy to talk it through. We’d rather help you get it right than sell you speed you don’t need.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cut the cord without losing my favorite shows?

List everything your household actually watches, then find which streaming service carries each item. Cover local channels with an antenna or a live TV service, add a streaming device for each TV, and confirm your internet handles several simultaneous streams.

Can I still watch local channels after cancelling cable?

Yes. An over-the-air antenna picks up local broadcast stations for free in high definition, and reception is generally good across much of the San Gabriel Valley. Live TV streaming services also carry local affiliates in most markets.

How much internet speed do I need for streaming?

A single HD stream uses a few Mbps and a 4K stream uses considerably more. What matters is how many streams run at once alongside everything else in the house. Busy households with several simultaneous 4K streams, gaming, and video calls should look at a higher-speed plan and make sure their WiFi can keep up.

Is cutting the cord actually cheaper than cable?

For many households, yes, especially once equipment rental and broadcast fees are counted. Savings shrink if you need a full live TV bundle plus several on-demand services, so add up your specific list before switching.

Does Giggle Fiber offer TV service?

Giggle focuses on internet only, which is why our team can give you a neutral opinion on streaming services and devices. We’re happy to help you figure out what setup fits your household.