



You’re paying too much for your cable boxes. If you’re like the average American household, you’ve likely got two boxes, which you rent from your television provider for close to $200 a year. That’s a lot of cash.

But there’s an easy, and inexpensive way to pay way less for your cable boxes and still be able to watch “The Real Housewives of the Potomac” on every TV in your home. (Yeah, I’m calling you out, Mom.)

While a lot of cable companies offer streaming apps for your smartphone and tablet, only two also let you stream to your tube: Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Charter Communications (CHTR). All you need is a cable TV subscription to one of the two services (obviously), one cable box that you can put on your main TV and a Roku Stick or player. I prefer the Stick because it’s the least expensive option.

Read more: Cut the cord and check out these 5 streming cable services

You then have to add Roku to your second TV, and download the Time Warner Cable TWC TV or Charter Spectrum app to it as you would any other app. Log into your TWC or Spectrum account through the Roku app, and you’ll be able to watch live cable on your big-screen.

Naturally, you’ll want to get an additional Roku Stick for each TV you want to watch cable on, but remember, you still need that one cable box. Sure, you’ll be paying for a new Roku Stick for each TV you have, but over time they’ll pay for themselves. If you’re a Time Warner Cable customer you can also use the TWC TV app on your Xbox One.

I started using the TWC TV app on my Rokus and Xbox One when I moved in with my fiancée and wanted to watch the Mets on every TV we have without paying for multiple cable boxes. It’s worked like a charm every time. Naturally, you’ll notice a slight time delay between what you see on the app and what you’d see on a cable box. But who cares when you’re saving cash?

There’s still hope even if you’re not a Time Warner Cable or Charter Cable subscriber. Comcast recently announced it will bring its Xfinity app to Roku later this year. What’s more, the FCC and Obama administration are working to see that cable companies open up their live TV and guides to third-party apps, so you could be waving goodbye to your cable box either way.

Happy watching.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.

Related video: