Cutting the cord may not save you money, but it is a way better TV experience

Jefferson Graham | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Cutting the cable TV cord is not about saving money The true costs of cutting the cord: Streaming services, higher monthly Internet charges, antenna and a DVR will actually cost as much if not more than cable. But it's a way better TV viewing experience. We explain why.

Millions of people every year are ditching their cable boxes to save hundreds of dollars on channels many of us never watch.

It’s great, but here’s the dirty little secret: You won’t save real money on ditching cable. But you will get a way better viewing experience.

Some 33 million people are expected to cut the cord this year, up from 27.1 million in 2017, according to researcher eMarketer.

But save money? Come on. The average costs for cable and satellite TV is between $85 to $100. The average price for internet is $60, Add the cost of Netflix ($10.99 to $13.99 for HD and 4K), Hulu ($11.99 without ads), Amazon Prime ($9.92 monthly) and even without TV service you're at nearly $100 monthly. And that's without adding the cost of an antenna for reception or a DVR for recording shows.

To cut the cable, all you need is an internet signal, and a streaming player, which you can get for as little as $20, or an internet-enabled smart TV, and you’ve got enough entertainment to last you for weeks.

If you’re willing to spend around $40, you can then subscribe to so-called cable alternatives – from YouTubeTV, Hulu, PlayStation TV or Sling TV – and you’ll get all the broadcast channels and most of the cable services you might want to see. So, 50 channels instead of 500. This is where cutting the cord really shines.

Unlike cable providers, which rent you a DVR with limited storage space on a monthly basis, YouTube and PlayStation, for instance, have cloud DVRs with unlimited storage. And they're easier to operate. You want to see a show, you find it in the menu on the TV or within the app, click a button, and now you’re recording the entire series – without any worries about running out of room.

You have access to the shows anywhere you are – you can catch them on your phone, in an Uber or on the bus, at the office during your lunch break, in the park, wherever, and then pick the show back up in the same place you left off at home. (Some cable and satellite services offer these app features as well, but not all.)

With the cable alternatives, you get viewing screen menus that, unlike cable, are personalized to your tastes. YouTube knows you like to watch This is Us, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, and similar to Netflix and Amazon, pushes those shows to the top of the menu. And you get recommendations based on similar titles.

And the program guide is dynamic, with pictures and live video, unlike the static, plain text of a cable menu.

If you don't care about broadcast and cable TV (which gets you access to sports) and only want to see Netflix, Amazon and other programming from apps, you'll save a monthly $40. But you'll still have that hefty cable internet bill to pay. The companies jack up the rates when you don't add TV and/or phone service to your monthly nut.

Still, clearly so many have found that cutting the cord was a worthwhile step for them and aren't looking back.

How about you readers? Any channels you miss? How could the cutting the cord experience be better? Let's chat about it on Twitter, where I'm @jeffersongraham.