By JOSH HELLER

Executive Editor

In this country, there have been plenty of trends and fads. One thing considered a fad can no longer be thought of as just that, and that’s cord-cutting.

Basically, cord-cutting means getting rid of traditional television, and streaming all of your favorite shows on your computer or mobile device, either through a paid subscription, or by other methods. I can pay a certain amount of money per year for NHL.TV to watch the Rangers on my laptop or cell phone. Even some shows, like NCIS Los Angeles, stream on-demand episodes of that show on their website.

Even some of the biggest events in our country, like this past Presidential Debate, are available online. According to a report from YouTube, about 124 million people tuned in to the debate through their website, while 63 million people watched the debate through traditional television.

And if you’re a huge sports fan like me, things have gotten a whole lot easier in recent times. Following the success of Yahoo’s streaming of the Jaguars’ NFL game in London last year, Twitter followed suit, as they now stream every Thursday Night Football game on their app and website, completely free.

With so many shows being available through non-traditional outlets, like Netflix, Hulu, and Roku, it’s no wonder that cord-cutting has become more and more popular. With cable companies jacking up their rates what seems like regularly, cord-cutting is a way to get away from this.

One problem with cord-cutting, however, is that the cost of the subscriptions you buy could equate to or even exceed the amount you spend on your cable bill. But if the only thing you watch on your television is sports, then maybe it’s best to get something like Playstation Vue, instead of paying for thousands of cable channels, many of which you probably don’t even watch.

Cord-cutting isn’t fit for everyone, based on your viewing habits, but it’s certainly no longer a fad; it’s a cost-effective way to enjoy modern entertainment.