Every family’s needs are a little different, and your home Internet and TV experience should be customizable to your preferences. If you’ve been using cable or satellite to watch all your regular content for as long as you can remember, maybe it’s time to consider the switch to streaming.

We’ll talk about the benefits and drawbacks of traditional TV and streaming options and provide some insight into which might be best for you.

What is streaming?

Streaming video is the process of watching your favorite movies and shows via the Internet, instead of a traditional cable or satellite TV connection. There are a variety of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. These and others offer a wide selection of content in an accessible and user-friendly location. Streaming can simplify your viewing experience and provide access to more content than you might have had with cable or satellite TV.

Nichole’s story: “I had traditional TV for 20 years before I switched to streaming. Change is hard, and streaming feels unknown to a lot of people. But I knew that I had reliable Internet service from Evertek and so I started researching what streaming TV services offered the channels my family regularly watched. My goal was to pay less for TV and be able to watch what my family enjoyed. We decided on the best streaming services for us and took the leap! Now, we’re saving $100 every month and watching the same content.”

Nichole chose Disney+, Hulu Live, and ESPN to watch family-friendly movies and shows, live channels on Hulu, and sports whenever they wanted. Because of how customizable their streaming experience was, they ended up saving money and using their fast, reliable Internet for everything from family movie nights to big weekend games.

We’ll walk you through how to set up streaming in your home, but first, let’s consider some of the benefits of streaming your movies and shows. 

Benefits of Streaming:

  • Streaming can save you money because you can be more selective about what you’re paying for.

  • You can put your streaming accounts on hold when you’re not using them. If you use a platform to follow a sports team, you could put your payment plan on hold during the off-season. It’s easy to pause and recontinue these accounts, and it also helps save money!

  • With Evertek’s fast fiber Internet, you don’t have to worry about interruptions or delays in your movie nights. Our reliable WiFi connection will ensure a positive viewing experience for you and your family!

  • When you stream, you don’t have to limit your viewing to your TV. Watch your favorite shows on any device, whether it’s on your phone at the gym or taking your tablet out to the porch. Wherever you have Internet connection and a device, you’ll be able to log onto your streaming platform and press play!

  • Streaming video also reduces the amount of time you spend watching commercials. Many of the most popular subscription streaming services let you watch your content commercial-free or include an option to skip the ads.

Which Streaming Platforms Should I Choose?

As the world moves from cable into streaming, more subscription services are becoming available. How do you choose which is best for you? Depending on what you like to watch, you may just need one or two subscriptions. Even if you want multiple subscriptions, you can often package them together to end up with a lower-cost result than cable TV. Here, we’ll explain each of the most popular streaming services and the factors you should take into consideration:

There are two different kinds of streaming: On-Demand and live. With On-Demand, you can watch a selected movie or show whenever you like. Most On-Demand providers allow you to pause, play, fast-forward, rewind, or rewatch shows as often as needed.

Live TV streaming lets you watch content like local news channels, sports, and TV shows live. Features such as video recording, pause, and rewind vary according to the provider. Some providers combine On-Demand and live streaming and allow you to watch live content real-time or after the initial broadcast. With some live TV streaming services, like DIRECTV Stream, Sling TV, and YouTube TV, you can record your favorite shows and store them in the cloud so that they're always available to you.

We encourage you to do additional research to find the best streaming TV service for you. For instance, you can get a package deal that combines Hulu+ Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+. You can use many different add-ons to combine services and get the most out of your streaming experience. If you’re still hesitant, check out the available free trials. You never know if you’ll end up preferring streaming over cable TV.

If you want an easy way to find the best streaming option for you, use our MyBundleTV tool for customized recommendations.

Setting Up Streaming:

Streaming video over your fiber Internet is a quick and easy way to enjoy interruption-free entertainment anywhere in your house! What do you need?

  • Fast and reliable Internet (you can already check this one off if you have Evertek fiber)

  • A streaming device - Keep in mind that you don’t need all of these. Depending on your streaming needs, choose one that will work for you and enjoy:

    • An Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Roku Streaming Stick that is connected to your TV and WiFi. Streaming devices include a universal remote control to sync with your TV.

    • A Smart TV that is connected to the Internet.

    • A tablet, laptop, or smartphone that is connected to WiFi.

  • A subscription service to a streaming service or channel, as explained above.

If you opt for a Smart TV or Roku stick, your platforms will be streamlined and even more user-friendly. With some Amazon Fire TV Stick remotes, you can use voice control through Alexa to search for a specific movie or show across all your subscription services at once.

To ensure your TV receives a strong WiFi signal, make sure your router is centrally located in your home. If you want to stream in a room that is far from your router and has a weaker signal, give us a call, we’re happy to help! It will ensure that every corner of your home has a connection you can count on.

With Evertek’s new customized streaming tool, you’ll be able to submit your entertainment preferences and discover what streaming services would be recommended for you. You can even search your favorite TV shows to find new ways to watch them via streaming. Get started with MyBundleTV.