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You cancelled cable. Now what?
Most people cancel before they have a plan, then spend two weeks scrambling to figure out where to watch their shows. This guide walks you through exactly what to do — in order — so you have a complete streaming setup before your cable service shuts off.
Step 1: Get a Streaming Device (If You Don't Have One)
Your TV's built-in smart TV apps are usually fine for basic streaming, but they get slow, lose support for new apps, and are harder to update than a dedicated streaming stick. A $30-50 streaming device gives you a faster, more flexible setup.
Best picks:
Best for Most People
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
[VERIFY: current price ~$49]
The easiest streaming device to set up and use. Runs every major app, has no ecosystem bias, and is genuinely fast. The best default choice for most households.
Best for Prime Households
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
[VERIFY: current price ~$59]
Best if you're a Prime Video watcher. Faster specs and Dolby Vision — worth it if Amazon is your main service.
Step 2: Set Up a Free Antenna for Local Channels
This is the step most people skip, then regret. An antenna gives you ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, and local channels — completely free, in broadcast HD that's sharper than cable.
Local news, network TV, most NFL games (Fox, CBS, NBC), and awards shows: all free forever after a $25 one-time hardware purchase.
Check Price: Indoor HDTV Antenna (~$25) →Setup: Plug the coaxial cable into your TV's antenna input (usually labeled "ANT IN" or "RF IN"). Run a channel scan from your TV's menu. Position the antenna near a window for best results. Takes 10 minutes total.
Verify your reception first: Enter your address at AntennaWeb.org to see which channels you can receive. Most urban and suburban households get 30-50 channels.
Step 3: Load Up on Free Streaming Apps
Before spending any money, install these free services on your new streaming device:
Tubi — 50,000+ movies and TV shows, free with ads. One of the largest free streaming catalogs. No subscription required.
Pluto TV — 250+ live channels plus on-demand content. Organized like cable — channel surfing for free. No login required.
Peacock Free — NBC content, some live sports, originals. Free tier covers a lot.
Plex — Free account gives you access to 50,000+ movies, shows, and 500+ live channels. Also serves as a local media server if you have personal files.
YouTube — Full-length movies are available for free on YouTube Movies. And YouTube itself has an enormous catalog of cord-cutting-friendly content.
Between antenna and free apps, most households cover 70-80% of what they watched on cable before spending a dollar on subscriptions.
Step 4: Choose Your Paid Subscriptions (2-3 Max)
With the free tier handled, decide what specific content you need that isn't available free:
For general entertainment: Netflix ($7/month with ads), Hulu ($8/month with ads), or Max ($10/month with ads)
For Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, kids content: Disney+ ($8/month)
For live sports (NFL, NBA, college): Peacock Premium ($8/month covers NBC sports and Premier League)
For ESPN and cable channels: Sling TV Orange (~$40/month)
For a full cable replacement: YouTube TV (~$73/month) — expensive but still cheaper than cable
Rule of thumb: Start with 1-2 subscriptions. Add more only after you've actually used what you have. Most people find they watch 2-3 services regularly and forget they subscribed to others.
Step 5: Replace What You Specifically Watched on Cable
Map your cable habits to streaming equivalents:
| What you watched | Where to find it now |
|---|---|
| Network TV (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) | Antenna (free) or streaming app |
| NFL on ESPN/ESPN2 | Sling Orange or YouTube TV |
| NFL on local networks | Antenna (free) |
| NBA / NHL | Sling, YouTube TV, or league apps |
| CNN / Fox News / MSNBC | Sling, YouTube TV, or free on some apps |
| HGTV / Food Network / Discovery | Philo ($40/mo) or Sling |
| AMC / FX originals | AMC+ ($7/mo), Hulu |
| HBO shows | Max ($10/mo with ads) |
| Showtime / Paramount Network | Paramount+ ($6/mo) |
| Kids' content | Disney+ ($8/mo) covers Disney, Pixar, Marvel |
Step 6: Set Up Your DVR Replacement
Cable boxes include a DVR for recording live TV. Without one, you have three options:
Option A: Use a streaming service with cloud DVR. YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV include unlimited cloud DVR. Sling TV includes 50 hours.
Option B: Buy a standalone OTA DVR. Devices like the Tablo or HDHomeRun connect to your antenna and add DVR functionality for over-the-air channels. Useful if you record a lot of network TV.
Option C: Don't record at all. Most network shows are available on-demand through the network's streaming app the next day (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox all have free apps).
For most households, option C is sufficient — and free.
What Your Monthly Cost Looks Like Now
Example setup for a family:
- Streaming device: $49 one-time (Roku)
- Antenna: $25 one-time
- Netflix (2 screens + 4K): $22.99/month
- Disney+: $8/month
- Peacock Free: $0
- Pluto TV: $0
- Total ongoing: ~$31/month
Compared to a typical cable bundle at $83-120/month, you're saving $50-90/month — that's $600-1,080/year.
The First Two Weeks: Checklist
- [ ] Streaming device set up and connected
- [ ] Antenna installed and channel scan done
- [ ] Tubi, Pluto TV, Peacock Free installed
- [ ] Primary streaming subscription(s) active
- [ ] Old cable equipment returned (get tracking receipt)
- [ ] Confirmed cable cancellation on bank statement
- [ ] Internet-only price negotiated with ISP if needed
After 30 days, most cord-cutters don't miss cable. The rare holdout usually just needs to find the right streaming service for a specific channel they're missing.
Related Reading
- How to Cut the Cord: Complete Guide for Beginners (2026)
- Best Streaming Devices 2026: Complete Buyers Guide
- How to Cancel Cable: Comcast, Spectrum, and AT&T Step-by-Step Guide
- Best Free Streaming Services in 2026: Watch More, Pay Less
- How to Watch Local Channels Without Cable in 2026 (Free & Paid Options)