How to Cut the Cord: A Step-by-Step Plan to Ditch Cable
A practical seven-step plan to replace cable with streaming — without losing your favourite channels, live sport or your sanity.
“Cutting the cord” means cancelling cable or satellite TV and watching through the internet instead. Done well, it can save money and give you more control. Done in a rush, it can leave you hunting for a match ten minutes before kick-off.
This step-by-step plan shows you how to cut the cord calmly, in the right order, so nothing important goes missing. If you’re still weighing it up, start with our comparison of streaming vs cable TV.
Step 1: Audit what your household actually watches
Before choosing anything, spend a week noting what everyone watches. Be specific.
- Shows and films — which ones, and on which channels?
- Live events — news, sport, award shows, reality finales.
- Kids’ content — favourite characters and channels.
- Background TV — the channels that are simply “on”.
A simple shared note works. You’ll likely find that a household with 200 channels regularly uses fewer than 15.
Step 2: Check your internet connection
Streaming replaces a dedicated TV line with your broadband, so it needs to cope.
- Run a speed test on the device you’ll stream on — in the evening, when networks are busiest.
- Count how many screens might stream at the same time.
- Allow roughly 5–10 Mbps per HD stream and 15–25 Mbps per 4K stream, plus headroom for everything else.
If results are low or erratic, fix your home network before cancelling anything. Our guide on internet speed for streaming explains exactly how much you need, and it’s often a router position problem rather than a slow plan.
Step 3: Make sure each TV can stream
Every TV you want to keep using needs a way to run streaming apps:
- Smart TVs may already have the apps you need — but older models can be slow or lose app support.
- Non-smart TVs need a streaming device plugged into HDMI.
Popular options include Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Google TV devices. They are usually faster than built-in TV software and get updates for longer. Our guide on how to choose a streaming device compares them in detail.
Tip: Make sure the device supports the quality your TV can show. A 4K HDR TV deserves a 4K HDR-capable streaming device.
Step 4: Map your viewing to services
Now match your Step 1 list to services. Most households end up with a combination of:
| Need | Typical solution |
|---|---|
| Series and films | One or two subscription (SVOD) services |
| Casual “channel surfing” | Free ad-supported (FAST) services |
| Many live channels | A live TV streaming service |
| Specific sport | A sport or league subscription |
| Local and national free channels | An antenna, or broadcasters’ free apps |
| Kids’ content | A family-friendly service with profiles |
Don’t subscribe to everything at once. Start lean and add only when there’s a clear gap.
Don’t forget free options
Many broadcasters offer free catch-up apps, and FAST services provide hundreds of themed live channels with ads. Combined with an antenna, they can cover more than you’d expect at zero monthly cost.
Step 5: Solve live sport and news first
Live content is where cord-cutting goes wrong, so solve it deliberately.
- List every competition and live programme that matters.
- Find out who holds the streaming rights in your country this season.
- Decide whether a live TV streaming service or individual sport subscriptions are better value.
- Check how many simultaneous streams each plan allows — important if two people watch different games.
Rights change between seasons, so put a reminder in your calendar to re-check before each new season starts.
Step 6: Run both side by side for two weeks
This is the step most people skip — and regret skipping.
Keep cable active while you use only your new setup for a couple of weeks. You’ll discover:
- Which apps the family actually opens.
- Whether Wi-Fi copes on busy evenings.
- Missing channels you forgot about.
- Whether everyone can find things easily.
Fix the gaps now, while you can still fall back on cable.
Make it easy for everyone
- Set up profiles for each person.
- Put the most-used apps first on the home screen.
- Show less tech-confident family members how to use voice search.
- Write a one-page “where to watch what” note and stick it near the TV.
Step 7: Cancel cable the smart way
When your new setup has passed the test:
- Check your contract end date and any early termination fees.
- Decide whether to keep broadband with the same provider — you usually can.
- Call or use the online cancellation process, and ask about returning equipment.
- Return boxes promptly and keep the returns receipt.
- Check your next bill to make sure TV charges have stopped.
Providers often make retention offers when you cancel. If an offer is genuinely better than your new streaming setup, it’s worth considering — but compare it to your real costs, not the headline price.
Keeping costs down after you cut the cord
Cord-cutting saves money only if subscriptions don’t quietly pile up. A few habits help:
- Rotate services — subscribe for a show, cancel when finished.
- Choose ad-supported tiers where the ads don’t bother you.
- Review subscriptions every quarter using your bank statement.
- Share family plans only within your household, as service terms allow.
Our guide to managing streaming subscriptions has a simple tracking system you can copy.
Common cord-cutting mistakes
- Cancelling before testing — leaves you scrambling during a big match.
- Ignoring Wi-Fi — a slow router undermines everything.
- Subscribing to everything — the bill ends up matching cable.
- Forgetting other rooms — the bedroom TV needs a solution too.
- Not telling the family — surprise changes cause the most friction.
What about older family members?
Cord-cutting can be hardest for people who’ve used the same cable box for years. Make it easy: one remote, a short list of their favourite apps on the first row, and a printed note showing which button does what.
Your cord-cutting checklist
- One week of viewing notes collected
- Evening speed test done on the TV device
- Every TV has a working streaming option
- Services chosen for each viewing need
- Live sport and news covered for this season
- Two-week side-by-side test completed
- Cable cancelled at the right time, equipment returned
Follow these steps and cutting the cord becomes an upgrade, not a gamble. For a refresher on the fundamentals, revisit how video streaming works.
Frequently asked questions
How much money can I save by cutting the cord?
It depends on your current package and what you replace it with. Households that keep one or two subscriptions and use free services often save a significant amount each month; households that add many services plus live TV may save little. Price your replacement setup before cancelling.
Will I lose local channels if I cancel cable?
Not necessarily. In many countries an indoor or rooftop antenna picks up free-to-air channels, and some live TV streaming services include local stations. Check coverage for your postcode or area first.
Do I need to keep my internet provider's TV box?
No. Once you cancel the TV part of your package, you can return the box. A smart TV or a streaming stick replaces it, and you can keep your broadband with the same provider.
What's the best time to cancel cable?
Just before your contract renews or at the end of a billing cycle, after you've tested your new setup for a couple of weeks. That avoids paying twice for long and avoids early termination fees.
