Why I’m not cutting my cable.

“Cutting cable” became a thing in 2011, but reached an all-time high last year. That all-time high being 6 percent, according to a Magid survey. Why only 6 percent? Because cable is fucking awesome.

I actually know a lot of people who’ve cut their cable and I’m always so shocked to hear it, because for me, that would be like getting rid of my entire apartment. Everyone I know that has cut their cable has swapped it for things to help them still watch shows – they’ve increased their internet speed, invested in Apple TV or a Chromecast.

And before I go any further, I’ll say that if you’re a cable cutter – good for you. Seriously. I haven’t cut my cable, and I’m not going to, for many reasons that I’ll explain here.

1. I watch a lot of TV. Remember when you were a kid and people would say that watching TV would rot your brain? Heh, whatever. I have always loved watching TV, and I’m pretty sure I’m currently at the height of this love affair. There are so many good shows on that make me happy, and at the end of the day, if I want to just turn on “The Daily Show”, then by God I will! Plus, I’m an aspiring TV writer and critic, so I do consider watching TV to be about 20% research for a possible (very unlikely) future job, or maybe just something to dream about. That’s the power of television, folks.
2. Cable is convenient. All I have to do to watch TV is turn it on. I don’t have to hook up all these extra gadgets or use an app or wait a week (or even a day) to watch the things I want to see. Right now, I have 300+ channels, two DVRs, and full-access HBO. And the price is $50 more than what I was paying for basic cable without a DVR. I do use an app so I can record things right from my phone in case I forgot to set it at home, but other than that, I keep things simple. I have no clue how to use all of these other boxes and modems and apps, and maybe if I had a handyman, I’d use them.
3. I use internet for internet things. I use my internet for my blog, to reserve library books, and to check Twitter and my email. I don’t use it to stream TV shows or movies – and because of that, my internet is pretty cheap. If I cut cable and used apps, I’d have to up my internet, and then you start getting into what’s actually worth the investment?
4. There’s things you can’t get from apps, plugins, subscriptions, etc. Often times, you can’t watch live events like the Super Bowl or the Grammy’s when you don’t have cable. You have to wait until the next day, or perhaps just not watch at all. Although most cable networks, like ABC or NBC, have apps for their shows, some don’t – many shows like those on Bravo or E!, aren’t accessible outside of cable… and I fucking LOVE Bravo.
5. Everyone spends their money on different things. I think cutting cable is a great idea if you’re looking to put your money toward something else – travel, family, a house, fine dining – whatever you fancy. For me, I love pop culture. Watching TV is my way to keep up with what’s happening, and in some sense, see a world I may not otherwise see. I figure as long as I still keep up with my job, my side hustle, reading my 1 book a week, and hitting the dance studio, TV isn’t taking over my life. But everyone spends their money and time on different things, and for me, TV is a very small investment into my happiness. I don’t know what I’d do without it.

So, there! I’m keeping my cable for as long as I love it. Are you a cable cutter? I’d love to hear what benefits you’ve gotten from getting rid of the stuff: more money for travel or more time for tackling something you’ve always wanted to. Let’s hear it!