I made the stupid decision to cut the cord: here's what I learned

I used to believe that cable was an outdated and overpriced obstacle. So I fully entered the world of streaming, ready for a customized, affordable TV experience. However, cutting the cord wasn't as convenient, error-free, or cost-effective as I had hoped. From subscription fees that seem to rise every month, to licensing battles that cause my favorite content to evaporate, to navigating confusing menus, here are the top reasons I regret cutting the cord.

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6 Weak internet connections

Even though I have a high-speed internet connection at home, intermittent problems can be frustrating. Picture this: It's the final seconds of an exciting playoff game. Your team is down by one, the star player charges towards the goal and hey presto! The screen freezes and shows a constant charging indicator. While you're stuck buffering, the crowd is floating in the background. That would be a huge mood breaker.

It's not just sports. Imagine the season finale of your favorite show with you stuck on the buffer wheel. You can restart the router, but it's no use. The ending is left to Google. The magic of the moment disappears completely. I can't relate to on-demand streaming issues on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, but it can be a deal-breaker at crucial live TV moments.

5 Ever-increasing subscription prices

Remember when the purpose of cord cutting was to save money? With frequent price hikes on major platforms like YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and FuboTV, the ideal cord-cutting setup is no longer budget-friendly. Take YouTube TV, one of the most popular streaming services, for example. Google's streaming service launched in 2017 for $35 per month. In recent years, Google has continuously increased its prices. Now it costs $73 per month. It's the same pattern with other services.

You start with one service and then another to get a specific show or channel. Before you know it, you're juggling multiple subscriptions, each with its own increasing costs. Out of nowhere, this inexpensive alternative to cable will cost you just as much, if not more, than your old cable bill.

4 Frequent licensing disputes

You should also consider the uncertainty of your favorite channels and on-demand content from your favorite streaming service. They may disappear due to licensing disputes between the provider and its streaming partner. Take, for example, the showdown between YouTube TV and Disney at the end of 2021. One day, all the popular Disney channels (ESPN, ABC, FX and National Geographic) were there. The next moment they disappeared without notice.

YouTube TV had a similar standoff with NBC Network.

3 Confusing user interface on most smart TV platforms

Be it Amazon Fire OS, Google TV, LG webOS or Samsung Tizen OS, they all have a cluttered home screen with unnecessary content and advertisements. It's not just annoying for me. It's a nightmare for my parents. I have received many calls from them while traveling asking me how to find a channel or remove a persistent ad on the home screen. Getting used to a new smart TV platform at home can be challenging.

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Cut the cord, not the experience

2 Switching between channels and apps doesn't feel intuitive

On cable TV, I could switch between an exciting UFC Fight Night on ESPN and breaking news on CNN by pressing the channel up or down a few times. The same is not so easy on a smart TV platform like Fire OS or Google TV.

Let's say I'm watching a basketball game on ESPN through my YouTube TV app, but I want to check the score of a baseball game on Fox Sports that I access through another app like FuboTV. I have to quit YouTube TV, find and open FuboTV on the home screen, wait for it to load, and launch Fox Sports. Compared to cable TV, I have to navigate through endless menus and apps to watch another channel.

1 Service outages and random app crashes

This is another major disadvantage of a wireless setup that I didn't initially consider. A service outage during prime time can be a nightmare. During major events such as the Royal Rumble or the Super Bowl, network partners experience heavy traffic due to high demand, which can lead to server overload and technical problems. It's like the digital equivalent of a power outage.

Although cables have disadvantages, they are generally reliable for large events. In contrast, streaming services can be unpredictable and a minor disruption could cause you to miss important moments.

Cord-cutting reality check

Cutting the cord was more complicated than I expected. On the one hand, I escaped the clutches of the cable, but I replaced one problem with another. The constant price increases, unintuitive interface, and frequent service outages can leave anyone longing for the simplicity of a cable box and program guide. I hope things get easier as the streaming market matures.

While the future of television is on-demand, I wonder whether the effort to cut the cord was worth it. If you've cut the cord with Google TV, check out the cool things you can do with Google TV.