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I had the same smile on my face after canceling my Bell Fibe TV service. Welcome to the future, Jenna.
I got a DM asking about my experience as a #cordcutter. Here’s a brief synopsis.
Six months after I left @BNNBloomberg and 3 months after my employee discount expired, I realized it had been a half year since I had actually watched traditional television. Not even the growing pile of DVR files...
Suddenly I was paying what you’ve been paying this whole time and not even using it. I realized my ~$100/month could be better spent — and most importantly, targeted...
So I called up Bell and saved myself $1,200 a year canceling my Five TV. I immediately reallocated those funds to media organizations I felt need our support...
With the real and present danger to our democracy that @realDonaldTrump is and represents, I immediately spent $100 of the $1,200/yr saved by #cordcutting on @nytimes. Specifically because of the reporting of one @maggieNYT. She has earned her place in history as she reports it.
With $1,100 left in my annual media budget after #cordcutting I balanced my @realDonaldTrump reporting by subscribing to @washingtonpost. “Democracy dies in darkness” may/may not have contributed to my decision. Also, it was $19/year. More on the price differential later...
It’s been said that the best reporter covering US politics today is a Canadian. My #3 media budget line item went to @TorontoStar after @ddale8 was the first reporter I read flat-out call a @realDonaldTrump lie a lie. Dale’s the #honeybadger of Washington. He don’t give a shit...
The @TorontoStar subscription took about $180 out of post #cordcutter annual media budget, leaving me with ~$980. 18% of my media budget was earmarked to support quality journalism... meantime,
“What do you watch?” I’m asked by friends curious about my #cordcutting. The answer surprises even me: @Youtube. I’ve learned more about politics, science, history, and art in the last year than “watching teevee” in the last 10. YouTube isn’t just cats and Russian Dashcam videos.
Via the (admittedly shitty) @Youtube app, I get my late night talk shows without the fluff. Right to the monologues And the hot segments. Only the good stuff. But mostly I’m consuming great content by people who have probably never set foot in a television studio...
Long before I cut the cord, I had subscribed to channels like @cinemasins, @Sci_Phile’s “Because Science”, @screenrant (I’ve got a man crush on @theryangeorge who does the “Pitch Meetings” in part because I wish I had thought of the premise first, and partly beard envy)...
Unlike mainstream media struggling to “do digital,” @YouTube ads aren’t obnoxious. Bell Media can’t get out of its own way: try watching a video from a Bell property and you’ll suffer TWO traditional 30 second ads in the age of the “Skip Ad” button...
Meantime, @netflix ($160) and Prime Video ($80/yr included in @Amazon Prime) account for the majority of my long-form “television” consumption. I’m spending as much on these two line items as I do on supporting journalism with my @nytimes @washingtonpost @TorontoStar subs...
Now with about $720 left in my annual #cordcutter media budget, I’ll freely admit I added $120/year to boost the speed of my Bell Fiber internet service, and $60/year to rent four “pods” for mesh #wifi that boosts some weak spots in the house...
So all told, after #cordcutting I’m getting a more enriching media experience, catching all my favourite shows in bite sized form, binge watching impressive new talent, directly supporting journalism during its darkest days, and saving about $540/year in the process. /endscene
