Frequently Asked Questions

The cost to cut the cable and switch to an alternative will depend on a few factors. If you are only switching to an antenna for local channels, the cost is just an upfront initial installation and equipment fee. The fee depends on your area and exactly which antenna and equipment you need. Not all antennas work the same in all areas. Prices usually range from a one-time setup of $450 to $850 for a typical install, based on house size, location, number of TVs, etc.
If adding additional streaming devices or services, the costs can go up, but nothing unreasonable especially compared to a traditional cable and satellite bill. Some streaming services are free, and your smart TV might already be the only device you need. For others, a Roku player or Firestick TV might work better. These devices are free to use but cost around $50 or so to buy. They might initially ask for a credit card number when setting them up, but this is standard and to verify identity, plus have a payment option available if you decide to rent a movie or subscribe to a monthly service.
Monthly services can range in price depending on which service you choose. Some, like PlutoTV, are completely free and include about 150 streaming channels to watch. You will be familiar with some channels with the free services, but don’t expect too many current and popular premium channels without paying for them.
Cable networks like Discovery, History, HGTV, Science, Hallmark, MTV, VH1, CMT, Paramount, etc., are often owned by the cable companies themselves. Getting cable channels for free, legally, is unrealistic, but getting them for a better price is definitely an option. An antenna will indeed get you networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, PBS, FOX, and up to 40 more broadcast channels for absolutely free of monthly costs. However, the premium Cable networks mentioned above can be purchased separately for a monthly fee of around $25.00 per month. You can expect about 60 of the existing popular cable networks people love to watch with an added premium streaming service.
Many cord-cutters often use combo services like an antenna for local broadcasts and streaming for cable networks. Streaming requires an active internet connection, so, unfortunately, you won’t get away from that bill. Still, you can indeed trim your total cable and satellite bill down by usually half or more in most cases. That all adds up to extra money in your pocket, right where it belongs.

There is no monthly fee to cut the cable when using an antenna for local broadcasts. Local broadcast networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW, and up to 50 more, are all free of monthly fees when you cut off ties with Cable and Satellite Providers. If you look closely at your cable bill, you will notice a fee for “Local,” and they indeed are charging you to watch these free broadcasts. This fee is because the networks are licensed, and they pass that licensing fee over to you. But why pay for something free? Cut the cable and get an antenna.

As far as cable services like Discovery Channel, History, Science, HGTV, MTV, etc., all these networks belong to the Cable companies, and they control the licensing for those networks. The good thing that cable-cutters should know is that there is significantly less expensive access to the same cable networks you love. Learn more about these online streaming services.

There are many ways to save money when cutting the cord, so adding up the savings would depend on the exact alternatives you choose. Let’s look at switching to an outdoor antenna. You get up to 50 local channels and cut the cable company right off except for the internet portion.

If your bill was $200 per month with a cable package and you keep the internet, you cut your bill in half and much less in most cases. For simple purposes, let’s say you save $100 per month with an antenna. That’s $1,200 savings each year and $12,000 in savings every 10 years. Yes! People really do fork out that much money over the years. An antenna should last 30 years minimum, so that’s a total savings of $36,000; even more when you consider cable bills increase every year, but antenna broadcasts never cost any fees to watch.

Yes, there is an initial fee to install an antenna properly, but even the initial $450 to $850 cost to setup will pay for itself in the first year. Everything after that is money in your pocket. The savings are real, so what are you waiting for? Why pay for free TV?

No. Although other websites make it sound so simple and easy to install an antenna, Transition TV disagrees in most cases. Does a mechanic sell a motor without installing it? An antenna is the engine that makes the rest of the system work. For this reason, it is vital antennas get installed optimally and in a manner to last for years to come.

Did you know that you can place an antenna in the wrong spot on a roof and move it only 3 feet to the right or left and sometimes be the difference between losing ten stations or gaining them? Not only is your home’s physical location a key factor to great reception, but so is the antenna placement on your roof. This is what separates an amateur antenna installer from a true professional. Having the proper knowledge, equipment, and experience with the transmissions makes Transition TV shine and rise above the rest. The specific antenna placement and direction pointed, down to the inch is not something anyone can guess at. Understanding radio frequencies (RF signals) and how they work is like a magician saying abracadabra and suddenly making nothing turn into up to 50 channels of local TV. Although it might seem like magic, it’s just science and a solid understanding of optics and RF radio waves.

As you can see, buying any ole’ great-sounding antenna and slapping it up on the roof is not something that just any husband and wife will get right without expert help. Not even after a hundred “HOW”S THAT!?” shouts and adjustments from the rooftop.

In addition, It’s not safe to climb on a roof with no experience. Transition TV has come across four accounts in the past where they were called only after the people fell from the roof and injured themselves. One individual fractured his neck and spent a year in recovery. Is that all really worth saving a few extra dollars? Learn more about DIY vs Professional antenna installation. 

A wise man once said, “Do what you do best and hire out the rest.” Call an expert and get expert results. Save time, hassle, risk, and money. Call TransitionTV today!

Yes! Never has there ever been a monthly fee to watch local broadcast TV until Cable and Satellite providers came along. They do charge you to watch free local broadcast television, but it’s still free. All you need is a proper antenna installation. The cost to install a great system is affordable and a one-time fee, but there are ZERO monthly fees to enjoy free broadcast local television. Get your system installed today and stop paying to watch free stuff!

Streaming service does NOT require an antenna or a cable TV subscription, but you do need internet to make streaming work. Streaming service is when you use your current internet and a smart TV or Roku device to watch TV through that connection. Firesticks, Apple TV, and Chromecasts are some other devices that let you stream on your TVs, but you don’t need them if you have a smart TV. Smart TVs have apps built into them that allow you to stream content. Some streaming services like XUMO, Pluto and others are indeed free. While others like Netflix, Philo, Hulu, YoutubeTV, etc charge a monthly fee to watch.

Of course, the cable companies do indeed try to lure new customers in with “Package deals,” but as usual, the price skyrockets once you are a loyal customer for a year. When you cut their crap and cut the cable, expect them to jack the price up for only using the Internet and canceling the rest. If you use a landline phone, keep it, but cancel it if not. Solo internet prices usually range from $70 per month to around $90 for their fastest speeds. Ask them about their slower speed offerings, and don’t let them fool you into believing you need super-fast speeds if you don’t. 50mbps to 100mbps for a home with four smart TVs are is, but for a single or two-person home with 1 or 2 TVs, then 25mbps would also work okay.

TV service contracts attempt to discourage people from canceling their services. This helps the cable and satellite companies but does not help the subscriber, nor does it make it appealing to cancel an unappealing service. If you are currently under a contract with your provider, see how much time is left and how much it will cost to cancel early. Sometimes, it just makes sense to cancel early and pay the early termination fee. Early termination fees sometimes trickle down as you near the end of your contract, so it might not be as high as you think. Getting out of a contract is liberating. Loyal customers should not be obligated to yet another contract at the end of a current one. So TV provider contracts become an arbitrary evil until you break yourself from them. Cancel with confidence, but cancel only at the time of switching to antenna or streaming alternatives. Also, keep your internet service with your cable company if you plan to stream or wish to continue only that service.