Cord-Cutting 101

Have you ever considered getting rid of your traditional TV services, but aren’t sure about your options? Here are some resources from our latest virtual Cord-Cutting 101 class:

PDF copy of Cord Cutting 101: Virtual Edition, presented March 2021, Updated May 2024 Cord Cutting 101 PDF
Playlist of video segments from the virtual class

Tech-Talk also published a short article and video about cutting the cord.

Fairpoint Internet availability: https://www.consolidated.com/residential/internet/order-internet
Spectrum Availability: https://www.spectrum.com/services
Verizon FIOS availability: https://www.verizon.com/inhome/qualification
Check your internet speed: https://www.speedtest.net/

Best Streaming Options: https://www.cnet.com/news/best-live-tv-streaming-services-for-cord-cutters/
Watching MLB Games Without Cable: https://www.groundedreason.com/how-to-watch-mlb-games-without-cable/
Watch NHL Games Without Cable: https://www.groundedreason.com/watch-nhl-games-online-without-cable/
Watching NBA Games Without Cable: https://www.techhive.com/article/3138491/basketball-without-cable-a-cord-cutters-guide-to-the-nba.html
Comparison for which channels are offered on different services: https://clark.com/technology/tvsatellite-cable/streaming-tv-comparison-best-channel-lineup/
Guide for the various live streaming services with info on each service: https://clark.com/technology/tvsatellite-cable/best-streaming-tv-services/

Guide to Sling TV: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/sling-tv
Guide to YouTube TV: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/youtube-tv-vs-cable-tv-replacements,news-24578.html
List of Hulu Live Channels: https://www.hulu.com/live-tv
Guide to Using Hulu Live: https://www.howtogeek.com/350514/what-is-hulu-with-live-tv-and-can-it-replace-your-cable-subscription/
List of Sling Channels: https://www.sling.com/#channels
List of YouTube TV Channels: https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/
ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
Roku Channel list: https://www.rokuguide.com/channels
Pluto TV: https://pluto.tv

Note: Pricing as of March 2022

Netflix:

Basic (1 screen) $9.99/month
Standard (2 screens), $15.49/month
Premium (4 screens) $19.99

Hulu:

Ad Supported: $6.99/month
No Ads: $12.99/month
Hulu + Live TV (Ad Supported) with Disney+ and ESPN+: $69.99/month
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV now with Disney+ and ESPN+: $75.99/month

Amazon Prime: $139/year or $14.99/month (student discounts available)

HBO Max: $9.99/month or $99.99/year (Ad Supported); $14.99/month or $149.99/year (No Ads)

Showtime Now: $3.99/month for 3 months.

SlingTV: from $35/month, depending on number of devices, channels, and add-ons.

Paramount Plus Plans start at $5.99/month

ESPN+: $4.99/month

Acorn TV: $5.99/month

BritBox: $6.99/month or $69.99/year

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Subject	East Greenbush Card	UHLS Card	UHLS MyCard
Library Card Registration	Free to any individual who resides or pays taxes in the East Greenbush Community Library taxing district or Town of Schodack. Cards expire and must be renewed every three years. Free to any individual who volunteers or works at the EGRN Library. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly. Free to partner educational agencies with verified employment. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly. Those that live outside the UHLS area may purchase a temporary card at the price established by our Table of Fines and Fees. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly. All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them. Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library	Free to residents residing in a community served by a UHLS library. All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them. UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years. Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library	The UHLS MyCard is a fine-free, limited-access library card for youth. It is intended to address multiple barriers to serving youth and families, including: Barriers to access related to fines (e.g. computer access, checking out materials) Parents not present for a child’s library card registration Previous fines on a child’s card Free for youth residing in a community served by a UHLS library.Applicants 18 and under who are applying for a limited use, UHLS Youth Only MyCard, need to provide name, address, and date of birth.UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.Youth ages birth to 18 can register unaccompanied, or with the help of a caregiver or relative who is not the child’s parent/guardian.This card may be used at all UHLS Libraries except for the Colonie Town Library. Card blocked at $10 or more in replacement costs. No fines for late items
Limits on # of Materials Borrowed	Unlimited checkouts	Unlimited checkouts	Limited total items: Can only have 3 items checked out on their card at a time
Types of Items	All eligible item types.	All eligible item types except Museum Passes, ILL, and Hot off the Press. Active paid members of the Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library have access to all lending collections.	Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Databases/Digital Content	EGRN and UHLS subscription databases and digital content	UHLS subscription databases and digital content	Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Interlibrary Loan	Nationwide	UHLS Libraries	UHLS Libraries
Program Registration	Unlimited except by limited program capacity	Preference given to resident cardholders	Preference given to resident cardholders

Subject

East Greenbush Card

UHLS Card

UHLS MyCard

Library Card Registration

Free to any individual who resides or pays taxes in the East Greenbush Community Library taxing district or Town of Schodack. Cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Free to any individual who volunteers or works at the EGRN Library. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Free to partner educational agencies with verified employment. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Those that live outside the UHLS area may purchase a temporary card at the price established by our Table of Fines and Fees. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

Free to residents residing in a community served by a UHLS library.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

The UHLS MyCard is a fine-free, limited-access library card for youth. It is intended to address multiple barriers to serving youth and families, including:

Barriers to access related to fines (e.g. computer access, checking out materials)
Parents not present for a child’s library card registration
Previous fines on a child’s card

Free for youth residing in a community served by a UHLS library.Applicants 18 and under who are applying for a limited use, UHLS Youth Only MyCard, need to provide name, address, and date of birth.UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.Youth ages birth to 18 can register unaccompanied, or with the help of a caregiver or relative who is not the child’s parent/guardian.This card may be used at all UHLS Libraries except for the Colonie Town Library.

Card blocked at $10 or more in replacement costs.

No fines for late items

Limits on # of Materials Borrowed

Unlimited checkouts

Limited total items: Can only have 3 items checked out on their card at a time

Types of Items

All eligible item types.

All eligible item types except Museum Passes, ILL, and Hot off the Press. Active paid members of the Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library have access to all lending collections.

Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.

Databases/Digital Content

EGRN and UHLS subscription databases and digital content

UHLS subscription databases and digital content

Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.

Interlibrary Loan

Nationwide

UHLS Libraries

Program Registration

Unlimited except by limited program capacity

Preference given to resident cardholders