I recently (within the last 2 months) decided to cancel my digital cable subscription and subscribe to 3 of the most popular streaming media content service providers:  Amazon, Netflix, and HuluPlus.  Here is a summary of my observations to date.

Cost

The monthly service charges for online media content pales in comparison to the monthly service charges for digital cable.  Cancelling digital cable service resulted in a monthly savings of ~$60.  Monthly subscription rates for each of the 3 service providers are as follows:

• HuluPlus                         $7.99/month for unlimited streaming
• NetFlix                            $7.99/month for unlimited streaming
• Amazon                          $79 annual fee for an Amazon Prime membership (includes unlimited streaming)

Total Monthly Subscription Charges for all 3 Providers:  $22.56

Content Selection

One of the primary advantages of unlimited streaming media services, from a consumer standpoint, is the flexibility of watching what suits your preferences at any given point. This is completely different from the traditional model of the consumer being forced to watch content that has been preselected by the cable providers.  In short, content is now consumer-driven rather than provider-driven.

Device Independent

Whereas digital cable is enabled via a digital cable box and limited to display on a TV(s) at home,  I now have the ability to enjoy streaming media content on a variety of devices (i.e. laptop, desktop, tablet, mobile device, gaming console, or HDTV)  anywhere I happen to be (limited only to availability of WIFI or 3G/4G).

Summary

In summary, cancelling digital cable and subscribing to streaming media services has reduced monthly costs, increased the selection of available media, and has enabled me to enjoy streaming media on a variety of devices anywhere that I have internet connectivity.