A few years ago I “cut the cord”, cancelled my TV License and cable subscription. Back then I used a 3rd generation Apple TV with subscriptions to Netflix and Now TV alongside my vast number of YouTube subscriptions.
I’ve since tried what feels like every box or stick that displays web content on your TV. All have their own interfaces, experiences, content options, and trade offs. Which box works for you will depend on your requirements.
This article is by a developer in the UK, so it won’t apply as much to other countries, particularly the US, where there are more networks, and many networks and channels have apps for the Apple TV. But this comparison is very well thought out and worth reading if you’re thinking of cutting the cord.
One thing he doesn’t mention, however, is that a smart TV would do most of what he wants. My LG TV has apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Spotify, and many others. I don’t use Spotify, and use an Apple TV for Apple Music and my iTunes Store purchases. And I don’t particularly care about the UK channels, other than the BBC iPlayer, which my TV offers.
Previously, when I had a different TV that didn’t offer an Amazon Prime Video app, I bought an Amazon Fire. I no longer use it (and should probably put it up on eBay).
As for me, I haven’t had a “cord” in many years. We have digital broadcast TV, which I almost never watch, other than for news, and I don’t pay the extortianite price for satellite TV. I do pay a TV license, which Radford says he doesn’t pay for, but which is now required to use the BBC iPlayer. (Technically; I don’t think they can actually check if you have one when you’re using the iPlayer.)
Source: Battle of the Boxes: Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast