How to Use the Cable TV Cancellation Savings Calculator
Korea funds public broadcasting through a TV license fee that's automatically bundled into every electric bill for households that own a TV — similar in spirit to the UK's BBC license. The US has no direct equivalent: there's no broadcast license fee tied to owning a television. What US households actually pay for, and can choose to cut, is a monthly cable or satellite TV subscription — which is exactly what this calculator estimates the savings on.
"Cord-cutting" means canceling a traditional cable or satellite package and, usually, replacing it with one or more streaming services instead. Cable bills commonly run $70-150 a month once fees and equipment rentals are included, while a couple of streaming subscriptions often add up to $20-40 a month — leaving a meaningful gap in savings even after accounting for what you still choose to pay for content.
Some providers charge an equipment return or early cancellation fee when you cancel, which can eat into your first year of savings. This calculator accounts for that one-time fee separately so your first-year total reflects the real net amount, not just the gross monthly difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Korea bundles a TV license fee (like the UK's BBC license) into the electric bill for anyone who owns a TV. The US has no equivalent broadcast license fee — what US households actually pay for, and can cut, is their cable or satellite TV subscription.
Most cord-cutters replace cable with one or more streaming subscriptions, which usually cost less combined than a cable package. Enter your expected streaming cost in the calculator to see your real net savings, not just the full cable bill.