This week on TechHive: 5 signs you’re not ready to cut the cord
In writing my weekly column and this newsletter, occasionally I’ll hear from people who need advice on cutting the cord. They’ve read about how streaming and over-the-air television is cheaper, more flexible, and less of a hassle than cable, and they want to know the best way to switch without giving up the programs they love.

Most of the time, I can help point these folks in the right direction. But on rare occasions, I have to break some bad news: They’re just not ready to ditch cable TV. Although cord cutting is getting easier all the time, it’s not automatically a better option than traditional TV service. To see if you’re among those who should stick with cable or satellite television, read the full column on TechHive.

Weekly rewind

March Madness without cable: You’ll probably see a bunch of these stories over the next week. Here’s my extra short version:

  • Antenna (for CBS games only): Free
  • CBS All Access (for CBS games only): $6 per month
  • Sling TV (Turner networks only, but no 60fps support): $25 per month
  • YouTube TV (CBS and Turner, but no 60fps support): $35 per month
  • DirecTV Now (CBS and Turner, but check local CBS coverage): $35 per month
  • Hulu w/ Live TV (CBS and Turner, but check local CBS coverage): $40 per month
  • PlayStation Vue (CBS and Turner, but check local CBS coverage): $40 per month
  • March Madness Live: Free, if you can mooch someone’s cable login

You can also log into the March Madness Live app if you have YouTube TV, PlayStation Vue, or Hulu with Live TV. It supports 60 frames per second video this year, offers split-screen game viewing on Apple TV, and has a new “Fast Break” feed that bounces between multiple games.

The incredible shrinking ad: Last week, NBC announced that it would reduce commercial break times by 10 percent during primetime, with 20 percent fewer ads overall. Shortly after that, Fox ad sales chief Joe Marchese floated the idea of having just two minutes of ads per hour by 2020. (The current average is 13 moinutes per hour.)

The hope is that fewer ads will sell for more money, while also preventing people from spending more time in ad-free services like Netflix. Fox has already been experimenting with six-second advertisements–supposedly with great results–while the NFL has tried to lighten its own ad load and use split-screen ads that don’t pull you away from the game.

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago–before cord-cutting became a major threat–programmers were trying to cram more commercials into their shows, even sometimes speeding them up fit in extra ad spots. A little competition always works wonders.

More Catch-Up

Save more money
On March 13, YouTube TV will raise its price for new subscribers from $35 per month to $40 per month. If you sign up before then, you can lock in the lower rate. Even at the higher price, YouTube TV is my pick for best overall streaming bundle right now, with a solid channel lineup, easy to navigate interface, and a DVR that stores unlimited programs for up to nine months.

No question too stupid!

If you’ve read this far, I need your help!

I’ve been writing about technology and cord-cutting for so long now that it’s easy for me to make faulty assumptions about what’s common knowledge and what’s not. To help demystify things for everyone–even folks who aren’t tech-savvy at all–I’d love to write a column along the lines of “All the questions about cord-cutting you were too embarrassed to ask.”

Do you have such questions? Please send them my way. No judgement! Just reply to this email to get in touch.

Until next week,
Jared