If your cable bill feels like it creeps up every year, you're not imagining it. In 2026 the average US cable TV bill runs about $95-$147/month once you add equipment rental, regional sports fees and "broadcast" surcharges, and that's before internet.
What you're actually paying for
- The base package (often padded with channels you never watch)
- $10-$20/month in box and DVR rental
- Regional sports and "broadcast TV" fees that aren't in the advertised price
- Price hikes after the promo period ends
The streaming trap
Cutting cable for streaming apps helps, but the average household now pays about $69/month across ~4 apps (Deloitte, 2026) and still doesn't get live sports or PPV without paying more. Stack a few apps plus a live-TV service and you're back near cable prices.
The $20/month alternative
A single IPTV subscription like KanovaTV bundles 20,000+ live channels, 80,000+ movies and series, and sports & PPV into one plan from $20/month, on the devices you already own, no box rental. That's roughly $150+ a month less than a cable-plus-apps setup.
Want to see for yourself first? Start a free 24-hour trial, no credit card.