I am a cord cutter, more from irritation with cable providers' service than price. My only options where I live are AT&T, Time Warner, and Direct TV...the Axis of Evil. I bought an Apple TV when they first came out and still have the first generation on one television. A newer version is on the second.
I get my news online and don't miss local stations. National Geographic, the History Channel, and the Smithsonian Channel are all free through my Apple TV along with a host of other things. Depending on how many shows you watch on those channels, it might be a worthwhile purchase for you. As for my television options: I get a majority of my television through a $8/mo Hulu subscription. I find Netflix to be relatively useless in the off-season, but pay for it when Orange is the New Black and House of Cards are on. If I am willing to be patient, I can watch the previous season of the The Walking Dead on Netflix instead of purchasing it through iTunes. HBO, Showtime, and CBS round out our entertainment buffet. I try to get my movies from Redbox if I am home sick or plowing through them, but am usually too lazy to bother and simply pay the iTunes rental fee for immediate gratification and the convenience of not having to pick up/return or risk late fees.
Despite the premium channel subscriptions, I still spend less than I did on cable providers. I appreciate the ability to add or drop my subscriptions to certain channels based on their season roster or my schedule. I do not have to take time out of my day to re-negotiate the terms of introductory offer when my internet/cable bill suddenly jumps from $80/mo to $255 (AT&T U-verse). Nor am I obligated to a two-year contract regardless of the quality of reception or customer service (Direct TV). I also do not have to wait 1-2 weeks for a technician if I have a problem (Time Warner).
I have had one or two issues over the years with iTunes purchases. In each case, I was able to get a live person on the phone within a reasonable period of time who spoke intelligible English. They fixed my problem immediately...no delay, no checking with a supervisor, no transferring me between representatives, and no scheduling a technician.
If you are an avid sports fan, the math might work out a bit differently for you. As for me...I cannot imagine why I would pay for cable as it currently exists. I cut the cord years ago and have absolutely no regrets
ETA: I am not trying to insert a product placement, but have recently been watching "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee." Since I have an iPhone and an Apple TV, I can pull up the episodes on my phone and throw them onto the television with the touch of a button. I find it to be easier than using Chromecast (which I own but have found to be redundant). More importantly, I can use my Apple TV remote to pause/play/rewind/fast forward, rather than the original device (as is the case with Chromecast).
