I have never been good at ending relationships. Most, if not all of them, have been ended by the other person. But cutting cable out of my life is the one relationship I’ve ended recently, and it’s oddly satisfying.

To be fair, it took me a while to initiate the break up. Sports channels were a big reason to stay, but I realized I don’t watch every event because I work in the evenings, and with my favorite team’s games, which are out of market and now streaming on ESPN+, I didn’t need the regional sports channel. The NHL’s jump to ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports also helped in my decision-making.

Also, there were many channels I never watched. When I discovered the programs I do watch on channels that are available on cheaper, streaming services, it got easier to make the call. Do I lose some channels on my new service? Yes, but I’ll survive. Sports bars exist for a reason.

Maybe it’s the experience of being dumped that has hardened me to the point I’d call my cable provider, be straight-forward and tell them it was over. Compared to past companies I’ve dealt with, the break up wasn’t that bad. Maybe it’s because I’m keeping internet service with them. It’s like getting the dog in the divorce for them.

There was some bargaining on their end for me to keep both cable and internet, but I kindly repeated two or three times that it was over and gave them the “it’s not you, it’s me”, which is true. I needed to cut back with my current budgeting. I was also seeing the streaming service behind their back at work.

So now I begin my new relationship with a two-week trial and a monthly fee about half the cost of my cable bill.

Let’s see where it goes.