Need more proof that the world is changing? Last week, the President of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Michael Powell, told the Senate that "the largest subscription video provider in the country today is Netflix."

If you haven't paid attention to the entertainment landscape for the last few years, Netflix is an online streaming video service. You pay $8 a month and can watch all the TV shows and movies you want on your computer, mobile gadgets or TV.

It was the first, and not the last, serious challenge to the cable companies' dominance. Even if cable companies won't admit it, they're working hard to stay relevant against growing competition from Netflix, Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, YouTube and many other online video services.

Millions of consumers have already been lured away from cable with promises of lower prices and the freedom to watch what they want, when they want. I know, because I'm one of them.

Of course, like any big change to new technology, there are challenges to overcome. Here are five things I've discovered that will help make your transition easier - or might convince you to wait a bit longer to make the jump.