Cutting The Cord on Cable/Satellite TV Service?

CantKeepmedown

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Jul 15, 2005
2,579
Portland, ME
It's not too hard to find any game/event online if you really want. It's not always ideal (lagging/delays) but you can still do it. I haven't had cable in years and haven't missed a game that I really wanted to see. Reddit streams and VIP box always seem to have good links
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
19,271
I'm due for a big shuffle. I'm going to cut YTTV (It was borderline at $40 per month, and at $50 or $55 or whatever, it's no longer borderline) and HBO Now. Dropping back down to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu (which comes free with Spotify).

The whole point in my dropping cable a few years ago was to cut my bill, but now it's crept up to about what it was when I had it.
In my town there was zero point with Xfinity. Their base internet only package was $99 plus tax for 100 meg internet. For $142 plus tax I have 200 meg internet and expanded basic (about 80 channels). We may go with an antenna for a bit but. It’s not really worth the hassle for us trying to find games online and other things we want.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
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Aug 23, 2006
6,196
I’m still getting the 100 meg plan for $75. If that goes up higher I’ll look into alternative ISP options. I’m absolutely not getting cable.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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It's not too hard to find any game/event online if you really want. It's not always ideal (lagging/delays) but you can still do it. I haven't had cable in years and haven't missed a game that I really wanted to see. Reddit streams and VIP box always seem to have good links
Of course that's stealing, but hey, you do you.

(unless I'm misunderstanding, in which case I apologize)
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
19,271
I’m still getting the 100 meg plan for $75. If that goes up higher I’ll look into alternative ISP options. I’m absolutely not getting cable.
we as in many towns in MA have no alternative outside of something like DSL. Once 5g is everywhere this hopefully will change though.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
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Aug 23, 2006
6,196
we as in many towns in MA have no alternative outside of something like DSL. Once 5g is everywhere this hopefully will change though.
Yeah, Dracut is a one ISP town too I believe, or at least my section of it. I'll be moving next year so as long as the price doesn't skyrocket before then...
 

HomeBrew1901

Has Season 1 of "Manimal" on Blu Ray
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Don’t be surprised if you start getting calls. They didn’t make much of an effort when I called to cancel last year. It was after I set the last date of service. I was bombarded within 24 hours.
You weren't kidding. I already got an email asking me to come back with a $300 gift card offer and their new subscriber rate.

Nope... I'm loving YTTV so far. The lags can be a bit annoying at times but that's my WiFi more than anything else I think. Everything else has been great.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Disney announced pricing for their Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle today: $12.99/month. That undercuts Netflix.

Going to be a fuck of a lot cheaper than HBO Max too, which has to start with HBO Go's current retail price ($14.99) and add a few bucks for extra content from there.
 

HomeBrew1901

Has Season 1 of "Manimal" on Blu Ray
SoSH Member
Disney announced pricing for their Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle today: $12.99/month. That undercuts Netflix.

Going to be a fuck of a lot cheaper than HBO Max too, which has to start with HBO Go's current retail price ($14.99) and add a few bucks for extra content from there.
I have Hulu/Netflix/Prime and pay a $1/month intro fee for Hulu. I can't remember the last thing I watched on Hulu and haven't watching anything on Prime since Jack Ryan. 12.99 being a few bucks cheaper than it's competitors won't make me switch until the content improves and Netflix starts making crappy shows;
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
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Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
I have Hulu/Netflix/Prime and pay a $1/month intro fee for Hulu. I can't remember the last thing I watched on Hulu and haven't watching anything on Prime since Jack Ryan. 12.99 being a few bucks cheaper than it's competitors won't make me switch until the content improves and Netflix starts making crappy shows;
We have same setup and outside of 11.22.63 and Handmaid’s Tale, we don’t use Hulu for anything other than reruns of Seinfeld and HIMYM.

Prime, I consider a bonus as I spend the money for the free shipping. When they kick out a Patriot or a The Boys, that’s great, it’s like finding money in your laundry. They have a decent catalogue of movies included as well.

We spend probably 90% of our time on Netflix and HBO and even then, we are behind on so many shows because the content just gets dumped in such huge quantities in short time frames, so we forget.

Outside of live sports neither of us use DirectvNow, but it’s good to have and HBO is only $10 a month extra. Once football season is over, I’ll likely dump that and just get HBOMax or whatever it’s called. I’ll need to reassess the NBC one when it comes out because we’d hate to lose the Office.
 

Wingack

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Jul 14, 2005
34,360
In The Quivering Forest
We have same setup and outside of 11.22.63 and Handmaid’s Tale, we don’t use Hulu for anything other than reruns of Seinfeld and HIMYM.

Prime, I consider a bonus as I spend the money for the free shipping. When they kick out a Patriot or a The Boys, that’s great, it’s like finding money in your laundry. They have a decent catalogue of movies included as well.

We spend probably 90% of our time on Netflix and HBO and even then, we are behind on so many shows because the content just gets dumped in such huge quantities in short time frames, so we forget.

Outside of live sports neither of us use DirectvNow, but it’s good to have and HBO is only $10 a month extra. Once football season is over, I’ll likely dump that and just get HBOMax or whatever it’s called. I’ll need to reassess the NBC one when it comes out because we’d hate to lose the Office.
That is going to be free, but with commercials.
 

edoug

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Jul 15, 2005
6,007
That is going to be free, but with commercials.
It's free with ads to Comcast or Sky.
"The streaming service comes free with your monthly subscription to NBC, Comcast Cable, or Sky. Cord-cutters will also have the option to purchase a paid subscription to the new streaming service. The cost hasn’t been revealed, but based on comparable streaming subscriptions, it will probably cost around $12 a month."
https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/what-is-nbcuniversal/
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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I'm over a year into YoutubeTV and couldn't be happier with it.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
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Dec 30, 2003
61,996
New York City
Chiming in to support Youtube TV. It's excellent and it never fails. It works on everything. I like it a lot.

I don't have Hulu Live, but Hulu in generally is buggy.
 

cardiacs

Admires Neville Chamberlain
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Jul 15, 2005
2,993
Milford, CT
I live in New Haven county and am currently getting cable/internet through Optimum.
I have been thinking about changing to YoutubeTV but just realized the cable boxes double as wifi routers for Optimum. Is there a way around it, or do I need to 1) keep the boxes or 2) switch to another provider?
 

Madmartigan

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May 1, 2012
5,664
Adding another vote for YouTube TV. I switched from PS Vue after they dropped NESN and I’m very happy with it.
 

Hank Scorpio

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Apr 1, 2013
6,913
Salem, NH
For anyone considering YouTube TV, make sure you subscribe through a web browser, and not iTunes or ApplePay. It’s $49.99/mo normally, but $54.99/mo through Apple.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Aug 1, 2001
16,720
I've had Youtube TV for about a year and a half and absolutely love it.

I don't know what I will do if I ever have to go back to some crappy 50-hour DVR after getting used to their unlimited DVR.
 

Bunt4aTriple

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Jul 15, 2005
4,347
North Yarmouth, ME
Well, we finally cut the cord.

Unintentionally.

My wife got over aggressive cutting the peony bushes and severed the cable from the Directv dish to the house. FFS.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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YouTube TV lacks the Viacom networks. I'm kid-free so I wouldn't miss Nickelodeon, and I could learn to live without MTV and Paramount Network, but doing without Comedy Central would suck.
 

Caspir

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Jul 16, 2005
6,886
So for the YouTube tv people, you can see Patriots games even as a local in Mass? I don't want to sign up for cable just for Pats games, and a lot of language from streaming services is a wishy washy with regard to local network coverage so I am a bit flustered as I pick from YouTubeTV, Sling, etc.

Looks like I can watch it with a ChromeCast, and on PS Vue which is all I need.
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Yes - you get all the local channels (WBZ, WCVB, WHDH, etc). Zero issues watching any local sports.
 

Hambone

will post for drinks
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Jul 15, 2005
2,822
Youtube has been great for me. I combine it with Sling's Blue package + sports channels for some specialty channels such as Pac-12 network. I know it costs more than going with Sling Blue+Orange, but easier to watch on multiple screens with both.

With football season coming, I'm curious what people find is the best solution to channel flip across a few games? I know I'll probably want to re-order my channels on YouTube to make the game watch channels closer in proximity, but I'm yet to find a way to toggle between channels the same way I could on a cable box.

Using a Roku set up today. Maybe the answer is controlling channel via the app vs my controller?
 

allstonite

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Oct 27, 2010
2,472
My cable bill went up $15 this month for no reason and I'm tired having to haggle every few months so I'm getting out. I've heard nothing but great things about YouTubeTV here and people I know who have it. My question is does anyone have any experience with multiple users on the same account? It says you can set up 6 accounts with 3 simultaneous streams. Is it really as simple as that? I'm hoping to cut the costs a little by sharing with a family member across town.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Aug 1, 2001
16,720
YouTube TV lacks the Viacom networks. I'm kid-free so I wouldn't miss Nickelodeon, and I could learn to live without MTV and Paramount Network, but doing without Comedy Central would suck.
It does suck to not have Comedy Central, so I subscribed to Philo TV for a couple months ($15 per month) to get caught up on all the Comedy Central shows I like, then unsubbed, since that was the only thing Philo had that I wanted that wasn't on YTTV.

I think the subscribe/unsubscribe merry-go-round is going to be necessary to get all the good content.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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Nov 19, 2008
3,932
My cable bill went up $15 this month for no reason and I'm tired having to haggle every few months so I'm getting out. I've heard nothing but great things about YouTubeTV here and people I know who have it. My question is does anyone have any experience with multiple users on the same account? It says you can set up 6 accounts with 3 simultaneous streams. Is it really as simple as that? I'm hoping to cut the costs a little by sharing with a family member across town.
I'm currently using my Dad's login. He lives in MA, I'm in CA. My brother also uses it, he's in CT. No issues for any of us at all so far, although we've never tried crossing more than 3 streams at one time.
 

Hambone

will post for drinks
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Jul 15, 2005
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Press the down arrow on the remote twice.
Thanks. I thought that changed in a recent software update and was suggesting certain channels, but turns out I was just watching really random channels of late.
 

finnVT

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Jul 12, 2002
2,153
Does it geolocate you in CA and give you the local ABC, CBS, etc?
As far as I can tell, it depends on the device. I have mine set up with my home area tagged as VT, and when I watch on my Roku (which doesn't geolocate) from Pittsburgh, I get local VT channels (including Sox, Pats, etc, as long as I've logged in from VT in the last 1-3 months). When I watch on my phone/computer which have geolocating enabled, I get local Pittsburgh stuff.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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Nov 19, 2008
3,932
Does it geolocate you in CA and give you the local ABC, CBS, etc?
I've only used the app on AppleTV and it gives me the western mass stations my parents get. I haven't looked to see if I can change that because I don't mind it. I'll check tonight to see if I can change it and will post an update.
 

allstonite

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Oct 27, 2010
2,472
I'm currently using my Dad's login. He lives in MA, I'm in CA. My brother also uses it, he's in CT. No issues for any of us at all so far, although we've never tried crossing more than 3 streams at one time.
Thanks. I returned my cable box and modem yesterday, bought my own modem and signed up. I'm about 12 hours into my cable-free life but so far it's incredible. I don't know why I didn't do this years ago
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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Nov 19, 2008
3,932
Thanks. I returned my cable box and modem yesterday, bought my own modem and signed up. I'm about 12 hours into my cable-free life but so far it's incredible. I don't know why I didn't do this years ago
Congrats! It takes a little getting used to with the switching between apps and antenna and whatnot, but once you get it dialed in, it's pretty close to cable and the savings is real.

Also, @splendid splinter I just got to check the app again and I was able to update my preferences through my phone to get local San Diego channels. I can even switch back to MA if I want. Can't change it through the app for some reason, but signing in from my phone was easy.
 

splendid splinter

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Aug 1, 2001
1,076
Greenville, SC
Congrats! It takes a little getting used to with the switching between apps and antenna and whatnot, but once you get it dialed in, it's pretty close to cable and the savings is real.

Also, @splendid splinter I just got to check the app again and I was able to update my preferences through my phone to get local San Diego channels. I can even switch back to MA if I want. Can't change it through the app for some reason, but signing in from my phone was easy.
I’m actually trying to figure out if I can have my brother create an account up in MA, where I can log in from SC and get NESN and all the Pats games. Sounds like that’s a possibility?
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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Nov 19, 2008
3,932
I’m actually trying to figure out if I can have my brother create an account up in MA, where I can log in from SC and get NESN and all the Pats games. Sounds like that’s a possibility?
Yup. Just have him create the account in MA and you're all set. He'll send you an email to setup your account, so you don't have to share login info/passwords. Once you setup your account, it'll give you his settings/channels unless you add your location like I did today.

NESN is available no matter the location (just double checked). It's the ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX channels that'll be different.
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

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Oct 2, 2003
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I'd be shocked if NESN was available outside of New England without using an account based there. Or even if it is, it's only for non-live sports programming, the actual games themselves are likely blacked out.
 

finnVT

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Jul 12, 2002
2,153
There may be a national version of NESN available, but you need to have your region tagged to New England to get sporting events. There's a few more nuances, though-- for all local channels, including NESN/CSNNE (and bruins/celtics/pats games) you need a login from your home area every 3 months or you'll lose access to them. BUT, MLB imposes additional restrictions, so that to view the Sox you need a local login in the past *1* month. You'll still get NESN, but when the game starts it'll be blacked out if you haven't logged in from new england in the last month.

(this is all just for youtube tv)
 

Hambone

will post for drinks
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Jul 15, 2005
2,822
Note that Youtube TV requires you to be logged in from your home zip code every 30 days or so
 

Boggs26

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Jul 12, 2005
1,152
Ashburnham, MA
Just took the leap into the 5-day free trial of YouTube TV with the intent of cancelling my Xfinity cable on Tuesday. So far the only issue I'm having is that NESN seems to buffer a lot on my (admittedly inexpensive) Vizio SmartCast TV in my bedroom. I'm assuming it's the TV (since it works fine on my better tv downstairs), not YouTube, although Netflix and Prime have always been fine on the same tv.
Figured I'd see if anyone else has had the issue of NESN cutting in and out, or had any other suggestions.
 

stepson_and_toe

New Member
Aug 11, 2019
386
So far the only issue I'm having is that NESN seems to buffer a lot on my (admittedly inexpensive) Vizio SmartCast TV in my bedroom.
I get a great deal of pixelation on NESN through my Comcast connection, sometimes to the point where I have to switch from HD to regular broadcast. I don't know if this is the same as your "buffering" but I live in a high-rise apartment building and always attributed it to wiring. Maybe it is a NESN problem.
 

burstnbloom

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Jul 12, 2005
2,761
I cut the cord three weeks ago. I upgraded to the 400mpbs internet and subscribe to youtubeTV (nesn) and sling (nfl network/redzone). I also have HBO NOW, Netflix and Prime. Even with all of that, I still save $80 a month. Cable is such a scam.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
I cut the cord three weeks ago. I upgraded to the 400mpbs internet and subscribe to youtubeTV (nesn) and sling (nfl network/redzone). I also have HBO NOW, Netflix and Prime. Even with all of that, I still save $80 a month. Cable is such a scam.
Do you guys have trouble when there are more than two people watching something different? Our dsl is a little over 750 kbps. We know that's very slow, but it's good enough for Netflix and a lot of pre-taped stuff. That's not going to cut it for live TV, is it?
 

Marceline

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Sep 9, 2002
6,441
Canton, MA
750k is gonna be rough for live TV. I'm surprised Netflix even works at that speed.

According to YouTube tv, they recommend 3mbps for SD content and 7mbps for HD.

Edit: just looked up Netflix and they require 5mbps for HD.