Cutting The Cord on Cable/Satellite TV Service?
- Thread starter LoweTek
- Start date
Researching the Roku, I know there is an Android App that can serve as a remote control.. I assume that might help with the initial installation process.
Ok. You guys make it sound SO easy. The only thing left for me to consider is this: can I get regular network TV through an over-the-air antenna given where I live?
Looks like I can subscribe to mlbtv for $25 a year ($2 per month); nfl rewind for $25 a year ($2 per month), and Netflix at $8 a month. That's just $12 a month for essentially all the programming I ever watch (I can watch college basketball on espn3.com).
Given that I'd save about $35 a month ditching my cable plan (it's part of a bundle package, so if I get rid of cable, it's not a straight price-cut...the individual cost for my phone and internet would be more than 2/3 of my bundle costs...if that makes sense), that's a savings of more than $20 per month. Which is $240 per year. Which for me is not insignificant.
EDIT: Ok, mistake on the cost. I was looking at what popped up on the screen as a price tag for MLBTV. Said $24.99. But I guess that's just until the start of the regular season. Looks like the 2012 regular season package is $119, or $10 per month. So pretty much there goes my savings!
I figure I'd get that on my computer, which would be fine. I don't like that I couldn't watch the games live, but oh well....that's what the over-the-air antenna would be for.
I live in northeast Connecticut. That probably qualifies, I would guess. Does that mean I wouldn't be able to watch the Sox' local coverage (NESN)? Or I wouldn't be able to watch my team AT ALL?
Seems kind of disingenuous for mlbtv to promote this great package but if you, you know, actually want to watch YOUR OWN TEAM, you can't because it's blacked out.
You can't watch your local team at all on MLB.tv. Others will know more details, but it's a way of not undercutting the regional sports cable networks.
I think if you go into the MLB.tv site there's a place to put in your address and they'll tell you which team(s) are in your local market. NE Connecticut would surely be the Sox.
They don't promote it to supplant your current viewing options for the Red Sox. They promote MLB.tv to watch ALL the games MLB has to offer, to accompany your local viewing. That being said, it is a great resource for transplant Sox fans who would otherwise not get their out of market team.
I don't have the time to look for it now, but somewhere else on Sosh (perhaps in this very thread?) someone posted a way of disguising your ip address and appearing to be in San Francisco or Beirut, for example. Seems a bit scary to me, but might be worth trying.
I just got off the phone with them and you guys are right - I couldn't watch the Sox on mlbtv until 90 minutes after the game is actually over. Yeah, like I want to start watching the Sox at 11:30pm. If this was the NFL, maybe, because then I would have all week to watch the game. But baseball is an everyday affair....makes no sense to be catching up on yesterday's game when there's another game today.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr....
A service like this seems to be perfect for those of us wanting to cut the cord. A one-time fee of 50 bucks seems like a huge bargain if the thing actually works. But while McAfee didn't find any problems with the site, so far I haven't been able to find any respectable reviews of the service. Nor can you tell, apparently, which channels are included. Does anyone have any experience with this program?
If it looks too good to be true...
Though, why would someone want to watch TV on the computer if they didn't have to? I can't even recall the last time I watched Netflix on my home computer since getting a Roku/Apple TV (that is just personal preference, however). In poking around the internet, I found a little info: it is just an aggregator that pulls together a large catalog of free channels from around the web. Likely you're going to have thousands of channels you don't want to watch, and a handful of channels that you could bookmark in your browser if you did your own legwork.
Why throw away $50 when you could turn that into a few months of Netflix and Hulu+?
Though, why would someone want to watch TV on the computer if they didn't have to? I can't even recall the last time I watched Netflix on my home computer since getting a Roku/Apple TV (that is just personal preference, however). In poking around the internet, I found a little info: it is just an aggregator that pulls together a large catalog of free channels from around the web. Likely you're going to have thousands of channels you don't want to watch, and a handful of channels that you could bookmark in your browser if you did your own legwork.
Why throw away $50 when you could turn that into a few months of Netflix and Hulu+?
Many people have HTPCs hooked up to their TVs
but FWIW - http://direct-tv.pissedconsumer.com/satellite-direct-online-tv-is-a-scam-20090927158059.html
You can if you have a gaming console and PlayOn Premium. I do it through my PS3. In all honesty, the experience kinda sucks. Scrolling through the game or jumping to specific plays is basically impossible. Just last night I was trying to watch the Pats-Dolphins game and got so frustrated that I hooked my laptop up to my TV and watched it that way instead. It's basically the complete polar opposite of watching MLB.TV on the PS3, which is a bucket full of awesome. I'm curious how the NFL Sunday Ticket is on PS3 as I'm also considering cutting the cord with cable. It would save me about $50 a month and I really don't watch anything I couldn't get on my PS3 or PC outside of ESPN, the AMC shows (which all end up on Netflix streaming eventually), and random food/science shows. The only things I'd really miss would be games on ESPN, but I have no qualms hooking my laptop up to my TV and streaming it that way when possible.
That is correct. I ensure my IP is an overseas IP (usually London) and off I go. I've used my real home address, etc. It worked flawlessly. I'm not kidding. The extra $30 for hidemyip was fantastic.
I'm considering an iPad in the near future and would like to purchase the MLB.TV app. Sadly, hidemyip is not available for iOs. I wonder how hidemyass service works. If it works just as well, an iPad may be in my future.
The Scubette and I cut the cord a few months ago, and we're both satisfied with the switch. We went with a combination of Hulu Plus and Amazon video. The rationale was that Hulu Plus with Amazon Prime would cost something like $4 less per year than Hulu Plus with Netflix (assuming Netflix unlimited streaming plus 1 DVD out at a time). The "free" movies with Amazon Prime were similar enough to the Netflix movies to cancel them out. But we had worked our way through most of hte Netflix streaming stuff the year prior. The bonus of Amazon Prime was that we could subscribe to some non-network shows that we watch (Mad Men and Breaking Bad to name a oouple). The bonus was we didn't have to wait until they came out on DVD. And I worked out the math and subscribing to 7-8 shows plus a few video rentals per month would cost less than cable. Any movies that were not on Amazon we could Redbox if we absolutly had to watch something.Hulu Plus obviously took care of the Network shows that we watch, plus some other random TV stuff. Since the switch Amazon has signed contracts with Fox and another movie studio that added a lot more "free" content. I assume this will continue.
I do miss some shows, including stuff on the Food Network and a few of the home-fixing shows on HGTV, but overall the switch has saved a ton of money and been enjoyable.
I do miss some shows, including stuff on the Food Network and a few of the home-fixing shows on HGTV, but overall the switch has saved a ton of money and been enjoyable.
I don't want an iPad with a Verizon or ATT. I simply want a WiFi iPad. I think it'll work...
Jailbreak your ipad and install the app at the link below from Cydia. This has worked for me in the past.
http://modmyi.com/cydia/package.php?id=15338
Anyone have any experience with the WD TV Live Hub? I was trying to convince myself not to spend the cash on a HTPC, but $179 seems like a cheap and easy way to store 1TB worth of media and stream it directly to your TV. The flaw I can see is that it is USB 2.0. It would be nice to have the speed of 3.0 if I ever want to add another external hard drive.
I received a Roku for Christmas. We're going to test out Netflix and Hulu Plus over the next month and try to make the cut as easy as possible. So far, just a day of putzing around with it..this will go much easier than I expected. The biggest decision we'll make is choosing Netflix or Amazon, I think.
Today's my last full day of cable. Netflix & Hulu Plus are going to be our primary sources, and the Roku has a slew of programming. Not all wonderful, but it'll probably take a while before we have nothing to watch.
as of right now, I don't have any option to watch Southland or Justified, but I'm hoping to find a web site that might have the episodes.
as of right now, I don't have any option to watch Southland or Justified, but I'm hoping to find a web site that might have the episodes.
So, I abandoned the idea of an iPad as I just picked up one of these babies. It's awesome. WiFi enabled, it streams HULU+ and Netflix flawlessly, and provides me access to Blockbuster online, MLB.tv, NHL and a couple other movie streaming sites. It's really a great machine.
And I think I've found an alternative to HideMyIp for baseball. I'm looking into it now and will report back as the new MLB app is released during spring training.
And I think I've found an alternative to HideMyIp for baseball. I'm looking into it now and will report back as the new MLB app is released during spring training.
I cancelled Comcast almost a month ago. Using Apple TV and have been steaming Netflix and Hulu plus through it. Also, been using my laptop to stream games and torrents through the Apple TV. So far, so good. I don't miss cable at all.
You do have an option. Amazon.com has both Justified and Southland available on Instant Video On Demand. You have to pay for each episode($2 or $3 for the HD) but if you're dying to see the show, it is available. In fact, it seems like Amazon has almost every show available on their Instant Video On Demand. It's an incredible selection.
Good to know, I'll check that out.
I'm one week into cable-free, and I haven't missed it yet. Haven't even set up the box for OTA channels. I wish I had done this years ago.
I just watched The Help and Moneyball via Amazon to my Sony Media Player to the telly for a total of $2.99. For some reason they gave me the first one free and the second at a discount. Pretty nice.
p.s. If you don't mind very brief commercial breaks, Hulu is really nice for older TV series. I watched three years of Hill St. Blues that way, free, running an HDMI cable from the laptop to the telly.
I am wondering why you are looking for an alternative to HideMyIp. Was it unsatisfactory or too pricy? From previous entries in this thread, I had decided to try that for mlb. If it (or an alternative works), I'm ready to get rid of satellite, as I don't watch it anymore except for baseball.
Due to some recent financial "changes" (I'm poorer), I'm thinking of making the leap. Here's my relevant information:
- I have a PS3
- I live outside of the Boston market, so I subscribe to MLB.tv and NHL GameCenter for my Red Sox and Bruins needs. I have a Netflix subscription and I'm currently trying the Hulu Plus free preview.
- I currently have Fios for internet and cable. It runs me about $85/month for the basic package.
It looks like Fios offers internet-only to new customers for around $60/month. The horrible Verizon website doesn't want to let me downgrade to just internet for any price reduction. I'm guessing that if I call Verizon or go into the Verizon store down the street from me I can sob-story them into giving me the internet-only price. Nobody likes to see a grown man cry. By my math, dropping cable for Hulu Plus and an antenna would save me $280 a year. I'm trying to decide whether ESPN (Sunday Night Baseball, MNF, tons of college games), TBS (baseball, Seinfeld reruns!), NBC Sports, and random "background" channels like Nat Geo, Discovery, Bravo, Food Network, etc. are worth $280. My biggest fear is probably losing ESPN. I watch something on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU probably every night, but rarely care about the game. Still, it would feel weird being cut off from a chunk of the sports world.
With all that in mind, a couple quick questions:
- I understand that I need an antenna to get the OTA channels. I live in a semi sub-level apartment. I have large windows but I'm sort of in the basement. There are no tall buildings around but I am surrounded by other apartment buildings that are 3-5 floors tall. What are my chances for a clear, non-annoying picture? I remember struggling mightily with antennas when I was a kid, but has the technology improved any? Is there a certain type of antenna that I should be looking for? I could possibly put an antenna outside if that helps. Should I experiment with a cheap one before I cut off cable completely?
- How long after shows air are they available on Hulu Plus? I watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report every night. I'm guessing I would have to wait til the next day to watch. Not a big problem, I'm just curious.
- Can you really lose ESPN? How do you not watch MNF?
- I have a PS3
- I live outside of the Boston market, so I subscribe to MLB.tv and NHL GameCenter for my Red Sox and Bruins needs. I have a Netflix subscription and I'm currently trying the Hulu Plus free preview.
- I currently have Fios for internet and cable. It runs me about $85/month for the basic package.
It looks like Fios offers internet-only to new customers for around $60/month. The horrible Verizon website doesn't want to let me downgrade to just internet for any price reduction. I'm guessing that if I call Verizon or go into the Verizon store down the street from me I can sob-story them into giving me the internet-only price. Nobody likes to see a grown man cry. By my math, dropping cable for Hulu Plus and an antenna would save me $280 a year. I'm trying to decide whether ESPN (Sunday Night Baseball, MNF, tons of college games), TBS (baseball, Seinfeld reruns!), NBC Sports, and random "background" channels like Nat Geo, Discovery, Bravo, Food Network, etc. are worth $280. My biggest fear is probably losing ESPN. I watch something on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU probably every night, but rarely care about the game. Still, it would feel weird being cut off from a chunk of the sports world.
With all that in mind, a couple quick questions:
- I understand that I need an antenna to get the OTA channels. I live in a semi sub-level apartment. I have large windows but I'm sort of in the basement. There are no tall buildings around but I am surrounded by other apartment buildings that are 3-5 floors tall. What are my chances for a clear, non-annoying picture? I remember struggling mightily with antennas when I was a kid, but has the technology improved any? Is there a certain type of antenna that I should be looking for? I could possibly put an antenna outside if that helps. Should I experiment with a cheap one before I cut off cable completely?
- How long after shows air are they available on Hulu Plus? I watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report every night. I'm guessing I would have to wait til the next day to watch. Not a big problem, I'm just curious.
- Can you really lose ESPN? How do you not watch MNF?
FiOS has ESPN3, so you lose less ESPN random sports events than you'd think. With just a PS3, I don't think you can get it to a TV, but you can get it to a computer for sure.
As for MNF, that's when in my experience you suck it up and hit the sports bar or whatever friend of yours has a goofily large TV.
Do they let you access ESPN3 without a tv plan though? TW 'has' espn3, but if you don't do cableTV through them they don't allow you to access it.
You may have more luck than me - I'm surrounded by buildings and don't get all channels clearly. However, in NYC, you can get basic OTA channels through the wall coax in almost every apartment since antennas are hard to execute on. Between those two (going into my TiVo), I'm covered. I expect you'd probably have better luck given the few buildings around you. I am thinking of "installing" (places, with weights) a roof antenna if my super will let me.
Typically next day. In addition to Hulu, you can also do Colbert and TDS through Comedy Central's website.
Living without ESPN is surprisingly easy for me, but I'm really mostly a baseball fan with a little basketball, and not into general sports. I do read sports blogs and websites more, though, and most clips/news is available on ESPN's website.
I cut back a $120/month Comcast Internet/Cable plan to $60/month by switching to basic cable only (local stations plus TBS). I could have gone to OTA only, but due to the discount for having a package, the internet-only bill would only have been $57/month or not much cheaper.
I've been using ESPN3 over the XBox with a lot of success and haven't really missed much. In fact - they have a lot more games on their then I'd be watching if I stuck to cable (college basketball, random sports). There are times where I'm blacked out locally for a game I really want to watch, but you can use a VPN to get around it or just go to a friend's house or bar. There's also all the streaming sports sites if you can live with the quality.
HideMyIp does not work on my new Samsung WiFi DVD player, that's why. I believe I've found a service that will, though. Like I said, I'll let everyone know. However, if you're watching baseball on your computer and want to avoid the blackouts, HideMyIp comes highly recommended.
Check out Aereo that just launched today.
Greenfield:
"AEREO Launched Today. Earlier today, AEREO officially launched service in the New York DMA, offering consumers a $12/month dual-antenna/dual DVR package, including first month free trial (invite only at launch today, with public allowed in as of March 14th). AEREO subscribers will be able to watch and record two different programs or simply record two different programs to their personal DVR in AEREO’s cloud. What makes the package so compelling is that DVR access is included (no extra fees). In addition, subscribers can access both their live and DVR’d content from anywhere within their local broadcast region (via tablet, smartphone, IP-connected TV, etc.). Note: AEREO is not an iOS app, it is simply a website built in HTML5 and works on both AppleTV via Airplay and on Roku boxes via a private channel."
Greenfield:
"AEREO Launched Today. Earlier today, AEREO officially launched service in the New York DMA, offering consumers a $12/month dual-antenna/dual DVR package, including first month free trial (invite only at launch today, with public allowed in as of March 14th). AEREO subscribers will be able to watch and record two different programs or simply record two different programs to their personal DVR in AEREO’s cloud. What makes the package so compelling is that DVR access is included (no extra fees). In addition, subscribers can access both their live and DVR’d content from anywhere within their local broadcast region (via tablet, smartphone, IP-connected TV, etc.). Note: AEREO is not an iOS app, it is simply a website built in HTML5 and works on both AppleTV via Airplay and on Roku boxes via a private channel."
I wonder how long Aereo will last. I read that they have seeded the NYC metro area with little antennas and you are technically buying a lease-share of your local antenna that is receiving the content (and a license to an online PVR), but I think that is legal contortion just to prevent them from being sued into oblivion like some of their predecessors. It's Barry Diller's company though, so maybe he can make something happen.
I don't get it - isn't every cable company obligated to carry a basic subscription that has the OTA channels and little else for basically the same charge as this? I know here in the capital district (of NY) TW has a $9 or $12/mo package as I just described, and only has it b/c they have to carry it.
Given that - how is this a game changer? The built in DVR (for those that have a HTPC, that's pretty much a given)? Maybe the HTML5 site gets some buy-in? Use something like Orb on your HTPC and you can do the whole location shifting thing as well...
When I first read about it I thought it was cool, but the more I think about it, the more I see a solution for a non-existent problem.
Given that - how is this a game changer? The built in DVR (for those that have a HTPC, that's pretty much a given)? Maybe the HTML5 site gets some buy-in? Use something like Orb on your HTPC and you can do the whole location shifting thing as well...
When I first read about it I thought it was cool, but the more I think about it, the more I see a solution for a non-existent problem.
No. There is a Basic Cable option for $16.58 a month where I live, but you are getting an awful SD feed. For $0 I get all of the same channels, but in HD. With something like this, I'd get those same channels, and the ability to record the programs.
That said, I'd prefer something along the lines of this with an online (or iOS app) dashboard, and a built-in SSD that could hold 24 hours or so of recorded HD programming. I'd rather pay $100 upfront for a box, and ~$3 a month for the service, than $12 a month to just use the service. Maybe I missed this, but what does the equipment cost?
I think that's their one saving grace, no equipment to buy, no set-top box etc - hence the monthly rent.
I still don't get it, I'd rather invest the $250 in a HTPC with a tunercard and have all these features + the ability to do netflix, youtube and oodles of other things, but maybe they'll make it compelling somehow - by say building out the content somehow.
Their target market does not include anyone who knows what HTPC stands for let alone how to build a home theater PC.
edit - also, you need an Apple TV or Roku to put it on your big screen, so those people have Netflix, youtube, etc. already.
I am frustrated... The only thing "live" on in tv in my home is sports and I live in the DC area. For this reason, I've had DT so I can watch the Sox, Pats, and Cs in HD. But I am tired of paying all this money to have over 200 channels I don't really care about. Any show I want to watch - Mad Men, Dexter, etc. - I watch on DVD and don't mind at all. I usually sell them back through Amazon when done viewing them and get over $.75 on the dollar back.
If I could simply figure out a way to get Boston teams with good picture quality on my television set without DT or cable, I'd cut the cord. I'd miss the occasional NCAABB game but maybe I'd get an antenna so I'd have cbs, fox, etc.
Anyway, I was all set to do this because I recently moved and I can no longer get DT at my home which means I'd need Comcast and goodbye to HD for mlb and goodbye to Sunday Ticket. So, I figured I could get MLBtv, NFL Sunday Ticket online (available if you cannot get DT at your home), and NBA League Pass and hook up my laptop to my tv. But, then I read how poor the quality is on a tv when using this method.
Totally novice question here - if I were to get a blu ray disc player (I was considering doing this anyway), can I get mlbtv in HD quality on my tv? I have a Panasonic Viera tv without Internet hookups. In general, am I asking for the impossible - to get Boston teams on tv in good quality without a dish or cable?
If I could simply figure out a way to get Boston teams with good picture quality on my television set without DT or cable, I'd cut the cord. I'd miss the occasional NCAABB game but maybe I'd get an antenna so I'd have cbs, fox, etc.
Anyway, I was all set to do this because I recently moved and I can no longer get DT at my home which means I'd need Comcast and goodbye to HD for mlb and goodbye to Sunday Ticket. So, I figured I could get MLBtv, NFL Sunday Ticket online (available if you cannot get DT at your home), and NBA League Pass and hook up my laptop to my tv. But, then I read how poor the quality is on a tv when using this method.
Totally novice question here - if I were to get a blu ray disc player (I was considering doing this anyway), can I get mlbtv in HD quality on my tv? I have a Panasonic Viera tv without Internet hookups. In general, am I asking for the impossible - to get Boston teams on tv in good quality without a dish or cable?
A ps3 will have the blu ray disc player I know of apps to stream at least to the MLB, the NHL and Netflix. I'm almost sure about the NFL, but have no idea about the NBA.