Cutting the Cord - Cable
 

We purchased a Fire TV Stick at the Marion of Market that had a pre-loaded program on it for Movies, TV Shows (not live) and Sports (live). This was while we still had a Dish contract to fulfill.

It was around $100 and then no further charges for what I mentioned above. This way we didn't have to pay fees for Netflix or other streaming devices.

Next we had the same person put his Premium program on the stick. That was $12 for a one month trial. We liked it so much we went for the $100/yr. contract. We get ALL the national and local stations - news from our stations back home, golf, tennis, hbo, starz, diy, hgtv, food network - you name it. However, you can't record with this type of service. It is streaming from our router and our speed is at 25mbps (I think that's the abbreviation). The picture is HD. We have a TV fire stick on each of our 4 TV's but can only watch 2 tv's simultaneously with their premium package. Not sure if you could watch a movie on a 3rd TV if it was using the non-premium streaming feature.

Streaming does not come without faults - and there is a learning curve to using it. However, we're retired - we've got plenty of time.

If you want to check it out for yourself - go to the Market of Marion - Aisle A - I think between C and D - facing towards Ocala. The guys are great. There are other vendors at the MofM, but their boxes are a couple hundred dollars - per TV and a monthly fee several X's more than we are paying.

If recording is a "must" then there's a unit on the market but it has to be used with an antenna or a couple designated streaming sites that are fee-based. I think it's called HD Homerun DVR. Or, stay with your cable or dish company and get the minimum channels that suit your needs for recording and do what we are doing for the rest.

Good luck!!!

Cajulian, Can you tell me the brand of your antennae?

A wifi bluray player will do the same thing as a streaming stick or a smart tv, and it will allow you to play dvds and cds. The library has lots of free dvds. Also, I think that, even if you have a contract with a cable company, you don't pay a cancellation fee as long as you keep their internet service.

Can some who have cut the cable please comment on the availability of local channel programming availability and access.

Secondly we pre record everything we watch. I understand the recording capability of streaming is in it's infancy if available at all.

Thanx!

Is there a company out there that will set it up for you? Also we have 6 T V's, don't ask me why, but can they all work.

Another "beginner" question. Reading the YoutubeTV site, it indicates that one can record multiple programs and never run out of storage space because the DVR library is stored in the cloud. So does one still need a DVR device for the DVR function or does record/play happen by making a selection on the YoutubeTV software?

Clark Howard guide to streaming
 

Clark Howard guide to streaming. Link below.

Best live TV streaming plans: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now vs. Sling TV | Clark Howard

Very helpful. Thanx for posting.

I’ve had both youtube tv and directv now. Just switched from YouTube tv to directv now for the free Apple TV. YouTube tv is much more stable than directv now. On directv now it took about 5 minutes this morning to get a stable picture from Fox News. That never happened with youtube tv. A lot more buffering with directv now.

interested in how the spectrum app works, do they install on your tv? is it on all tvs?

The commercial antenna is from an engineering company in Kentucky. I found them after testing many Best Buy retail antennas, that didn’t work well.

The antenna is called Marathon Over the Air antenna. You can search it on you tube to watch some videos. Or Google it.

The company sells it under their web site called FreeSignalTV. Com

Call 859-250-9538. John Berry is the rep.

It’s fairly expensive at about $190 for the antenna, attic or outside mount and it’s amplifier. But it’s a one time cost and is far superior to the store bought ones.

I have done both houses We own and helped several friends. The antenna gets you all the Broadcast networks.

I will say that 3 years ago, when I put the antenna up, the streaming packages were not that good. But now Play Station Vue and YouTubeTV have finally added the broadcast networks along with all the cable content you used to get. Those are ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and FOX.

So now, if you pick the right streaming package to run over your internet, you will have all the Broadcast networks and normal cable programs. You won’t need an antenna.

I do not know if the following has been discussed.

We rented a home in Marblehead MA from a friend. The TV service was Play Station Vue. According to our friend, he has the ability to have 3 sets in 3 different homes access the service for one subscription. He has a home in Florida, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire sharing the service. He has Amazon Fire sticks and also Amazon Prime. Might be valuable to those who have more than one residence or a rental.

Also, my son lives in Sao Paulo , Brazil and gets only one US station (CNN), bought an Amazon Firestick, and now has access to Play Station Vue. He had to change his computer ID to replicate a US address. But he now has access to a host of offerings from Play Station Vue.

I understand that, by switching from a cable TV service to a streaming service will save money. But, after everyone switches, aren't the streaming providers going to just increase the cost to what the cable companies charge?

The cable companies in most cases own the internet that the streaming is delivered to you on. I’m not an expert but my guess is I can see them increasing the cost of the internet when cable subscriptions fall off more than they have.

We just dropped DISH after over 10 years and all they could say was sorry. Lost signal every time it rains. Now 100% streaming with HULU. Cost went from $175/mo to $94. Internet is with Comcast at 25mbs. All local channels, plus premium and all sports including Big 10 network (comcast just dropped Big 10) 200 hours of cloud DVR storage and unlimited devices.

Not sure how much longer the major satellite and cable providers can stay in business once more and more customers switch to streaming.