OT: Specific cord cutting question

[MarkDallas]

I know cord cutting has been discussed ad nauseum here, but I have a specific question.

What is it like switching channels? I've used the ESPN app and it is a pain to flip between two games. It takes 20 or 30 seconds to stop one stream and buffer a new one. Is that the case on platforms like Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling, etc as well? Or is there a way to flip back and forth quickly if there are two games going on at the same time?

 

[civildawg88]

No. It takes a few seconds to load. Something like 5-10 seconds

 

[seshomoru]

On Hulu there is no channel return, which would be nice, but pressing down brings up your recent channels so it’s a pretty quick to get to. I ran an Ethernet cable to the living room tv and have cspire fiber so the buffer/load is pretty minimal. Couple of seconds or so.

 

[Nunya.sixpack]

Set up another tv in the room.

 

[Dawgzilla]

There's a lag. I use my phone to keep up with other games. You could use a tablet, a computer or a second TV if you need to accommodate other viewers.

 

[Arthur2478]

It takes 20 or 30 seconds to stop one stream and buffer a new one.

That sounds like a connection issue. I use the ESPN app all the time and have never experienced more than a few seconds delay with a modest cable internet connection. Also, I use the AppleTV version of the ESPN app and it supports multicasting so you can watch more than one game at once and swap volume back and forth between games, enter/exit full screen on any selected game, etc.

 

[DancingRabbit]

Sling has a recall button; takes about 2 seconds usually. Switching to OTA

channels and back adds another 2-3 seconds.

Would depend on your internet connection.

As cheap as TVs are, I'm close to adding one.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

No. It takes a few seconds to load. Something like 5-10 seconds

This is my biggest dislike of sling/Hulu. Oh well, I dislike the price of the other options more.

 

[dorndawg]

This and generally having to switch apps is the main thing keeping me from cord-cutting.

I swear, in a few years, somebody is going to think of somehow bundling all the content on all the different platforms and apps. "Cable" them all together, if you will...

 

[CrookedLetta4Eva]

How much data does everyone use per month? Specifically wondering how much is needed for data caps.

 

[fishwater99]

If you have a fast internet connection, like fiber, it is very minimal.

I am ready to see what the new Apple and Disney applications look like.

 

[cowbell88]

Set up another tv in the room.

or in same room.

Ooh multiple TVs on multiple channels complete with auto mute on the 40’s and PIP switching from any of the others to the 65 in the middle. The 65 in the middle is hooked in to the surround sound. It’s all wired into the armrest remote on the Bubba chair that has the beer fridge in the other armrest. The ultimate man cave.

 

[SirBarksalot]

I remember having 3 channels and having to actually walk up to the tv to change them.

how did we live?

 

[dorndawg]

What kind of dinosaur did you ride?*

 

[Dawg1979]

I remember having 3 channels and having to actually walk up to the tv to change them.

how did we live?

if you were like me, you dad said, hey boy, go turn it to channel 3. i roll my eyes, get slapped in the back of the head, and go turn it to channel 3.

 

[dawgman42]

Uphill, both ways.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

That Yazoo Clay will do it.

 

[Xenomorph]

You walked up to change the channel yourself?? ...Obviously you didn’t have children.

 

[the_marshall]

I think it all depends on your broadband speed. I'm at 200MBs, and I notice a 5-10 delay when switching on the ESPN app.

I'm gonna have to get used to that when November rolls around and I get off Cable and go to YoutubeTV and the Disney+ bundle (Disney+, Hulu w/ads, and ESPN+). I'll drop Netflix then too.

 

[RocketDawg]

I remember having 3 channels and having to actually walk up to the tv to change them.

how did we live?

In the '60s, Meridian only had one channel so you didn't have to worry about channel hopping. I think Jackson had 2 stations at the time.

 

[MarkDallas]

That sounds like a connection issue. I use the ESPN app all the time and have never experienced more than a few seconds delay with a modest cable internet connection. Also, I use the AppleTV version of the ESPN app and it supports multicasting so you can watch more than one game at once and swap volume back and forth between games, enter/exit full screen on any selected game, etc.

Maybe 30 seconds is an exaggeration... but it's definitely long enough to discourage flipping.

 

[Col. Forbin]

This summer with 3 kids and the wife at home all day the most we hit was 800 GB. We have a 1TB plan.

 

[SirBarksalot]

You walked up to change the channel yourself?? ...Obviously you didn’t have children.

That would have been me. My child doesn’t understand why I won’t get her an iPhone.

 

[SirBarksalot]

In the '60s, Meridian only had one channel so you didn't have to worry about channel hopping. I think Jackson had 2 stations at the time.

Where I lived, we got ABC, NBC, PBS.....signal for CBS sucked.thus I was never a big Dukes of Hazard fan.

 

[Blldawg87]

On YouTube TV, you basically push down on you directional buttons and that will bring up the last 4 or 5 channels you have watched, included recorded stuff.

So I can easily and quickly change between channels and live or recorded tv.

 

[MarkDallas]

On YouTube TV, you basically push down on you directional buttons and that will bring up the last 4 or 5 channels you have watched, included recorded stuff.

So I can easily and quickly change between channels and live or recorded tv.

Just signed up for YouTube trial. Will check that out.

 

[civildawg88]

YouTube tv is by far the best option for streaming. I’ve tried all free trials and it’s just better

 

[dickiedawg]

Basically the only issue I have with Hulu w. Live TV is that it's delayed a little. I'll get a "spoiler" on Twitter or a score alert. If only the Twitter app had an option to build in some buffer time... And that shouldn't be too hard, my Discman had that figured out 20 years ago**

 

[The Peeper]

I just got a new Roku and already have 2 others. New one is an Ultra, the others are Express models and this one blows the other two away as far as loading speed.

 

[MarkDallas]

Basically the only issue I have with Hulu w. Live TV is that it's delayed a little. I'll get a "spoiler" on Twitter or a score alert. If only the Twitter app had an option to build in some buffer time... And that shouldn't be too hard, my Discman had that figured out 20 years ago**

I noticed that YouTube TV has an option to "hide all scores from this team" which is kinda cool.

 

[RPOdawg]

I know cord cutting has been discussed ad nauseum here, but I have a specific question.

What is it like switching channels? I've used the ESPN app and it is a pain to flip between two games. It takes 20 or 30 seconds to stop one stream and buffer a new one. Is that the case on platforms like Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling, etc as well? Or is there a way to flip back and forth quickly if there are two games going on at the same time?

When you're using a streaming device, there's so many variables that could cause your experience to suck. For one, you are at minimum about 90 seconds behind Live TV. That in itself is enough for me to not even consider getting a streaming device. But another issue is a lot of those streaming devices buffer a lot. I know im probably getting ripped off keeping my Direct TV but i like to spend my money where i spend my time, and during football season, that's on the couch watching football. If you can afford regular TV i suggest you keep it. Ive had a fire stick once and it's not worth the money i saved. It just pissed me off when it would buffer anytime it was cloudy outside.

 

[RocketDawg]

The Meridian Station - WTOK - carried all three networks. They tried to pick the best that each network offered and did a pretty good job. There was no PBS (or ETV) in Mississippi at that time.

 

[RocketDawg]

I just got a new Roku and already have 2 others. New one is an Ultra, the others are Express models and this one blows the other two away as far as loading speed.

Yep. I bought an Ultra a few months ago, and it loads much, much faster than my older stick model. It's far from instantaneous, but still pretty good. And it has 4K capability. About all I use it for is SEC+ and WatchESPN. Amazon Prime is already on my smart TV. I don't have Netflix or any premium channels because I'd never watch them.

 

[RocketDawg]

I agree. I have Dish and will keep it. I also have over-the-air capability for local stations when needed, and a Roku Ultra for SEC+ and WatchESPN. That's all I need.