OT : Sling TV
- Thread starter amcdan2000
- Start date
We cut the cable about 4 months ago and started using Sling (along with an antenna) and haven't looked back. The performance issues we have observed with Sling are limited to ESPN(s) with live events. They say they are working on the problem, but in the mean time Sling gives you access to the WatchESPN app which works great on our Roku.
Try the 7-day free trial and see how it works. We did and cut the cable cord. We could only get SEC network in a package that included about 500 other filler channels and additional fees while raising our rate about $100 over basic--all I needed was ESPN channels, could get everything else I watch online.
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: you can't pause or DVR the games while in progress with SlingTV. You can use it to login to WatchESPN (often works better than the SlingTV app itself), and can watch replays there, but you can't pause in the game, answer the phone, and then catch up during the commercials.
Also, performance is spotty at times; missed the first 20 minutes of the basketball game Friday night because WatchESPN couldn't verify my account through SlingTV--just felt like one of SlingTV's servers must have gone down for a while. But, all in all, I can live with it--screw the freakin' cable companies making a last-ditch effort to stay relevant and gouge the loyal customers with rate increases and lack of upgrades instead of rewarding them. Cable TV is the Blockbuster Video of the 2010s--about to be a trivia/nostalgia artifact.
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: you can't pause or DVR the games while in progress with SlingTV. You can use it to login to WatchESPN (often works better than the SlingTV app itself), and can watch replays there, but you can't pause in the game, answer the phone, and then catch up during the commercials.
Also, performance is spotty at times; missed the first 20 minutes of the basketball game Friday night because WatchESPN couldn't verify my account through SlingTV--just felt like one of SlingTV's servers must have gone down for a while. But, all in all, I can live with it--screw the freakin' cable companies making a last-ditch effort to stay relevant and gouge the loyal customers with rate increases and lack of upgrades instead of rewarding them. Cable TV is the Blockbuster Video of the 2010s--about to be a trivia/nostalgia artifact.
So, it's no cheaper than cable and a lot less functional and reliable. Sounds like a winner to me. **
Sling TV
Yes, definitely worth it. I went with Sling TV, antenna, and netflix AND upgraded my internet and I'm still saving money over what I was paying for Dish. Its the closest thing to A La Carte TV service that is on the market. We went with the roku to access it and that comes with other "apps" that are for the most part free.
Yes, definitely worth it. I went with Sling TV, antenna, and netflix AND upgraded my internet and I'm still saving money over what I was paying for Dish. Its the closest thing to A La Carte TV service that is on the market. We went with the roku to access it and that comes with other "apps" that are for the most part free.
No, it's a LOT cheaper than cable.
No, it's a LOT cheaper than cable. Knocked about $100 off my cable bill with all the extra fees (extended basic digital channels to get SEC network, DVR, multiple digital converter boxes, extra sports channel fee, etc.). SlingTV, on the other hand, is $25 with the sports package, and you can pay month-to-month--only get it September through January, drop it the month you're on vacation and sign back up, etc.
I pay $170 for 4 services through comcast (home phone, internet, tv, home security). I don't know if I could find a better deal if I went with 4 separate services because once you get internet by itself - it's $60+ for a good package. Cspire 1 GB is $80/month for internet alone.
Sound like you're getting a pretty good deal. I'm paying about $80 for Internet/phone (WOW cable, Alabama). To keep the smallest package that included SEC network, I was being charged $210 total. They wouldn't move me to any of the newer bundle deals, wouldn't budge on the price (years past, I could call, threaten to leave, and get the price bumped down for 6 months...), and they've already advertised that they're raising cable rates again this coming January. Of course new customers are paying half of that for their first six month bundle deals, but they now keep records and you can't even quit, switch, and come back for an entry price--they tag you as an old customer and won't give you a new deal if you come back. Screw 'em. Hope Google Fiber hastens their demise, and soon.
Chord cutting seems to work after you've exhausted all your promtional offers &
have spent hours on the phone with providers complaining and getting everything worked out for a "special deal for you." Once all these promotions run out and your cable/internet bill is jumping every year, only then does it seem like chord cutting is the way too-for now.
I think when my first U-Verse contract runs up in May 2016 and they try to sky rocket my prices I may cut the chord. Problem is, internet will still be about $80/mo and after sling and everything, I will probably be right at the $115-120/mo I'm currently at.
Being able to opt out on a monthly basis with services like sling seems to work, but then again, I can just use the WatchESPN app instead of using Sling, so I certainly wouldn't get Sling for just sports.
I think I'll just keep internet and my Netflix, which I hardly watch, and go from there with the WatchESPN next May and save about $30-40/mo from my current bill.
ETA: I would consider jumping from Dish to DirecTV and use up their promotions and save over the next couple years, but living in FL, I need a reliable satellite signal and we get storms down here OTR.
have spent hours on the phone with providers complaining and getting everything worked out for a "special deal for you." Once all these promotions run out and your cable/internet bill is jumping every year, only then does it seem like chord cutting is the way too-for now.
I think when my first U-Verse contract runs up in May 2016 and they try to sky rocket my prices I may cut the chord. Problem is, internet will still be about $80/mo and after sling and everything, I will probably be right at the $115-120/mo I'm currently at.
Being able to opt out on a monthly basis with services like sling seems to work, but then again, I can just use the WatchESPN app instead of using Sling, so I certainly wouldn't get Sling for just sports.
I think I'll just keep internet and my Netflix, which I hardly watch, and go from there with the WatchESPN next May and save about $30-40/mo from my current bill.
ETA: I would consider jumping from Dish to DirecTV and use up their promotions and save over the next couple years, but living in FL, I need a reliable satellite signal and we get storms down here OTR.
This is my question about U-Verse because I have a data limit every month that I would think I'd be close to hitting if I watched Netflix, Sling, etc as much as I leave my TV on right now. Maybe if my TV was off when I wasn't watching a movie or a game it would work out, but this is definitely one thing I would need to know. When I had Comcast in Jackson and then Brighthouse for a short time before I dumped that POS, I had never heard of a data limit.
I make a conscious effort to not just mindlessly have the Sling or Netflix going if I'm not watching it. If I want the TV on just for sound I'll use the antenna stations. In the Jackson area, with just the antenna, you get about 20 "over the air" stations. Its a small thing to deal with to save money in the long run. I've had it since August and haven't even come close to going over my data limit.
We are with Xfinity in Atlanta. $39 for 70 MPS. Not sure if we have a Data limit or not quite frankly, but we are streaming all the time and have not been charged more than that yet.
I just checked the Comcast meter and I'm at 127GB this month with a cap of 300GB. Not sure when they implemented a cap, but I have never been charged for an overage. I'm retired and probably use the net more than working people too. Of course a large family might have trouble staying under the limits.
Overall, I have been satisfied with internet TV. But I have just bought a new house so if I can get a good deal with Direct TV or someone else, I might go that route. I do miss the Golf Channel. Damn golf has cost me a fortune over the years.
Overall, I have been satisfied with internet TV. But I have just bought a new house so if I can get a good deal with Direct TV or someone else, I might go that route. I do miss the Golf Channel. Damn golf has cost me a fortune over the years.
Yup. I'm with Xfinity. I get within 5 gbs of my 300gb data limit every month with ease. And I sub to the cable tv too. I do play online video games, but that isn't a big drain. We only have 1 streaming device (appleTV). Maybe I'm doing something wrong. My little girl streams cartoons on the weekend. I bet we don't stream over 60 minutes a day on average. And no, I'm not streaming House of Cards in 4k.
I'm about to sign up for sling today to watch the USMNT. Does anyone know if it works for SECN+ on watchESPN, for basketball games like last night's?
You can go to settings and make sure that you are at less than HD as far as picture quality. That takes less data. I'm okay with a lower quality picture if I can get more programs for the same amount of money.
I got an ad for sling sitting here on my desk. Says go to www.sling.com/trysling4 for a 7 day free trial with HBO, Sports Extra, Kids Extra, and Hollywood Extra.
Yes, I used it last night to watch the game.
Today I've spent all day trying to get those 2 hours of my life back.
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