Ok, Directv has doubled in price and we now have the high speed internet... so if I want SEC Sports, Espn, 2, U, Local Channels, NFL network and some HGTV for my wife... what is the best streaming service?
Summer Cord Cutting Thread
- Thread starter Leeshouldveflanked
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We just dropped Directv, although they will not shut it off—I’ve called twice to confirm cancellation, and they take me through the process. However, our DTV still works (I’m not paying g for it)!
we have signed up for YouTube TV. We get local channels and most of, if not all, of the channels you named.
we have signed up for YouTube TV. We get local channels and most of, if not all, of the channels you named.
I have been using PlayStation Vue for more than a year and have been pleased. I have the Core package($54.99) that has all of the channels you listed except my local CBS affiliate. I use an HD antenna for that. I stream it on an Amazon fire stick, used a PS3 in the past, and they offer an app as well. I believe I can have 5 streams at once.
We do Directv Now which is their cord cutter version. Has all those channels you list. Can't really complain about the service. We've had it for about 2 years now. If you're on AT&T with your cell, you usually can get a good deal. Haven't researched pricing and their competition for a while so there may be something better out there.
So including internet - what are you paying/month? I am paying $165for Xfinity but I have 3 services - tv/internet/home security.
I've had YouTubeTV for about a year and have been extremely impressed. I access it via an AppleTV, a Roku stick, the iPhone App, the iPad App and any standard web browser and haven't had any issues.
I think the best service is DirecTVNow, but it is also the most expensive. They might give you a trial discount, though.
DTVNow is the only live streaming service that streams in Dolby 5.1. If you aren't using surround sound that may not be a big deal to you, but it's a nice perk. Their DVR system is better than most, but they charge extra for it. I think their video is indistinguishable from OTA, also.
I save a little money and use Playstation Vue. No complaints, but I miss Dolby Digital. They are constantly improving their service, and increasing the price.
HuluTV kind of sucks. There is nothing wrong with YoutubeTV, I just can't run it on my Amazon FireTV.
DTVNow is the only live streaming service that streams in Dolby 5.1. If you aren't using surround sound that may not be a big deal to you, but it's a nice perk. Their DVR system is better than most, but they charge extra for it. I think their video is indistinguishable from OTA, also.
I save a little money and use Playstation Vue. No complaints, but I miss Dolby Digital. They are constantly improving their service, and increasing the price.
HuluTV kind of sucks. There is nothing wrong with YoutubeTV, I just can't run it on my Amazon FireTV.
I’ve tried Sling, Hulu Live, PSVue, and YoutubeTV, and YouTube was my personal favorite. You can add up to 5 people to your family, and they’ll have their own DVR / profile. I haven’t had any streaming issues on Roku, iOS, PC, or XBox. You can also use it to sign into other things, like WatchESPN, FXNow, etc...
And even though YouTubeTV has them, I would get a good antenna (or build your own, google it it’s pretty easy) for OTA live channels.
And even though YouTubeTV has them, I would get a good antenna (or build your own, google it it’s pretty easy) for OTA live channels.
I've had Hulu LIve since it came out
Its great. Its $54.55 out the door and I pay and extra $5 per month to limit commercials on DVR's shows.
The only thing that was a pain was the ESPN "alternate" channels that our games come on sometimes. I figured out during baseball season you can go to the ESPN app and use Hulu as your service provider and all those alternate ESPN channels are available there.
Its great. Its $54.55 out the door and I pay and extra $5 per month to limit commercials on DVR's shows.
The only thing that was a pain was the ESPN "alternate" channels that our games come on sometimes. I figured out during baseball season you can go to the ESPN app and use Hulu as your service provider and all those alternate ESPN channels are available there.
I have PS Vue as well, like it OK but might be about to drop them because they just announced another $5 / month price increase, in exchange for adding 3 or 4 channels that I don’t give a **** about. It’s now going to be about $70 for the Core + HBO, with no end in sight to the price increases. Could be over $100 per month within a few years at the current pace.
Hulu loves their ads!!
I have youtubetv (recently went up from $35 to $55), a $35 chromecast, amazon fire box, netflix account, and free hulu account with my cellphone plan. Youtube should have all your local channels and is sports channel heavy. I love my setup and will never go back to a dish and would only switch to comcast or at&t if all of my prices went up. Right now I am still paying less with my setup. Comcast and At&t might have a good introductory offer, but they jack that up afterwards and don't treat existing customers well. Same for the dishes.
I've had Hulu with Live TV for a while now and really like it. I get the Hulu library + anything I would ever want on live TV, mainly sports. It's also really easy to pause or temporarily change your subscription. I have the Live TV component paused right now because I mainly use it for sports. I didn't want to pay for Live TV in between the CWS and the start of college football.
I cut the cord a year ago...
I did the free trial week on PSVue, Hulu Live, Sling, and You Tube
Ended up going with Hulu Live. It has all those channels you're looking for.
I originally had UVerse with their gigapower (which it didn't deliver as advertised but was more than enough for streaming). I had just the U200 package and was paying about $240 a month (TV and internet) after all special pricing expired. Right now I'm paying 70/month for Hulu Live plus HBO (also includes access to the HBO Now app). HBO was an extra on my wife's cell phone plan through AT&T when we had Uverse, but she's on one now that gives us free Amazon Music, so it's pretty much a wash for us money wise. I'm also now paying a flat 80/month for cspire fiber which is fantastic. I plugged in my new laptop through work and got over 900mbps. Wifi on it is about 300. I have our living room and bedroom TVs plugged in and it's just awesome.
Anyway... the breakdown...
Old Set up:
Uverse TV & Internet (recievers for three TVs): 240
HBO: Free with cell plan
Amazon Music: 12 (i think)
Hulu (standard library): 15
Total $267/month
Current Set up:
Hulu Live w/HBO(and the standard Hulu library) (available on all 5 TVs): 70
Cspire internet: 80
Amazon Music: Free with cell plan
Total: $150/month
We also have Netflix and Prime but those costs were the same before and after.
There were some kinks early on with Hulu Live but it's worked great for the last 9 months or so. The biggest adjustment is getting used to whatever guide set up the product you choose has. Hulu's isn't great, but it's definitely worth saving $117/month for.
As for hardware...
I bought my own router to use with Cspire, which is a nice feature they have. You can rent one if you like, but there is no forced modem rental. The two TVs we have plugged in are Roku TVs, and we use Roku Sticks on the others.
I did the free trial week on PSVue, Hulu Live, Sling, and You Tube
Ended up going with Hulu Live. It has all those channels you're looking for.
I originally had UVerse with their gigapower (which it didn't deliver as advertised but was more than enough for streaming). I had just the U200 package and was paying about $240 a month (TV and internet) after all special pricing expired. Right now I'm paying 70/month for Hulu Live plus HBO (also includes access to the HBO Now app). HBO was an extra on my wife's cell phone plan through AT&T when we had Uverse, but she's on one now that gives us free Amazon Music, so it's pretty much a wash for us money wise. I'm also now paying a flat 80/month for cspire fiber which is fantastic. I plugged in my new laptop through work and got over 900mbps. Wifi on it is about 300. I have our living room and bedroom TVs plugged in and it's just awesome.
Anyway... the breakdown...
Old Set up:
Uverse TV & Internet (recievers for three TVs): 240
HBO: Free with cell plan
Amazon Music: 12 (i think)
Hulu (standard library): 15
Total $267/month
Current Set up:
Hulu Live w/HBO(and the standard Hulu library) (available on all 5 TVs): 70
Cspire internet: 80
Amazon Music: Free with cell plan
Total: $150/month
We also have Netflix and Prime but those costs were the same before and after.
There were some kinks early on with Hulu Live but it's worked great for the last 9 months or so. The biggest adjustment is getting used to whatever guide set up the product you choose has. Hulu's isn't great, but it's definitely worth saving $117/month for.
As for hardware...
I bought my own router to use with Cspire, which is a nice feature they have. You can rent one if you like, but there is no forced modem rental. The two TVs we have plugged in are Roku TVs, and we use Roku Sticks on the others.
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YouTubeTV DVR much better than Hulu, not even close to competitive. YTTV does have dolby 5.1 but its limited. Sub-selecting what you want to record can be a little difficult / impossible. I think I had to record all ncaa baseball not just state baseball. I have YTTV, Hulu add free (not Hulu+Live), Netflix, and Amazon Prime and have no plans to drop any of them. $88 (50, 12, 16, 10) a month and I have had zero issues watching whatever I want over the last year. And I would have prime even without the video service so really $78.
I'm caught up in this Uverse/NFL Network mess. If I want the NFL Network and Redzone, can I purchase Sling Blue plus the sports package (Redzone) and stream it on my Chromebook? I don't have a smart TV, but I do have a spare HDMI input to connect to my Chromebook to stream on the big screen. Also, if the Chromebook works I can stream from any location granted I have wifi access. Correct?
17 AT&T uverse.
17 AT&T uverse.
Yeah... not a huge fan of the Hulu DVR, but I don't use it for much other than recording a State game every now and then. We just have our own profiles with our list of favorite shows and at the very least the most recent season of episodes is always available.
I’ve used Sling it was ok. I switched over to Hulu Live TV and I’ll never change it. Local channels, all of the ESPN’s, CBS, Fox and NBC for NFL games, golf channel, and HGTV is also in there. You can also record games and shows. You can stream simultaneously on two tv’s as well so if she’s not feelin the game then she can watch on another tv
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Question: I went with Hulu Live and recently I am not able to get watch ESPN to work on the SEC alternate channels, says I am not allowed. I called HULU and they confirmed that those channels are not included. I can get the other ESPN channels to work on WATCH ESPN and the SEC network as well but not +. Are you seeing this issue?
I am in my 4th year of cord cutting and it is amazing how much better it has become.
Currently I have YoutubeTV. I have tried them all and they all have pluses and minuses, but currently it works for us. (50$ I think)
Channel master DVR for OTA broadcast. (Free)
AT&T Internet @ 50$ 75mps I think and if there is a cap, we have never hit it.
Netflix (free with Tmobile plan)
Hulu at $15.
Amazon Prime.
Our biggest issue was the integration of OTA, surround sound, streaming. The Caavo has solved that issue and we have one remote that works perfectly. Great 50$ investment.
For cable and Internet we were at about $175 a month here in Atlanta and we still had Netflix, Prime, Hulu not included in that cost. We are now at about $100 for TV and Internet. (Not counting the subscriptions we already had).
Currently I have YoutubeTV. I have tried them all and they all have pluses and minuses, but currently it works for us. (50$ I think)
Channel master DVR for OTA broadcast. (Free)
AT&T Internet @ 50$ 75mps I think and if there is a cap, we have never hit it.
Netflix (free with Tmobile plan)
Hulu at $15.
Amazon Prime.
Our biggest issue was the integration of OTA, surround sound, streaming. The Caavo has solved that issue and we have one remote that works perfectly. Great 50$ investment.
For cable and Internet we were at about $175 a month here in Atlanta and we still had Netflix, Prime, Hulu not included in that cost. We are now at about $100 for TV and Internet. (Not counting the subscriptions we already had).
I’ve tried them all besides Youtubetv (not available in my area)
I’ve had Hulu for a few years now and I’ve got no complaints.
I’ve had Hulu for a few years now and I’ve got no complaints.
What speeds do you need to be able to stream and not get a hamster wheel? I'm also assuming you need an unlimited plan.
But Youtube doesn't run on Firestick
at least not easily. Thats my only reasoning in Hulu over youtube. I know there are backdoors, but its too much. The Firesticks are so smooth when in conjunction with Alexas, theres not going back for us. Until Amazon and youtube can work things out Hulu is a no brainer.
at least not easily. Thats my only reasoning in Hulu over youtube. I know there are backdoors, but its too much. The Firesticks are so smooth when in conjunction with Alexas, theres not going back for us. Until Amazon and youtube can work things out Hulu is a no brainer.
I was able to watch any baseball game this year that was "televised" not on an ESPN channel or the SEC Network channel if that's kind of what you're asking about. ESPN has shuttered the Watch ESPN app I think and you have to use their ESPN app to watch stuff. Might have something to do with it. But I guess I haven't really tried to watch anything on an alternate SEC channel recently.
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I have direct TV. One main reason is because of NFL Sunday ticket in the fall. I tried the fire stick thing for a few months but It’s about 1-3 minutes behind live television and that drove me insane knowing that the rest of the sports world knew what was happening before I did. Plus Sunday ticket is bad ***.
Yes aware of the WATCH ESPN app. Using ESPN app on my phone and get a "you are not authorized to view this content. Contact your provider". I can watch on ESPN.com on my PC under my ESPN/HULU account info(s). I can also watch any ESPN network and SEC network through my hulu app.
But to get SEC+ games you have to use the ESPN App only, which does not work on my amazon fire or ROKU or phone/IPAD. So I got on a chat with HULU and they brought in their higher level support. Said it should work and to contact ESPN. They have me a number to call. 1 (888) 549-3776. I did try to log out and remove app and log back in to ESPN/HULU on ESPN app, etc.....
Go to the ESPN app
and you can login using Hulu as your service provider. Thats how you get to the alternate channels. I figured that by accident, but it works.
and you can login using Hulu as your service provider. Thats how you get to the alternate channels. I figured that by accident, but it works.
I’ve tried them all and YouTube tv is the best. They are all increasing their prices every year though. I fully expect to go back to cable in a year or two. The whole reason people move to streaming is because you pay less and have a lot less channels that you don’t watch. Now they are steadily adding channels that I don’t care for and increasing the price
I concur with the YouTube TV endorsements. It doesn't have NFL network but does have all the others you mentioned. I have Comcast... InterNet only, and they claim it is 150 mbps. Every once in a while it will buffer for a few seconds. Worth the $55/mo.
Whatever streaming service you go with for football, make sure it has multiple streams (if you like to have different games on different devices). I had DTVN for about year until they upped the price (at the same time I could stream different games on the main TV, garage TV and my phone). I switched to Sling and quickly discovered you can have one stream at a time (you may be able to pay extra for additional streams?).
I'll start a new streaming service for football season but will make sure I can have at least three streams at the same time.
I'll start a new streaming service for football season but will make sure I can have at least three streams at the same time.