Cord cutter thread #368

[Bronn]

Long story short, our last Spectrum promotion has come to an end.

Their best price for our current setup of internet and a step down in TV package is $5 more than we were paying. They've been raising their "fees" the past couple months by a few cents here and there. In the past few years, I've gone from paying around $58 for internet and the OTA channels only to the past year @ $93-105 for internet, the base cable package, and HBO/Showtime/Cinemax. My next bill would be about $160 without doing something.

I've looked into everything from Tivo to record OTA shows we watch, to Sling (we've had them in the past,) to YouTubeTV, to buying a non Tivo PVR/DVR for OTA shows, to just getting a VPN and torrenting/downloading shows and watching through something like Kodi or Plex. I can use family member logins for specific channel apps, but not the Spectrum app for live TV because it reads your modem's address and checks it against their records.

What is my best option in the long run?

Spectrum is the only game in town. Centurylink has a 30Mbps service that I could get (+ a $99 install fee (yuck)) but I don't know that I want any new lines run. So, I'll probably have to at least keep their internet.

Thoughts?

[blackcat]

We use amazon fire box/stick with sling.  However, we might switch to Youtube.  I think it's cheaper and you get local channels, which is great for watching the shitty local football team.

[MountaineerChemist10]

We use Roku Streaming Stick/Sling TV. So far, so good. I especially like how Sling TV allows you to switch tv packages (i.e. Sling Orange offers ESPN 1/2/3, Sling Blue offers NFL Network & FOX Sports) anytime during the month & for no charge. Only problem is having to buy an antenna for local channels. It's a pain calibrating your antenna & pray the upcoming severe thunderstorm doesn't interfere with Season Finale of Survivor, but it's doable.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Live in Charlotte metro. Have the spectrum internet as of 2 minutes ago network check was 440 download and 22 upload.  That’s around 50 bucks. Have YouTube tv and love it. Another 45 bucks. Netflix and prime I have as luxury. All coming thru Roku sticks.    YouTube is great IMO.  

Spectrum Customer service is supposed to be bad but the few dealings I’ve had have been great.  Maybe the tv folks are the problem but internet support was good.  

Youtube TV gives me sports local channels and a decent cable offering.  It is great fits my needs and has unlimited recordings. 

No matter what u do get the best internet you can and get the service that makes most sense.  

 

Good luck 

[rayzor]

Roku (any will do) + YouTube tv + Netflix + Prime

I used to have sling and PlayStation vue. YouTube tv has them both beat and it isn't even close.

[KSpan]

Find out what services, if any, carry your shows and go that route.

We cancelled DirecTv almost 6 years ago and aside from occasionally missing out on some live sports haven't missed it one bit. We have OTA as well as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, 2 of which we only indirectly pay for.

[dave-o]

I am stuck with Spectrum internet which they just raised to $70/mo from $50...  They like to do this to long time loyal paying customers...  But I switched to Playstation Vue a couple years ago and have been pleased with it....  It plays thru my Roku... You dont need a Playstation..   I really wish I had another option for my internet....  I loathe Spectrum !

[pantherking83]

 I have tryed cutting the cord multiple times but keep going back to spectrum . For some reason nothing beats just turning on the tv hitting straight to the channel no searching bs or anyting , im currently paying 189 and it sucks but to just be able to turn on and watch I have to pay i guess. 

[Bronn]

So, we ended up going internet only with them. $65.99.

I bought a @ $40 antenna on Amazon, and a 25 foot coax cable for @ $15

I mounted the antenna in the attic last night (JFC it was hot,) dropped the coax into the wall from the attic/antenna above, and hooked right into the back of the coax socket that once delivered digital cable to our bedroom.

We now get all the local channels @100% signal strength in our bedroom.

We also went to Sling again (we'd had them before, a year or so ago, for a while) and got a 3 month prepaid deal that got us a Roku Ultra for $50. We're only doing Sling Blue for the time being, so that's $25.

We're already on Netflix and Hulu, so we'll continue them too.

Prior to our changes, here's what we were looking at monthly:

Spectrum - Internet and TV: $136
Netflix (Standard plan): $12.99
Hulu (no ads): $11.99

Total: $160.98

Now here's what we've got monthly:

Spectrum - Internet: $65.99
Netflix (Standard plan): $12.99
Hulu (no ads): $11.99
SlingTV Blue: $25
Antenna (purchase price/12): $3.33
Roku Ultra (purchase price/12): $4.17

Total: $123.47

That's a savings of $37.51 a month. I could add things like CBS All Access, Disney +, or even Prime and come out still saving money.

On top of that, the bonuses are that we've got a new, more capable device for our bedroom (the Ultra, we were using a PS3 for Netflix/Hulu in there,) and we've got a pretty powerful antenna that I could likely split/amplify to power the OTA channels of any TV in the house. We already have a tabletop antenna that covers the Living Room fine for OTA, but as my kids get older, they might need some capabilities in their room or in one of our bonus rooms.

 

[Paa Langfart]

I wasn't impressed with sling tv at all when I had it.  I currently use a roku box, with hulu and a bunch of free apps like Pluto tv which actually is a pretty good free service.  For local its all ota with an antenna installed in the attic.  I pick up about 30 -35 hd channels in two states via that depending on how the wind is blowing the trees around.  My only cost for tv exclusive of internet is the $5.99 I pay for hulu.   I cant imagine watching enough stuff to make a $100 a month " television" bill worth it.

[Bronn]

1 minute ago, Paa Langfart said:

I wasn't impressed with sling tv at all when I had it.  I currently use a roku box, with hulu and a bunch of free apps like Pluto tv which actually is a pretty good free service.  For local its all ota with an antenna installed in the attic.  I pick up about 30 -35 hd channels in two states via that depending on how the wind is blowing the trees around.  My only cost for tv exclusive of internet is the $5.99 I pay for hulu.   I cant imagine watching enough stuff to make a $100 a month " television" bill worth it.

If it was up to me, I wouldn't have anything outside of OTA. I might have Netflix or Hulu, but probably not both. I'd keep internet, I suppose.

But, I have a wife and two kids. They need their Lifetime, Bravo, E!, and Cartoon Network. It's just a bonus that I get NFLN now, especially just in time for the London game.

Also, Spectrum is getting less than half of the money they would have been getting from me, so that is absolutely a win.

Plus, the cost of the new antenna and the new Roku are absorbed in my calculations after the first year. So I'll technically be paying around $116 a month. We don't use Netflix every month either (we let it lapse every now and then, and pay with gift cards instead of giving them our CC info,) so we're barely over $100 those months.

[CRA]

3 hours ago, Bronn said:

So, we ended up going internet only with them. $65.99.

I bought a @ $40 antenna on Amazon, and a 25 foot coax cable for @ $15

I mounted the antenna in the attic last night (JFC it was hot,) dropped the coax into the wall from the attic/antenna above, and hooked right into the back of the coax socket that once delivered digital cable to our bedroom.

We now get all the local channels @100% signal strength in our bedroom.

We also went to Sling again (we'd had them before, a year or so ago, for a while) and got a 3 month prepaid deal that got us a Roku Ultra for $50. We're only doing Sling Blue for the time being, so that's $25.

We're already on Netflix and Hulu, so we'll continue them too.

Prior to our changes, here's what we were looking at monthly:

Spectrum - Internet and TV: $136
Netflix (Standard plan): $12.99
Hulu (no ads): $11.99

Total: $160.98

Now here's what we've got monthly:

Spectrum - Internet: $65.99
Netflix (Standard plan): $12.99
Hulu (no ads): $11.99
SlingTV Blue: $25
Antenna (purchase price/12): $3.33
Roku Ultra (purchase price/12): $4.17

Total: $123.47

That's a savings of $37.51 a month. I could add things like CBS All Access, Disney +, or even Prime and come out still saving money.

On top of that, the bonuses are that we've got a new, more capable device for our bedroom (the Ultra, we were using a PS3 for Netflix/Hulu in there,) and we've got a pretty powerful antenna that I could likely split/amplify to power the OTA channels of any TV in the house. We already have a tabletop antenna that covers the Living Room fine for OTA, but as my kids get older, they might need some capabilities in their room or in one of our bonus rooms.

 

Disney's other streaming services -- Hulu and sports-focused ESPN Plus -- will run on the same tech platform, so you can subscribe to them with the same password and credit card info. Disney plans for all three to be individual subscriptions, but when Disney Plus launches in the US, it'll offer a triple-service bundle for $13 a month

https://www.cnet.com/news/disney-plus-streaming-service-launch-release-dates-prices-preorders-shows-movies-deals/

 

so basically, you would get Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for an additional 2 bucks since you already pay for Hulu. 

[Shocker]

On September 19, 2019 at 11:56 PM, rayzor said:

Roku (any will do) + YouTube tv + Netflix + Prime

I used to have sling and PlayStation vue. YouTube tv has them both beat and it isn't even close.

This is my set up as well and totally agree YouTube TV is tops, especially in the Charlotte region.  Hulu TV is good but their locals quality sucks.  PS VUE is ok just too slow and buggy plus expensive.

Youtube TV is the way to go

[Neylus]

Cut time warner after 20 something years and been fantatstic.
 

YouTube TV is awesome if your a sports fan, picture is far superior to cable (just no nfl network yet). Lovin it!