I know there are a lot of older threads about this topic (including some good info on the Firestick thread), but with certain new updates and services, I wanted to get some opinions.
I also think I can offer some insight, especially for those outside of the NYC market that want to watch Big Blue. I cut 6 months ago and have learned some lessons worth sharing from a sports fan standpoint.
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COSTS
1) Fast Internet is obviously required. No way around that. ($35-$75/month)
2) Delivery System - I've never been too deep into the Apple ecosystem so for me, Roku does the trick. Alternative would be an Amazon fire stick or a Google Chromecast. Smart TV's have a lot of apps, but can be clunky and lack apps like Sling or Playstation Vue.(One-time start-up cost of $50-$130)
3) Apps - Personally, I think the $99 annual Amazon Prime membership is worth it for the shipping alone and don't really consider it a "TV cost". But they do have some good content, including the Arizona Cardinals show which I liked more than the past few Hard Knocks seasons.
Netflix is $10/month
Sling is $20-$50/month and has a lot of channels. They recently added CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX in a lot of markets (check your city on their site). If you're one of the lucky ones in the right city, this will eliminate the need for an HD Antenna. They also have TNT/TBS/TruTV if you're a hoops fan (NBA and March Madness), in addition to the FOX Sports channels and ESPN Channels. They also have a surprising amount of on-demand content available.
*Personal note - I signed up for Sling an pre-paid so I could get the free Roku 2. They sent it 4 days later and the service is very smooth and seamless. HOWEVER...
Playstation Vue - ($20-$50/month) Similar to Sling and recently available to Roku, they announced a deal with the NFL Network/NFL Redzone. Pricing isn't yet available but I don't care because I'll pay it, as I'm sure it'll be an additional cost. My guess is $10/month tops. Another great feature is that Playstation Vue has DVR-like functions and can be watched on multiple devices. They also have market-dependent local channels available (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX) if you're in the right place.
MLB.TV - $89 for the season. I get it for the Yankees games, which you can re-watch on demand on any device, switch to any inning and of course watch live games. It's a great service, MLB did something right for once.
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*Another thing to note - I don't do Kodi. Not because of legal loopholes, but because of picture and stream consistency/quality. Call it OCD but I greatly value user friendly/seamlessness. If that doesn't matter to you, Kodi will get you everything listed above on top of saving you money.
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So overall...
Start-up Costs: $100 or so for a streaming device
Monthly Costs:
$45 for Internet
$10 for Netflix
$45 for premium Playstation Vue/Sling subscription
= $100/year
Tack on $89/year for every MLB game
$15/month for HBONow or other services
My whole point is that cutting the cord is not life changing with how cheap it is. But what you'll be able to do once you get the hang of it, is synch your content to all of your devices.
PROS:
- Flat-rate costs. No taxes, jumps in charges or dealing with cable companies.
- The seamless ability to watch content on your TV, phone, computer or tablet.
- This might not matter to some, but it's nice to have a "cleaner" look near your TV's. No clunky boxes.
- The ability to cut service, no contracts.
NEUTRAL:
- Ability to have DVR if you have Playstation Vue
- Definite money saver if you live outside the market of your sports teams
CONS:
- If you're a sports fan, especially live sports, it's not going to be the huge difference maker cost-saver you think it will be.
- The way you've watched TV for your entire life will change. If you like to channel surf or sit and flip through, you might not like it. (My 60-year old parents came out to visit and complained a lot about it)
Conclusion - Check the channel line-ups of Sling and Playstation Vue. They're both available on almost every major streaming device. See what market you're in, what it will cost and what local channels are available. In my opinion, these two services are vital for a cord-cutting sports fan that doesn't want to rely on Kodi. When my pre-pay on Sling runs out at the end of August, I'm going to switch over to Playstation Vue.
And as always, I'd love to hear some input from others who have gone this route.
Netflix should develop a News/Weather service that streams live 24 hours. It would be pretty interesting, IMO.
Nope, atleast not a reliable one (i refuse to watch live sports streamed). And when there is a solution its going to cost a hell of a lot so it will be a give and take anyway.
PS Vue has YES and ESPN.
Also, you can use the ESPN app on Roku HBOGo style (using a cable subscriber's info) to watch ESPN.
yeah, they do have a bit more. I tried them both. Sling was good but once Vue added YES, that was it for me. If there's a strike against Vue, it's that the performance of their app is not as good as using the actual playstation. On the playstation, it is fast. On the app or the fire stick/TV, it is not fast. The sling app was a bit more responsive on those devices. I am hoping that they address this as it hasn't been around as long as sling.