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NFT: Cord-Cutting Deep Dive - Questions/Advice

mstyles22.0 : 7/26/2016 8:44 pm
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.
Oops  
mstyles22.0 : 7/26/2016 8:48 pm : link
I meant $100/month
I couldn't do it  
UConn4523 : 7/26/2016 9:04 pm : link
I watch entirely too much TV and while it's not a popular opinion im willing to pay what I pay for tv and movies channels. I have Netflix, HBO go and Amazon prime and they are all great values but cannot replace cable, IMO.
id love to do this  
blueblood : 7/26/2016 9:07 pm : link
but i need a way to watch the Giants and the Knicks.. I dont watch baseball nearly as much as I used to so I could live without seeing the yankees
I think a big pro  
NoPeanutz : 7/27/2016 9:26 am : link
is that it seems that most cable subscriber i know already have prime/netflix subscriptions anyway. But they are never using them bc they are watching cable, so they are throwing money away every month. So they come out ahead just by dumping cable.
i wouldn't say its throwing money away  
UConn4523 : 7/27/2016 9:36 am : link
there's been plenty of months where I didn't fire up Netflix but still paid that $12 or whatever it was. But the reverse scenario has never come up. Cable is on in one of our rooms for a majority of our time home. Much of it is background when cooking, cleaning, getting ready for work, etc, but I would never fire up Netflix for these same tasks.

Netflix should develop a News/Weather service that streams live 24 hours. It would be pretty interesting, IMO.
I have Playstation Vue and it's been pretty great  
Heisenberg : 7/27/2016 9:41 am : link
We dropped comcast after they dropped YES. PS Vue has YES. The product is pretty great. They have local NBC in my area and I am hopeful they will add the other locals.
also PS Vue has NBC sports which is good if you like Premier Lg.  
Heisenberg : 7/27/2016 9:41 am : link
.
As a sports fan  
Josh in the City : 7/27/2016 10:14 am : link
is there any real way to go the cord cutting route? I would still need access to ESPN, SNY, YES, MSG and all local channels for football (CBS, Fox, NBC, etc). Is there any way to cancel a cable TV subscription yet still have on demand access to all of those?
RE: As a sports fan  
UConn4523 : 7/27/2016 10:24 am : link
In comment 13046617 Josh in the City said:
Quote:
is there any real way to go the cord cutting route? I would still need access to ESPN, SNY, YES, MSG and all local channels for football (CBS, Fox, NBC, etc). Is there any way to cancel a cable TV subscription yet still have on demand access to all of those?


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.
RE: As a sports fan  
NoPeanutz : 7/27/2016 10:31 am : link
In comment 13046617 Josh in the City said:
Quote:
is there any real way to go the cord cutting route? I would still need access to ESPN, SNY, YES, MSG and all local channels for football (CBS, Fox, NBC, etc). Is there any way to cancel a cable TV subscription yet still have on demand access to all of those?

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.
Does PS VUe  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 7/27/2016 3:44 pm : link
Work like a DVR or actually like a TV where you can change a channel and see what's on
Also it looks like  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 7/27/2016 3:46 pm : link
PS Vue has everything sling does and more.
RE: Also it looks like  
Heisenberg : 7/27/2016 5:57 pm : link
In comment 13047314 BigBlueDownTheShore said:
Quote:
PS Vue has everything sling does and more.

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.
Is it like  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 7/27/2016 7:00 pm : link
Using an actual TV where you can channel surf or is more of a Netflix type deal where you have to go to a Chanel click it?
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