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Topic: OT - Cable Alternatives

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Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #42 on: April 09, 2018, 12:15:17 PM »
Well, if "basic cable" includes ESPN, I'm probably good.  Most of what else I watch is streaming from somewhere.

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #43 on: April 09, 2018, 12:27:12 PM »
Well, if "basic cable" includes ESPN, I'm probably good.  Most of what else I watch is streaming from somewhere.
Well it's essentially impossible to offer cable in a "bundled" plan to a community/condo/etc complex and not include ESPN, so I'm pretty sure you're good there. While individuals may prefer a non-ESPN option, group packages wouldn't be viable if that wasn't included.
Of course, you're also paying for your cable and internet, in whatever monthly HOA/community fees you're paying. TANSTAAFL.
But if you're paying for it already in your mandatory fees, might as well use it, right?

FearlessF

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #44 on: April 09, 2018, 01:02:42 PM »
Well it's essentially impossible to offer cable in a "bundled" plan to a community/condo/etc complex and not include ESPN, so I'm pretty sure you're good there. While individuals may prefer a non-ESPN option, group packages wouldn't be viable if that wasn't included.
many CATV providers now offer a very basic lineup that includes around 30 crap channels including the locals
no ESPN or BTN
Around $30/month cheaper than the usual 120 channel "basic" lineup with ESPN and BTN
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betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #45 on: April 09, 2018, 01:25:52 PM »
many CATV providers now offer a very basic lineup that includes around 30 crap channels including the locals
no ESPN or BTN
Around $30/month cheaper than the usual 120 channel "basic" lineup with ESPN and BTN
Understood, but my guess is that's not what we're talking about here. Cincy said this:

Quote
"We apparently get basic cable "for free" (part of the HOA of course) and likely have no other option other than to upgrade with that cable system, but we get Internet "for free" also, so that brings in options."

If that's the case, my read is that what he's talking about is a cable system that is managed and billed as a property-wide system. So he's essentially never going to receive a bill and tell his cable company to turn on or turn off specific channels. 
In that case, it would not be feasible for the entire property-wide system to be *so* basic that it doesn't include ESPN. Whether it includes BTN might be a different story, though, especially since it's in Atlanta. 

Brutus Buckeye

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #46 on: April 09, 2018, 01:59:13 PM »
I just cut the cord last week.  Of all the choices - Amazon Fire, Apple TV, etc - I got Youtube TV.  Why?  ESPNs, MLBNetwork, B10 Network, SEC Network - all for $40/mo.  Pretty cheap for your sports fix - it has the Fox Sports channels, too.  I have a smart TV, but since Youtube TV is relatively younger than the others, it wasn't on my TV as an option, so yes, I had to get a $69 Roku stick.  But that's a one-time cost.  

That, with Netflix and maybe Hulu, and you're good to go.  If I want HBO, I'll have to get that separately.  

As for internet, I had Cox internet, but only to keep my TV cost down.  I didn't use it at all, but have Centurylink instead for $30/mo.  

Oh, and on Youtube TV, you can choose what channels you want on your guide thing, you can record/DVR all you want, no extra cost.  And they're adding local news channels all the time.
What is centurylink? 
Do they send a guy out to install it like a cable company, or do they just send you a modem with a sheet of instructions? 
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #47 on: April 09, 2018, 02:02:04 PM »
AT&T is the worst.

Last spring I was going to cut the cord after my bill got up around $125. 

They said they'd give me a deal that would keep it under $100 for at least a year.

Well that lasted about 2 months, and then they started cranking it up incrementally. 

It hasn't even been a year, and it is already up to $150, which is significantly higher than it was when I initially called. 
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TyphonInc

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #48 on: April 09, 2018, 02:31:11 PM »
I'm Chime in what is working for us.

Hardware:
Powered HD Antenna - Goverment gave to me free years ago during the switch over.
Playstion 4 - $300 (can find for $200 now.) Can play numerous streaming services including ESPN (but not BTN, I have to hook laptop to TV for that), as well as Plex (I've digitized our DVD collection onto a Harddrive and with Plex can access it anywhere.)

Services:
WOW! Internet - $42
Netflix - $11
Amazon Prime - $9

Shady:
In laws drop $200 a month for all their bundled packages and don't use their online log in. So we use it to stream mostly ESPN, BTN, and Disney.

Total - $62
I'm a little bummed that I'm over $50 a month, which is what we set aside in our initial budget, so I'm on the look out for another ISP to get the Interent service fee lowered.

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #49 on: April 09, 2018, 02:57:49 PM »
What is centurylink?
Do they send a guy out to install it like a cable company, or do they just send you a modem with a sheet of instructions?
Just a modem I think.  Just plugged it in and started it. 
I don't even have the higher connection options and it works great, even with my Roku stick.
You B10 guys wanted BTN should really look into Youtube TV - it's there and only $40/mo.  Badge, I tried actually watching Food Network on mine, and it was like HBO - it only works if you already have it elsewhere.
So that's dumb.  Those few channels I checked that you listed. 
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MarqHusker

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #50 on: April 12, 2018, 07:11:19 PM »
Apparently Comcast will drop BTN in out of market regions.  Reading the message carefully suggests it will be dropped in Iowa, Nebraska and New York.

Some mixed news if Comcast has any presence in Iowa of Nebraska .  Paging Fearless 
...
« Last Edit: April 12, 2018, 07:34:13 PM by MarqHusker »

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #51 on: April 12, 2018, 07:53:52 PM »
Hmm, Food Network is owned by Discovery, and yes it looks like YouTube TV doesn't have the other Discovery channels so I guess that might explain why they don't have Food Network. That's a shame, because I'd otherwise probably give them a shot to get BTN this fall.

DirecTV now has BTN, but only at the $50/mo package. Not at the $35/mo package. But they do have Food Network.

Hulu might be the best bet. $40/mo and includes both BTN and Food Network. And then I could cancel my current Hulu subscription for their network content (which we use because we don't have a DVR for that), so that drops my monthly by $7.99/mo. I think that might cover it.

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #52 on: April 12, 2018, 09:30:14 PM »
I don't much about Hulu, as it's not my account I have.  I haven't used it yet.  I know it's more shows than movies, but can you watch the shows live?
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #53 on: April 12, 2018, 10:10:04 PM »
I don't much about Hulu, as it's not my account I have.  I haven't used it yet.  I know it's more shows than movies, but can you watch the shows live?
Hulu has traditionally been a non-live streaming service more like a Netflix or Amazon. Its claim to fame was having most network shows, but not until the morning after they aired live. This service was IIRC $7.99/month. Netflix or Amazon would only get seasons of shows after they completed, although Amazon I think eventually got a "season pass" option that would get shows the day after they aired live but you were buying the shows individually. 
Hulu has recently started a service called Hulu Live TV. This is live TV, various sports (ESPN/BTN), various other cable channels, and depending where you are, possibly also your local networks. This is equivalent to something like Sling, Youtube TV, or DirecTV Now. And correspondingly it carries a higher price tag of $40/mo.
So it can be confusing as the Hulu Live TV is not the same as the Hulu service people would have known from 12-24 months ago.

FearlessF

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #54 on: April 12, 2018, 10:21:09 PM »
Apparently Comcast will drop BTN in out of market regions.  Reading the message carefully suggests it will be dropped in Iowa, Nebraska and New York.

Some mixed news if Comcast has any presence in Iowa of Nebraska .  Paging Fearless
...
comcast isn't a presence in Iowa or Nebraska - so not part of the comcast market area
looking at the Xfinity channel packages, you need the 220+ for $70/month or the 260+ for $85/month to get the BTN.
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FearlessF

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #55 on: April 12, 2018, 10:35:15 PM »
Some further clarification from Comcast media relations. 

The markets that will continue to receive BTN are Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

States not on this list are considered out-of-market.


Of course, some will quickly point out that Iowa, Nebraska, and New York are left off the list. We should point out that Comcast does not serve these states, which would explain why they were left off the list.

https://www.hammerandrails.com/2018/4/12/17230896/comcast-to-drop-big-ten-network-in-may
"Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly sport."

 

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