Interesting... There appears to be an antenna streaming option that must include some sort of onboard flash, because it allows pause/rewind... Basically time-shifting of up to 1 hour.

http://cordcuttersnews.com/antenna-direct-release-new-streaming-stick-stream-antenna-device/

This can help if you have the antenna in a strange location in the house, and want to view live OTA TV without running cable to every location.

Only downside is that it's a single tuner... So if multiple people in the house at the same time wanted to watch different channels, you're SOL. But if that doesn't apply to you, it's worth checking out.

Edit--one thing I didn't think about is that this might affect quality, since it will probably compress the OTA signal to send it over WiFi... So you may give back the signal improvement that you get from going OTA by using this...

Well First off all your local channels are available for a 1 time purchase of $20-30, in the form of a Powered HD Antenna. Over the air HD signal is awesome, they don't compress their signal to save band with like all the cable/internet companies do, and once you have the antenna you never have to buy anything again.
Channels I get for *free: ABC (National B1G, SEC, ACC games, plus regional coverage), CBS (Notre Dame, SEC), FOX (B1G, B12, P12)


Lots of other options have been given to get those other channels, the easiest for us was for a family member (who doesn't use their online part of their cable) to give us their login. I have ESPN, BTN, and FoxSports all bookmarked and ready to go. We have a chrome-cast (1 time purchase for $35) to get the streaming sports media from the computer to TV.


All in all we spent $65 one time for TV, and another $50 ($10 Netflix + $40 ISP) a month for internet.

Well, I did post a long and detailed thing on cord-cutting here on this very site 11 days ago... But I put it in the "general" forum as I thought it would be applicable to all conferences...

First question: where do you live? If you put your address into tvfool.com, it'll tell you what networks you can pick up OTA. Some of the live streaming services include locals; some don't. If you know you can pick up your locals OTA, you have less limitations as to which live streaming service you choose. And BTW the signal OTA is actually MUCH better than over cable, as they don't have to compress it.

I like SlingTV, and it does give you the ability to stream the ABC prime-time game through the ESPN app on Roku, as well as all the ESPN3 content. But since it doesn't have BTN, I might go elsewhere this season. I cancelled SlingTV right after the NCAA tournament because I don't really need sports outside of CFB and NCAAB...

In the other thread, I linked to this post at Cord Cutters News which breaks down which services carry which sports networks. It looks like device compatibility is best for Sling, DirecTV Now, and PS Vue. Hulu is a bit behind IMHO and YouTube doesn't have Roku *or* Apple TV support, which rules it out for me.

For me it will come down to two things:

• Will I have access to locals OTA?
• Do I care enough to pay A LOT extra for BTN?

I might be moving shortly, and so I'll need to make sure the next property has LOS to the broadcast towers in Los Angeles for my antenna to work. If not, I'm basically ruled out of SlingTV as I'll need locals for NFL. That puts me into DirecTV now or PS Vue, which although being more expensive will be worth it to get BTN as well.

If I stay where I am *or* if the new place has good reception via antenna, I might stick with SlingTV to keep the cost down to $20/month... I haven't enjoyed watching Purdue lose in depressing fashion enough to justify BTN for football season, and there were quite a few Boiler basketball games on ESPN/ESPN3/CBS that didn't really justify a huge increase for BTN.

SlingTV: $20/mo, gets you ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3, but no ESPNU and you'll need an antenna for locals, but no BTN, and have to pay extra for FS1 (different package)

PSVue: $45/mo if you want BTN/FS1, includes locals, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPNNews, and I believe ESPN3 signon.

DirecTV Now: $50/mo if you want BTN/FS1, includes locals, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPNNews, and I believe ESPN3 signon.

So if you don't want to pay for an antenna (or can't / don't want to put one up), it looks like PS Vue and DirecTV Now are your best bets. If you can use an antenna and are willing to forego BTN, SlingTV will save some money and get you the four-letter sports network.

And given the number of OSU games (as you're an OSU fan) that will be on bigger networks than BTN, it might be worth saving the money and going with Sling.

Thank you.

I have a question about the antenna.  I did buy a little flatenna that hangs just above the tv.  I bought the cheapest one I could find, as I wasn't sure what type of signals I would get.  It actually gets quite a few, but Fox can be kind of choppy.  If I invest in a better antenna, what do I look for to increase performance?  I'm not looking to put one on top of the house, but would be interested in a better one that connects to the tv. 

Thank you.

I have a question about the antenna.  I did buy a little flatenna that hangs just above the tv.  I bought the cheapest one I could find, as I wasn't sure what type of signals I would get.  It actually gets quite a few, but Fox can be kind of choppy.  If I invest in a better antenna, what do I look for to increase performance?  I'm not looking to put one on top of the house, but would be interested in a better one that connects to the tv.

Well, you may be able to make that one work if you mount it differently. Again, look at TVFool.com and figure out how far away your transmitters are, *and* which direction. You may be able to get by with a simple indoor antenna if you can put it in the right part of the house. When I first tried this (at my old house) I got one of those cheap flat antennas. It didn't work AT ALL inside the house but I put it up on the outside of my chimney and it got everything except CBS, which is the one difficult channel for me to get where I live. So you may be able to use this antenna as-is.

And this morning Cord Cutters News had a post about WiFi antennas and antenna receiver products. With something like that, you can put it anywhere in the house that you get reception and just use the WiFi to stream it to the TV.

I ended up buying an antenna for $46 from Amazon that is an outdoor powered antenna with claimed 85 mile range. I live ~50 miles from the Los Angeles broadcast towers, which is too far for a standard indoor antenna. So you don't need to break the bank even if you need a better one.

But until you go to TVFool, I wouldn't think you should look at other antennas. It could be that the antenna you have is mounted on the opposite side of the house from the tower, in which case maybe moving it, or putting it in a window, or something like that is enough. And if it works for some channels, you may also be able to get an more effictive attic-mounted antenna so you don't have to mount it *outside* the house...

while the rules of TV have changed..........

you will pay for premium content

live sports are the top of the premium level

Sling not willing to pay the big price, unfortunately

The beginning of the end for the cable subscriber subsidy model.