Cutting the Cable Guide

Huntn

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Cutting the Cable Guide,
but preserving content.
A work in progress.
UPDATE IN PROGRESS July 2021
some info maybe out of date



If you see something that is glaringly wrong or outdated, please post in a way that get’s my attention, and I’ll be happy to update the info.

Updates:
  • Jan 2022- Added link below to Fiber Optics install below.
  • Jul25- In Channel section added Acorn, Britbox, AppleTV, and Amazon Prime.
  • Jul24- Added links for websites devoted to cutting the cord):
  • Jul 2021- Added Olympics Note, and updated AppleTV vs Roku section. Added Philo, YouTube, and Hulu links under Sites. Updated Netflix under Sites.


Links
*Websites devoted to cutting the Cable (Automatic Apple post 10):


2022

2021
How are you watching the Olympics?

I am currently watching it on SlingTV, NBC Sports Network.

2021- Here are some advantages, of streaming and some observations:
  • From what I can tell, the Cable company takes their cut, so you are paying a premium and paying for things you don’t want.
  • Sling TV (or maybe Hulu and the like) is cheaper and carries most if not all of the cable channels I’ve watched in the past, like AMC, FX, of SyFy, that are included in the higher tier cable packages. So I can watch these shows live like I did with my cable company.
  • Also for a case where you want to watch last year’s episodes, cable companies have the same limited access, most if not all older content will not be available in their on demand, as more networks try to monetize their old shows with plus streaming services.
  • ...except I recorded most of them to watch later, many of the streaming services now include DVR which Suddenlink charged $20 a month just for that.
  • For original content from other providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV, you would be paying for these even with cable.
  • We only watched one show on broadcast TV, Modern Family (ABC) which has now ended and practically everything else we watch is streamed, much of it dumped into the streaming trough in it’s entirety and able to be bing watched from the start.
  • And finally with the skimpy seasons we have these days as short a 10 shows and sometimes less, if you don’t care when you watch a show, it’s easy to subscribe for 1 month, watch the season, and then unsubscribe. you’ll come out ahead versus paying the cable company for access all year long whether you are watching something or not.


The Question: What is the Downside?
* Recording Shows-
You may be used to DVR/Tivo recording. I've not yet found a way to do this. My impression with this option you may be held hostage to how much On Demand content each network makes available.
*On Demand- Seems to be reduced as compared to what can be found through your Cable provider. A good example is ABC shows. However this is offset by either the On Demand which can be found on individual streaming sources (FX on SlingTV includes On Demand for current season) or by using a network streaming app found on Apple TV. See Apple TV vs Roku an the info provided on how to stream ABC shows.
Update- On demand, depending where you get it (without a cable company) can be just as limited either way. Sometimes you can find show that all ready been broadcast/seasons on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other like Hulu.
* You might have to watch commercials again- that is if you are used to recording your shows and the some network shows won't let you fast forward through their streaming content.
* TVs in your bedrooms- maybe yes maybe no. Smart TVs have the ability to connect to your internet via wireless. Many now have Netflix, but they don't have Roku or Apple TV. One of those may have to be purchased for each bedroom TV and it's been reported that you can only use one such device at a time. There is a Roku Stick, but I'm not sure if that works completely independently of a regular Roku box or works in conjunction it.

Apple TV or Roku or Both? (Updated Jul21)
June 2021- The answer is you don’t need both for content the other does not have. There was a time when Apple had HBO Now, but Roku did not. Roku had Amazon Prime Video, but Apple TV did not. Now, both of those networks are available on both and Roku includes the Apple TV channel.

Is Your Smart TV the equivalent of having a Roku or Apple TV box?
2019- Smart TVs have the ability to install network apps on them, but it depends on the TV how robust they are as a streaming hub. Our new Visio 4k TV does not have access to all the network channel apps that dedicated Roku or Apple TV boxes have.

Sites:
* Cutcabletoday:
http://www.cutcabletoday.com/
* Feeln- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.
* Hulu- https://www.hulu.com/welcome plans from $6-65.
* Netflix- https://www.netflix.com/ $9-$18 a month. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
* Philo.com- https://www.philo.com/ 60+channels $25 a month.
* Sling TV: https://www.sling.com 40+ for $25 per month. AMC, CNN, Hist, NBC, FX, SyFy, NatGeo, MSNBC. Roku and Apple TV. Note: Sling TV requires a 4th gen Apple TV.
- Sling TV Options
- How to access On Demand on Sling TV.
https://whatson.sling.com/announcem...-to-access-sling-tvs-video-on-demand-library/
- Orange Package- $20
- Blue Package- $25 (includes all of Orange)
- MSNBC: World News Package: $5.
- Turner Classic Movies: Hollywood Package: $5.
*YouTube TV- https://tv.youtube.com/

Specific Channels (there are hundreds, thousands of channels, not a comprehensive site listing)
Note: Some channels require that you have a Cable Provider to sign in with before you can get access. However, the way around this, which cost $ is to subscribe to a channel streamer like SlingTV, Hulu, YouTubeTV or others.

ABC- get the latest version of Apple TV (4th generation) with App support to find current season episodes for streaming. A case where AppleTV > Roku. ABC on Roku has zero On Demand, just live streaming. There appears to be a limit on ATV in that you can't view an episode until it is a week old.

Britbox and Acorn- both specialize in mainly British content and are available standalone, or can be bundled into packages such as AppleTV or Prime.

Amazon Prime- A side benefit of getting a shipping discount or vice a versa. Depending,ob your perspective. ;)
AMC- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/amc-live-stream/
* Note: AMC channel requires you to sign in to your Cable Provider to get access.
* How to Watch AMC Online without Cable
1. See which streaming services offer an AMC live stream — Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
2. Compare their offerings to see which streaming service is a better fit for you.
3. Sign up for a free trial to test out the streaming service.
4. Download the app on your streaming device (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox, iOS or Android phone/tablet, computer, etc.)
5. Open the streaming app and watch AMC online.
AppleTV- Now available as a channel on Roku. Apple would be foolish not to.
HBO- It looks like HBO Go has been replace with HBO Max. If I understand it correctly, HBO requires a cable provider.
NBC- on Roku appears to have episodes for streaming, but have not yet tested then for availability.
Hallmark- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.Apple TV, Roku.
MSNBC- Sling TV: http://www.cutcabletoday.com/msnbc-live-stream/
PBS- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/watch-pbs-online/ found on Roku.
* Added 11Aug17- Grantchester Seasons 1&2 are available on Amazon Prime. Season 2&3, maybe 1 are available on Apple TV , the PBS App. I'm not sure if local cable service is required to access PBS content on this app.
*12Aug17- I'm irritated at PBS because the third season of Grantchester ended in May, but the Local Station did not carry it. Now maybe I could have watched it for free back then on the PBS app, but now on Apple TV there is a message that I must subscribe to PBS passport, a one year subscriotion for $60. I give PBS money during their fund raising drives, but don't subscribe, and have them listed as my charity in Amazon Smile. So for now, I'm watching Season 2 on Amazon prime and will think about Season 3 later. Maybe eventually it will end up on Prine.
TCM: http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/. This site says it’s available on Sling TV? http://www.rokuguide.com/articles/sling-tv-adds-turner-classic-movies-ae-history-and-more

What about TVs in Your Bedrooms?
One of drawbacks of cutting the cable are those TVs in your and guest bedrooms. Our bedroom tv has wireless built-in Netflix but no Roku or Apple TV. I'm wondering if a Roku Streaming Stick would solve the issue?
Anyone using multiple Roku devices in one house with a single Roku account? I'd like to hear about it. :)

MC6800 (Sept 2016)- I've had no problem using the Netflix app on more than one device, except that it will only let you view on one device at a time. That's for a normal account-- don't know about others.

American Football On SlingTV:
The SlingTV Blue package includes Fox Sports. NBC (Blue Package) which should cover Sunday Night football, but is in the process of being released in major markets for streaming, and Houston does not yet have it (Dallas Ft Worth, L.A. and some other cities have it.) The NFL Network (Blue Package) is supposed to carry Thursday Night Football. But unfortunately for Monday Night Football, ESPN is required, and that requires another $15 for the combined Blue+Orange package. As the Super Bowl in 2017 is being covered by Fox, I'll cancel the Orange package in Jan after the playoffs.

Sling TV Support
Sept 2016- After using SlingTV for a week, I'll report it works great, but it's customer service leaves much to be desired, not that they don't help, but the inefficient means they offer customer support about your questions. After you locate the place to send them a help request, you'll discover there is no troubleshooting web portal customer service ticket system and there is no way to talk to them on the phone. Guess that saves money. :rolleyes:

When you submit a question, you'll see a message that says "watch your in basket", no not any basket in their website, but your email in-basket. About 6-12 hrs later you'll get a response. The first one of these I got I was irritated because while they told me they were working diligently to answer my question, they did not bother to answer the question I had sent them, such as how to edit your MyTV list? The answer btw is to scroll the list to the far far far right and you'll see an edit button.

PS, if you plan on paying up front 3 months for either a Roku or an Apple TV (discounted price), do that before you sign up for the one week trial. However, even during or after the trial, you can still take advantage of the offer, by emailing them and offering to pay for 3 months in advance, and they will make it happen..

How I did it Sept 2016:
Update Sept 2016: Canceled Feel'n. The Hallmark shows my wife watches (like Frazier reruns) can be found on Netflix. Added the SlingTV Orange Option for the football season, will cancel that in February.

Turned off cable, upped my internet to the top speed (no data limits $75), and subscribed to SlingTV. I already had a Roku and and an older AppleTV, but I had to upgrade the Apple TV to 4th generation, with App support (which I got through a discount via my Sling subscription $85).

My June 2016 Suddenlink bill was $196.87.
- That bill included- TV, Tivo, Internet, Home security.
* Upped my internet from 50Mbps (250GB data per month) to 200Mbps, (unlimited data).
* Kept monitored security system.

New Price: $95.27
That's a saving of approx $100 that will be offset by Sling TV 40+ channels per month for $25.00 an Feel'n (Hallmark Network) $36 for a year.

I've also got TCM on SlingTV (I think), and PBS is free on Roku. As far as I can tell all the tv shows are available on demand. Just checked The Strain in FX (SlingTV) and the episode that aired last Sunday is there for viewing.

Total projected savings per month: $67+ plus I'm really liking how SlingTV presents shows for watching, a SLEW of movies, which I had to dig for on Suddenlink, and my internet just got a big kick in the pants. :D

Misc Info- My bedroom has a Roku- Internet Wifi capable Blue Ray player hooked to the TV. I'm set I think.
 
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Renzatic

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I was recommended Philo recently, and it seems to be a pretty solid deal if you want all the basic cable channels without any of the fluff that drives up the price. $25 for 60 channels, including the likes of Sci-fi, AMC, Discovery, and whatnot.

...and the Hallmark Channel, which I'm sure some of you watch, though you won't admit to it.

 

Huntn

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I was recommended Philo recently, and it seems to be a pretty solid deal if you want all the basic cable channels without any of the fluff that drives up the price. $25 for 60 channels, including the likes of Sci-fi, AMC, Discovery, and whatnot.

...and the Hallmark Channel, which I'm sure some of you watch, though you won't admit to it.

i added Philo to the site list. I’ll have to compare with SlingTV (Blue) our cable substitute streamer to Philo and YouTubeTV. AMC used to be a must, but I’ve not watched it forever, Turner Classic Movies, MSNBC, others I’d have to think about to name, and yes Hallmark for my wife. :)
 
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SuperMatt

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I didn’t see much mention of OTA television. You can actually get 4K over-the-air in some areas. Companies like SiliconDust are selling tuners and DVRs for this new ATSC 3.0 standard. Plex has a live TV feature that works with these.

 

Huntn

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I didn’t see much mention of OTA television. You can actually get 4K over-the-air in some areas. Companies like SiliconDust are selling tuners and DVRs for this new ATSC 3.0 standard. Plex has a live TV feature that works with these.

Happy to add this to post 1. This is improved reception, but still has the limitations of broadcast TV?
 
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B S Magnet

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Cutting the Cable Guide,
but preserving content.
A work in progress.
UPDATE IN PROGRESS July 2021
some info maybe out of date



If you see something that is glaringly wrong or outdated, please post in a way that get’s my attention, and I’ll be happy to update the info.

Updates:
* Jul 2021- Added Olympics Note, and updated AppleTV vs Roku section. Added Philo, YouTube, and Hulu links under Sites. Updated Netflix under Sites.

2021
How are you watching the Olympics?

I am currently watching it on SlingTV, NBC Sports Network.

2021- Here are some advantages, of streaming and some observations:
  • From what I can tell, the Cable company takes their cut, so you are paying a premium and paying for things you don’t want.
  • Sling TV (or maybe Hulu and the like) is cheaper and carries most if not all of the cable channels I’ve watched in the past, like AMC, FX, of SyFy, that are included in the higher tier cable packages. So I can watch these shows live like I did with my cable company.
  • Also for a case where you want to watch last year’s episodes, cable companies have the same limited access, most if not all older content will not be available in their on demand, as more networks try to monetize their old shows with plus streaming services.
  • ...except I recorded most of them to watch later, many of the streaming services now include DVR which Suddenlink charged $20 a month just for that.
  • For original content from other providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV, you would be paying for these even with cable.
  • We only watched one show on broadcast TV, Modern Family (ABC) which has now ended and practically everything else we watch is streamed, much of it dumped into the streaming trough in it’s entirety and able to be bing watched from the start.
  • And finally with the skimpy seasons we have these days as short a 10 shows and sometimes less, if you don’t care when you watch a show, it’s easy to subscribe for 1 month, watch the season, and then unsubscribe. you’ll come out ahead versus paying the cable company for access all year long whether you are watching something or not.


The Question: What is the Downside?
* Recording Shows-
You may be used to DVR/Tivo recording. I've not yet found a way to do this. My impression with this option you may be held hostage to how much On Demand content each network makes available.
*On Demand- Seems to be reduced as compared to what can be found through your Cable provider. A good example is ABC shows. However this is offset by either the On Demand which can be found on individual streaming sources (FX on SlingTV includes On Demand for current season) or by using a network streaming app found on Apple TV. See Apple TV vs Roku an the info provided on how to stream ABC shows.
Update- On demand, depending where you get it (without a cable company) can be just as limited either way. Sometimes you can find show that all ready been broadcast/seasons on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other like Hulu.
* You might have to watch commercials again- that is if you are used to recording your shows and the some network shows won't let you fast forward through their streaming content.
* TVs in your bedrooms- maybe yes maybe no. Smart TVs have the ability to connect to your internet via wireless. Many now have Netflix, but they don't have Roku or Apple TV. One of those may have to be purchased for each bedroom TV and it's been reported that you can only use one such device at a time. There is a Roku Stick, but I'm not sure if that works completely independently of a regular Roku box or works in conjunction it.

Apple TV or Roku or Both? (Updated Jul21)
June 2021- The answer is you don’t need both for content the other does not have. There was a time when Apple had HBO Now, but Roku did not. Roku had Amazon Prime Video, but Apple TV did not. Now, both of those networks are available on both and Roku includes the Apple TV channel.

Is Your Smart TV the equivalent of having a Roku or Apple TV box?
2019- Smart TVs have the ability to install network apps on them, but it depends on the TV how robust they are as a streaming hub. Our new Visio 4k TV does not have access to all the network channel apps that dedicated Roku or Apple TV boxes have.

Sites:
* Cutcabletoday:
http://www.cutcabletoday.com/
* Feeln- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.
* Hulu- https://www.hulu.com/welcome plans from $6-65.
* Netflix- https://www.netflix.com/ $9-$18 a month. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
* Philo.com- https://www.philo.com/ 60+channels $25 a month.
* Sling TV: https://www.sling.com 40+ for $25 per month. AMC, CNN, Hist, NBC, FX, SyFy, NatGeo, MSNBC. Roku and Apple TV. Note: Sling TV requires a 4th gen Apple TV.
- Sling TV Options
- How to access On Demand on Sling TV.
https://whatson.sling.com/announcem...-to-access-sling-tvs-video-on-demand-library/
- Orange Package- $20
- Blue Package- $25 (includes all of Orange)
- MSNBC: World News Package: $5.
- Turner Classic Movies: Hollywood Package: $5.
*YouTube TV- https://tv.youtube.com/

Specific Channels:
AMC
- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/amc-live-stream/
How to Watch AMC Online without Cable
1. See which streaming services offer an AMC live stream — Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
2. Compare their offerings to see which streaming service is a better fit for you.
3. Sign up for a free trial to test out the streaming service.
4. Download the app on your streaming device (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox, iOS or Android phone/tablet, computer, etc.)
5. Open the streaming app and watch AMC online.

ABC- get the latest version of Apple TV (4th generation) with App support to find current season episodes for streaming. A case where AppleTV > Roku. ABC on Roku has zero On Demand, just live streaming. There appears to be a limit on ATV in that you can't view an episode until it is a week old.
HBO- It looks like HBO Go has been replace with HBO Max. If I understand it correctly, HBO requires a cable provider.
NBC- on Roku appears to have episodes for streaming, but have not yet tested then for availability.
Hallmark- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.Apple TV, Roku.
MSNBC- Sling TV: http://www.cutcabletoday.com/msnbc-live-stream/
PBS- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/watch-pbs-online/ found on Roku.
* Added 11Aug17- Grantchester Seasons 1&2 are available on Amazon Prime. Season 2&3, maybe 1 are available on Apple TV , the PBS App. I'm not sure if local cable service is required to access PBS content on this app.
*12Aug17- I'm irritated at PBS because the third season of Grantchester ended in May, but the Local Station did not carry it. Now maybe I could have watched it for free back then on the PBS app, but now on Apple TV there is a message that I must subscribe to PBS passport, a one year subscriotion for $60. I give PBS money during their fund raising drives, but don't subscribe, and have them listed as my charity in Amazon Smile. So for now, I'm watching Season 2 on Amazon prime and will think about Season 3 later. Maybe eventually it will end up on Prine.
TCM: http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/. This site says it’s available on Sling TV? http://www.rokuguide.com/articles/sling-tv-adds-turner-classic-movies-ae-history-and-more

What about TVs in Your Bedrooms?
One of drawbacks of cutting the cable are those TVs in your and guest bedrooms. Our bedroom tv has wireless built-in Netflix but no Roku or Apple TV. I'm wondering if a Roku Streaming Stick would solve the issue?
Anyone using multiple Roku devices in one house with a single Roku account? I'd like to hear about it. :)

MC6800 (Sept 2016)- I've had no problem using the Netflix app on more than one device, except that it will only let you view on one device at a time. That's for a normal account-- don't know about others.

American Football On SlingTV:
The SlingTV Blue package includes Fox Sports. NBC (Blue Package) which should cover Sunday Night football, but is in the process of being released in major markets for streaming, and Houston does not yet have it (Dallas Ft Worth, L.A. and some other cities have it.) The NFL Network (Blue Package) is supposed to carry Thursday Night Football. But unfortunately for Monday Night Football, ESPN is required, and that requires another $15 for the combined Blue+Orange package. As the Super Bowl in 2017 is being covered by Fox, I'll cancel the Orange package in Jan after the playoffs.

Sling TV Support
Sept 2016- After using SlingTV for a week, I'll report it works great, but it's customer service leaves much to be desired, not that they don't help, but the inefficient means they offer customer support about your questions. After you locate the place to send them a help request, you'll discover there is no troubleshooting web portal customer service ticket system and there is no way to talk to them on the phone. Guess that saves money. :rolleyes:

When you submit a question, you'll see a message that says "watch your in basket", no not any basket in their website, but your email in-basket. About 6-12 hrs later you'll get a response. The first one of these I got I was irritated because while they told me they were working diligently to answer my question, they did not bother to answer the question I had sent them, such as how to edit your MyTV list? The answer btw is to scroll the list to the far far far right and you'll see an edit button.

PS, if you plan on paying up front 3 months for either a Roku or an Apple TV (discounted price), do that before you sign up for the one week trial. However, even during or after the trial, you can still take advantage of the offer, by emailing them and offering to pay for 3 months in advance, and they will make it happen..

How I did it Sept 2016:
Update Sept 2016: Canceled Feel'n. The Hallmark shows my wife watches (like Frazier reruns) can be found on Netflix. Added the SlingTV Orange Option for the football season, will cancel that in February.

Turned off cable, upped my internet to the top speed (no data limits $75), and subscribed to SlingTV. I already had a Roku and and an older AppleTV, but I had to upgrade the Apple TV to 4th generation, with App support (which I got through a discount via my Sling subscription $85).

My June 2016 Suddenlink bill was $196.87.
- That bill included- TV, Tivo, Internet, Home security.
* Upped my internet from 50Mbps (250GB data per month) to 200Mbps, (unlimited data).
* Kept monitored security system.

New Price: $95.27
That's a saving of approx $100 that will be offset by Sling TV 40+ channels per month for $25.00 an Feel'n (Hallmark Network) $36 for a year.

I've also got TCM on SlingTV (I think), and PBS is free on Roku. As far as I can tell all the tv shows are available on demand. Just checked The Strain in FX (SlingTV) and the episode that aired last Sunday is there for viewing.

Total projected savings per month: $67+ plus I'm really liking how SlingTV presents shows for watching, a SLEW of movies, which I had to dig for on Suddenlink, and my internet just got a big kick in the pants. :D

Misc Info- My bedroom has a Roku- Internet Wifi capable Blue Ray player hooked to the TV. I'm set I think.

May I offer that you convert this post to a WikiPost?
 

lizkat

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HBO- It looks like HBO Go has been replace with HBO Max. If I understand it correctly, HBO requires a cable provider.

I don't have a TV set or a cable provider, just the ad-free HBO Max subscription at $15/mo that includes HBO, Max (current and past shows), plus same day access to new Warner movies when they open in theatres, option to download stuff for offline viewing.
 

SuperMatt

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Happy to add this to post 1. This is improved reception, but still has the limitations of broadcast TV?
It can be used on mobile devices (if they get the tuner chip), it has some features that integrate with your internet connection, it can deliver data since it uses IP data to send its signal… there are some interesting possibilities with it.
 
U

User.45

Guest
I deeply despise ads..they are like meme cancer.

With HBOs deal with Studio Ghibli, MGM, Warner, I consider the best deal of all for $15. I have Prime anyway that I rarely use.
Netflix vs. Hulu+AppleTV, should be rotated. Though I have a lot of qualms about Netflix's way to make you spend more time digging for stuff to view than enjoying content. Hulu's interface is much cleaner and thus comes with a much nicer experience despite the smaller portfolio.
 
U

User 189

Guest
Cutting the Cable Guide,
but preserving content.
A work in progress.
UPDATE IN PROGRESS July 2021
some info maybe out of date



If you see something that is glaringly wrong or outdated, please post in a way that get’s my attention, and I’ll be happy to update the info.

Updates:
* Jul 2021- Added Olympics Note, and updated AppleTV vs Roku section. Added Philo, YouTube, and Hulu links under Sites. Updated Netflix under Sites.

2021
How are you watching the Olympics?

I am currently watching it on SlingTV, NBC Sports Network.

2021- Here are some advantages, of streaming and some observations:
  • From what I can tell, the Cable company takes their cut, so you are paying a premium and paying for things you don’t want.
  • Sling TV (or maybe Hulu and the like) is cheaper and carries most if not all of the cable channels I’ve watched in the past, like AMC, FX, of SyFy, that are included in the higher tier cable packages. So I can watch these shows live like I did with my cable company.
  • Also for a case where you want to watch last year’s episodes, cable companies have the same limited access, most if not all older content will not be available in their on demand, as more networks try to monetize their old shows with plus streaming services.
  • ...except I recorded most of them to watch later, many of the streaming services now include DVR which Suddenlink charged $20 a month just for that.
  • For original content from other providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV, you would be paying for these even with cable.
  • We only watched one show on broadcast TV, Modern Family (ABC) which has now ended and practically everything else we watch is streamed, much of it dumped into the streaming trough in it’s entirety and able to be bing watched from the start.
  • And finally with the skimpy seasons we have these days as short a 10 shows and sometimes less, if you don’t care when you watch a show, it’s easy to subscribe for 1 month, watch the season, and then unsubscribe. you’ll come out ahead versus paying the cable company for access all year long whether you are watching something or not.


The Question: What is the Downside?
* Recording Shows-
You may be used to DVR/Tivo recording. I've not yet found a way to do this. My impression with this option you may be held hostage to how much On Demand content each network makes available.
*On Demand- Seems to be reduced as compared to what can be found through your Cable provider. A good example is ABC shows. However this is offset by either the On Demand which can be found on individual streaming sources (FX on SlingTV includes On Demand for current season) or by using a network streaming app found on Apple TV. See Apple TV vs Roku an the info provided on how to stream ABC shows.
Update- On demand, depending where you get it (without a cable company) can be just as limited either way. Sometimes you can find show that all ready been broadcast/seasons on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other like Hulu.
* You might have to watch commercials again- that is if you are used to recording your shows and the some network shows won't let you fast forward through their streaming content.
* TVs in your bedrooms- maybe yes maybe no. Smart TVs have the ability to connect to your internet via wireless. Many now have Netflix, but they don't have Roku or Apple TV. One of those may have to be purchased for each bedroom TV and it's been reported that you can only use one such device at a time. There is a Roku Stick, but I'm not sure if that works completely independently of a regular Roku box or works in conjunction it.

Apple TV or Roku or Both? (Updated Jul21)
June 2021- The answer is you don’t need both for content the other does not have. There was a time when Apple had HBO Now, but Roku did not. Roku had Amazon Prime Video, but Apple TV did not. Now, both of those networks are available on both and Roku includes the Apple TV channel.

Is Your Smart TV the equivalent of having a Roku or Apple TV box?
2019- Smart TVs have the ability to install network apps on them, but it depends on the TV how robust they are as a streaming hub. Our new Visio 4k TV does not have access to all the network channel apps that dedicated Roku or Apple TV boxes have.

Sites:
* Cutcabletoday:
http://www.cutcabletoday.com/
* Feeln- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.
* Hulu- https://www.hulu.com/welcome plans from $6-65.
* Netflix- https://www.netflix.com/ $9-$18 a month. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926
* Philo.com- https://www.philo.com/ 60+channels $25 a month.
* Sling TV: https://www.sling.com 40+ for $25 per month. AMC, CNN, Hist, NBC, FX, SyFy, NatGeo, MSNBC. Roku and Apple TV. Note: Sling TV requires a 4th gen Apple TV.
- Sling TV Options
- How to access On Demand on Sling TV.
https://whatson.sling.com/announcem...-to-access-sling-tvs-video-on-demand-library/
- Orange Package- $20
- Blue Package- $25 (includes all of Orange)
- MSNBC: World News Package: $5.
- Turner Classic Movies: Hollywood Package: $5.
*YouTube TV- https://tv.youtube.com/

Specific Channels:
AMC
- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/amc-live-stream/
How to Watch AMC Online without Cable
1. See which streaming services offer an AMC live stream — Sling TV and PlayStation Vue.
2. Compare their offerings to see which streaming service is a better fit for you.
3. Sign up for a free trial to test out the streaming service.
4. Download the app on your streaming device (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox, iOS or Android phone/tablet, computer, etc.)
5. Open the streaming app and watch AMC online.

ABC- get the latest version of Apple TV (4th generation) with App support to find current season episodes for streaming. A case where AppleTV > Roku. ABC on Roku has zero On Demand, just live streaming. There appears to be a limit on ATV in that you can't view an episode until it is a week old.
HBO- It looks like HBO Go has been replace with HBO Max. If I understand it correctly, HBO requires a cable provider.
NBC- on Roku appears to have episodes for streaming, but have not yet tested then for availability.
Hallmark- https://www.feeln.com/supported-devices.Apple TV, Roku.
MSNBC- Sling TV: http://www.cutcabletoday.com/msnbc-live-stream/
PBS- http://www.cutcabletoday.com/watch-pbs-online/ found on Roku.
* Added 11Aug17- Grantchester Seasons 1&2 are available on Amazon Prime. Season 2&3, maybe 1 are available on Apple TV , the PBS App. I'm not sure if local cable service is required to access PBS content on this app.
*12Aug17- I'm irritated at PBS because the third season of Grantchester ended in May, but the Local Station did not carry it. Now maybe I could have watched it for free back then on the PBS app, but now on Apple TV there is a message that I must subscribe to PBS passport, a one year subscriotion for $60. I give PBS money during their fund raising drives, but don't subscribe, and have them listed as my charity in Amazon Smile. So for now, I'm watching Season 2 on Amazon prime and will think about Season 3 later. Maybe eventually it will end up on Prine.
TCM: http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/. This site says it’s available on Sling TV? http://www.rokuguide.com/articles/sling-tv-adds-turner-classic-movies-ae-history-and-more

What about TVs in Your Bedrooms?
One of drawbacks of cutting the cable are those TVs in your and guest bedrooms. Our bedroom tv has wireless built-in Netflix but no Roku or Apple TV. I'm wondering if a Roku Streaming Stick would solve the issue?
Anyone using multiple Roku devices in one house with a single Roku account? I'd like to hear about it. :)

MC6800 (Sept 2016)- I've had no problem using the Netflix app on more than one device, except that it will only let you view on one device at a time. That's for a normal account-- don't know about others.

American Football On SlingTV:
The SlingTV Blue package includes Fox Sports. NBC (Blue Package) which should cover Sunday Night football, but is in the process of being released in major markets for streaming, and Houston does not yet have it (Dallas Ft Worth, L.A. and some other cities have it.) The NFL Network (Blue Package) is supposed to carry Thursday Night Football. But unfortunately for Monday Night Football, ESPN is required, and that requires another $15 for the combined Blue+Orange package. As the Super Bowl in 2017 is being covered by Fox, I'll cancel the Orange package in Jan after the playoffs.

Sling TV Support
Sept 2016- After using SlingTV for a week, I'll report it works great, but it's customer service leaves much to be desired, not that they don't help, but the inefficient means they offer customer support about your questions. After you locate the place to send them a help request, you'll discover there is no troubleshooting web portal customer service ticket system and there is no way to talk to them on the phone. Guess that saves money. :rolleyes:

When you submit a question, you'll see a message that says "watch your in basket", no not any basket in their website, but your email in-basket. About 6-12 hrs later you'll get a response. The first one of these I got I was irritated because while they told me they were working diligently to answer my question, they did not bother to answer the question I had sent them, such as how to edit your MyTV list? The answer btw is to scroll the list to the far far far right and you'll see an edit button.

PS, if you plan on paying up front 3 months for either a Roku or an Apple TV (discounted price), do that before you sign up for the one week trial. However, even during or after the trial, you can still take advantage of the offer, by emailing them and offering to pay for 3 months in advance, and they will make it happen..

How I did it Sept 2016:
Update Sept 2016: Canceled Feel'n. The Hallmark shows my wife watches (like Frazier reruns) can be found on Netflix. Added the SlingTV Orange Option for the football season, will cancel that in February.

Turned off cable, upped my internet to the top speed (no data limits $75), and subscribed to SlingTV. I already had a Roku and and an older AppleTV, but I had to upgrade the Apple TV to 4th generation, with App support (which I got through a discount via my Sling subscription $85).

My June 2016 Suddenlink bill was $196.87.
- That bill included- TV, Tivo, Internet, Home security.
* Upped my internet from 50Mbps (250GB data per month) to 200Mbps, (unlimited data).
* Kept monitored security system.

New Price: $95.27
That's a saving of approx $100 that will be offset by Sling TV 40+ channels per month for $25.00 an Feel'n (Hallmark Network) $36 for a year.

I've also got TCM on SlingTV (I think), and PBS is free on Roku. As far as I can tell all the tv shows are available on demand. Just checked The Strain in FX (SlingTV) and the episode that aired last Sunday is there for viewing.

Total projected savings per month: $67+ plus I'm really liking how SlingTV presents shows for watching, a SLEW of movies, which I had to dig for on Suddenlink, and my internet just got a big kick in the pants. :D

Misc Info- My bedroom has a Roku- Internet Wifi capable Blue Ray player hooked to the TV. I'm set I think.
This thread is relevant.
I made a few posts in that thread.

There are also a few websites out there that are entirely dedicated to cutting the cord.

I really want to try YouTube TV... 🤤
 

B S Magnet

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What kind of labor should companies be doing?

It depends on the company. If they’re an entertainment production company, then labour of their workers would be in the production of that entertainment. If they’re a food service company, then the labour of their workers are providing the products which will be consumed by buyers. If they’re an engineering firm, then their workers provide their skilled and specialized labour to the development of engineering solutions.

My first career was in marketing communications and advertising. I left after heavy burnout and a fulsome jadedness developed by the industry’s motive of psychological and material exploitation which made up the very foundation of its raison d’être. It is an industry which deserves to be abolished.

Mind you, I also don’t regard companies as legal “people” with comparable rights as people. To consider a company as such is to diminish the worth of people. So if a company cannot make a good product or provide a good service, or both, on those merits alone, then they should shut down.
 

SuperMatt

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Whatever happened to doing labour to earn money?
In America, if you work for your money, you pay more taxes. If you inherit it and live off the interest or investment gains, you pay fewer taxes. Companies pay lower taxes than laborers.

This is what Americans have voted for. If they want to change it, they need to vote for the left.

They can also form unions.

America can only blame itself for this situation. They let the GOP snooker them with culture wars and social issues, not realizing the Republicans were systematically redistributing wealth to the rich and removing rights from workers.
 

lizkat

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I deeply despise ads..they are like meme cancer.

With HBOs deal with Studio Ghibli, MGM, Warner, I consider the best deal of all for $15. I have Prime anyway that I rarely use.
Netflix vs. Hulu+AppleTV, should be rotated. Though I have a lot of qualms about Netflix's way to make you spend more time digging for stuff to view than enjoying content. Hulu's interface is much cleaner and thus comes with a much nicer experience despite the smaller portfolio.

I largely agree with almost everything you've said here.

Americans with structural power, with the unfettered power to vote — with a foundational, ancestral, inherited history of that unfettered vote — can only blame themselves for this phase of their American experiment. And, as always, they will blame anyone else.

I blame everything on high fructose corn syrup.
 
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