I "cut the cord" in 2009, and for the last decade have just relied on an antenna in my attic to get my local channels on TV. Just had my new metal roof installed - cellphone is hunky dory, but no more TV.
So I'm considering an online streaming TV service like YouTube TV or Sling TV. Any recommendations? The thought of YouTube TV excites me because it includes the Big Ten Network (Badger alum) and the SEC Network (long-time employer).
But I'm new at this and am open to suggestions from any other cord-cutters who use streaming TV services.
Thanks!
P.S. With @armand's awesome Roku TV integration and Google Calendar/IFTTT integrations, it should possible to control this via Hubitat - so Wisc Badger games or LSU Tiger games come on when they're playing.
SlingTV isn't bad either but it will cost you another $10 but you get more shit channels. Philo has almost all the popular channels like A&E, AMC, Science and a few others.
I use a Zgemma box linked to my sat but can also provide IPTV. Something like Vadar Streams (no good for UK but was great for US). Can be installed on Firesticks or and android tv box too.
I was a long time Vue subscriber and loved it. Unfortunately they are discontinuing service in 2020. ( I hit the cordcutter/HA jackpot in 2019, wink and Vue) I went with Hulu with LiveTV. It is good as far as reliability, but I can't stand their menu system. Added Showtime and HBO and am at 70ish a month. Base package has good selection of channels.
I have used DirectTV, Hulu+Live, and am now using YouTube TV. Hulu was the best. YouTube gives you a real guide, and Hulu has a poor hack of a guide they put together by popular demand. DirectTV app is the most intuitive, but youtube has the best video quality of the ones I listed. I did try SlingTV for the free trial period but too many channels that were a must for the wife are not available.
As for integrations, I have been pondering the idea of making a custom command available for the App channels, to allow you to pass the necessary information to tune to a specific channel, or start a specific stream. Maybe I will look into this sooner. The challenge is that there is not one standard on how this works, so on initial release, you may have to look up the Roku channel’s API spec to get the correct path value to force tune to a certain TV station. But this sounds like a great use case to justify the time to make this happen. Maybe I will include this feature with my new Roku Integration apps
I was an early adopter of Roku, Netflix, and Sling (orange package). I have a ChannelMaster dvr for OTA. The "must get" was NFL for my wife (rabid Packers fan), and back before Sling that required a mix of OTA and Verizon's NFL app. Then they started blocking out-of-region games, so last year I switched to NFL Gamepass. This, and the recent entry of Disney+, have pretty much killed the need for Sling, but she likes those cooking shows, so we'll see.
I generally give Sling a thumbs up, but recommend the Sling DVR option ($5/mo, IIRC) as it lets you skip ads.
I went for YouTube TV for network content when it went live in my area about two years ago.
It's been reliable.
I like the unlimited DVR
DVR resolution is fixed at 720 as near as I can tell, while not super annoying, it's certainly not 1080.
Live streaming of local channels is also not HD.
DVR and live audio is also 2 channel.
We also use Netflix with the 4K package as well as Disney+ and Prime video.
Netflix, Prime and Disney+ all have 4K content, Prime supports Dolby Atmos, I think that's in route for Netflix. Disney+ is all Dolby 5.1.
Oh yeah, and HBO, which is a complete waste is my opinion.
Though I watch zero tv or streams, I've heard PLENTY about that, trust me.
9er games every week....
Get the Gamepass. It lets you watch everything. The addictive feature, though, is the fast-watch option; a full game in about 1 hour. So now she time-shifts, avoids spoilers, and binge-watches beaucoup games per week. ....And I don't have to chase channels or feeds anymore!
Hulu+Live
I think I just read there is a big price increase coming --22%, IIRC.
Prime
We have that, too. Never use it. It needs a recommendation engine rather than user-driven selection.
Agreed. But it's cheap fill. I suspect we'll end up with Netflix, Disney+, Prime, & Gamepass. Still less than we were paying for cable. If I add anything to the mix, it'd probably be philo for all the lifestyle programming (a.k.a. chickflix).
First I'll start with some of our traits/interests:
2 adults and 2 younger children
I like to watch MLB, NFL and Big Ten sports (go Gophers! ) casually but am not a fanatic
Sometimes my wife will watch live non-sports events (e.g. Academy Awards)
My wife and I like some network shows but want to watch them after children are in bed
We wanted it available on a device that is relatively cheap but integrates well with other streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Plex)
We wanted a device that's easy to control using a simple remote for both my immediate family and extended family when they visit
We already have Amazon Echos in our house
I use the Google Chromecast as a streaming device when travelling
After researching multiple live TV streaming services, it came down to Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV for me. My device options came down to the Amazon Fire Stick 4K or Google Chromecast Ultra. I was open to a heterogeneous ecosystem (i.e. Amazon Echos and Google Chromecasts) but preferred the Fire Sticks because they come with a simple remote (and voice control). At the time I made this decision YouTube TV wasn't compatible with Fire Sticks, so I went with Hulu Live.
Overall it's worked out well, and more importantly, my family has no complaints. With an upcoming price increase and YouTube TV now compatible, I'll keep that door open. However, with two younger children, I'm hoping for a Hulu Live/Disney + bundle (w/o ESPN + because I don't watch enough sports).
Yes, if you need multiple, concurrent streams the price goes up. We only have one viewer in the household. (I get my fix from newsfeeds stripped to bare bones by tampermonkey.)
Definitely less than Cable. However the way the market it going, I suspect we're going to find ourselves at Cable levels before long, as the "big" content producers start to pull back from Netflix & Prime and start forcing producer specific channels....
I fogot, I gave up on my reluctance to pay for CBS, and got the CBS streaming channel just for Star Trek...still pisses me off, but at least I can suspend the channel at will, unlike Cable TV!
The only games I get really conflicted over is when the Badgers played the Tigers - 2 years in a row. I had my Bucky shirt on the inside, and LSU sweatshirt on the outside ...
) casually but am not a fanatic
