Streaming TV Service

[Kanewpadle]

What service do you use that also provides Live Broadcasts?

Currently we have YouTube TV. We like it. But they just announced a 30% price increase because they added a few channels. Channels we are not interested in.

 

[dmar]

I’ve got cable and an Amazon Firestick. I’m an Amazon Prime member so we get Prime Video on the Firestick, as well as other video streams (including YouTube). We also subscribe to Netflix and can access it via our Cable box as well as the Firestick and my iPhone and iPad.

I’ve done things a few different ways over the years and really believe that cable is the way to go. Without cable you just end up stacking all these different streaming services and end up paying the same, or more than cable, and not get all the channels that you really want...

I look at my Netflix subscription as a replacement to the premium channel subscriptions like HBO and Showtime. So, cable and Netflix gives us a lot of selection and the reliable and easy to access platform (including DVR and ability to watch what I want/when I want with on demand access to all of the cable programming) that cable provides, including the broadcast channels (which I barely watch anymore). I can also watch cable on the app on my phone, iPad, smart tv, etc. it’s a slick set up.

I find that the “free” streaming apps are aggravating with a lot of filler/lousy programming and a ton of awful commercials. YouTube raising rates is just the beginning. They all start off low to get us to switch over, then raise prices as the years pass. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, i suppose...

 

[kraynky]

Sounds like they're following Comcast's business plan.

 

[bgrafsr]

Whatever happened to "pay tv" with no commercials?

 

[susieqz]

my you tube is free.
my tv gets it from the router.

 

[ontheroad20]

I use a Roku and stream everything. You can load it with anything you want. 1,000's of options.

 

[JH1951]

Whatever happened to "pay tv" with no commercials?

You have a good memory!

 

[Maddog 521]

Has anyone tried that antenna device that you install in your attic and pick up the signals that are close to your home?

 

[JcMack]

Has anyone tried that antenna device that you install in your attic and pick up the signals that are close to your home?

I've had OTA (over the air) TV for about 6 yrs. Works great, and I get 60 channels including major broadcast channels, PBS, etc.. I'm about 30 crow fly miles from downtown Chicago that broadcasts most stuff. I don't have an antenna in the attic, just one in the window facing that worthless city.
There's a couple websites that tell you how far you are from OTA broadcasters. Their location in reference to your home determines the antenna you'll need to pull in the most OTA channels. Here's one.
AntennaWeb - Antenna Signal Prediction

 

[dmn57]

We use Hulu, about $55/month, and you get Hulu's entire catalog, if that is of interest. I could probably go without it but there are a few things Mrs. 57 likes to watch. Much, much better than the $145/month we were paying for DirectTV.

 

[Jeff423]

This is slightly off topic but we quit cable about 3 yrs ago and haven't missed it. (I happened on a local news broadcast recently and was amazed how bad it was. Classic :"If it bleeds it leads" and very amateurish.) I now get all my news from the radio and mainstream websites.

We get a bunch of streaming services and it's still less than 1/2 of what we were paying for a cable package that included a million channels that we never watched.

 

[Onomea]

For live news, an OTA antenna in the attic. For entertainment, Amazon Prime and Netflix.

 

[MORSNO]

Hulu for me too. I am fairly new to the streaming world and still learning, but we started with a $30 Roku Stick and purchased Hulu for $55 a month. Hulu streams all of our local channels live and a ton of new channels we are still discovering. The movies are pretty cool too.

 

[Old Corp]

Went 100% streaming several months ago.
Got really annoyed at cable and satellite services continuing to cost more and more and unlike a few years ago - they don't care if you quit them. They're only interested in new customers.

Installed a ROKU on both TV's in the house - and use the app HULU for most programming. Wife likes her Hallmark channel, so pay a small fee for the app 'frndly' that has that. Frndly also has outdoor sports and gun programs.
And there's TONS of free apps for additional options to watch - VUDU, Crackle, Waypoint, etc.
There's even a free app for gun-related content - 'GunStuff TV'.

All this for far less than cable and satellite.
Oh - for local channels, there's no need for an antenna anymore. Local channels are on streaming now. Get them on HULU or 'Stirr' apps.

 

[pennzy]

Roku usually has apps for your local news stations. Then you can get the cheap Hulu subscription for other programing. NetFlix is also a cheap addition. Prime is good when you consider all the included features such as Amazon music, Video and shipping. Don't forget, if you have close family members you can share Hulu and Amazon to bring down costs. They don't have to live with you to share.

 

[Smoke]

Has anyone tried that antenna device that you install in your attic and pick up the signals that are close to your home?

We get close to 30 channels on antenna TV, I think that's as many as we got on cable when we got rid of it 30 years ago. I'm currently watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance on GRIT TV

My wife and I aren't really TV people, She watches Create TV or PBS and if it's just me I usually turn the TV off.

 

[ACORN]

Just found out that any of you old geezers(like me)that have a Medicare card, you can get Prime for 50% off. I don’t know what kind of uninvited BS that would usher in though.