Best cord cutting options

[Beelzbub]

I am still digging YouTube TV. I really like the service. With Cord Cutting & Streaming, it really comes down to what you can live with and live without. You will make a sacrifice here and gain something there and vice versa. I tell people to do a free trial of a service and write down what you like and don't like with each one and then make your choice based on that, as I have been helping a lot of my friends and family lately with this sort of stuff.

I know what I was paying when I had satellite (DirecTV) and what cable TV costs and I don't think I will ever go back to that.

For us, YouTube TV has been great. I can DVR anything I want, and when I select a show as a favorite, it goes out and gets them all and lets me watch them in order. I can't complain really, especially the savings. My total monthly bill is around $125, that includes my Internet, YouTube TV and Netflix. I used to pay about $215 a month for just satellite and Internet, so I am saving about $90 a month and watch about 98% of the same stuff without all the added costs. And I especially like getting all my locals on YouTube TV (the main 4). Where I live, down in a valley like surrounded by trees, an antenna can only work so good for us, I still use it as a backup, but its nice being able to get my locals via streaming.

I also have Amazon Prime, but I do not include that as a monthly cost because I pay for a year upfront and that is because of the actual savings for ordering things on Amazon (work and personal), the TV shows and movies that come with it are a bonus in my book, considering I was paying for Amazon Prime all along and didn't use their streaming services for the longest time. I also have Curiosity Stream, and I do not view that as a monthly expense either since I paid $15 upfront for a whole year. And there is also Pluto TV that is free and offers quite a bit and there is also Tubi TV as well that is also free.

I like my setup and I like my savings and couldn't be happier. There is this sense of freedom that comes over you when you cut the cord and use your own equipment and not being charged all these fees. My friends and family agree. No more haggling with the Cable TV/Satellite TV people on deals that only last so long and then the rates go up, man that feels great lol.

I use an Apple TV 4K in my family room, an Apple TV 4 in our bedroom, Roku TV in the man cave/game room and a Roku in the guest bedroom. And I happen to be lucky enough and have a small 19 inch TV I got on Amazon for $60 and added a Roku to that in my office at work, once a while I will turn it on and watch a baseball game and I will be using it for March Madness.

 

[nburwell]

I am still digging YouTube TV. I really like the service. With Cord Cutting & Streaming, it really comes down to what you can live with and live without. You will make a sacrifice here and gain something there and vice versa. I tell people to do a free trial of a service and write down what you like and don't like with each one and then make your choice based on that, as I have been helping a lot of my friends and family lately with this sort of stuff.

I know what I was paying when I had satellite (DirecTV) and what cable TV costs and I don't think I will ever go back to that.

For us, YouTube TV has been great. I can DVR anything I want, and when I select a show as a favorite, it goes out and gets them all and lets me watch them in order. I can't complain really, especially the savings. My total monthly bill is around $125, that includes my Internet, YouTube TV and Netflix. I used to pay about $215 a month for just satellite and Internet, so I am saving about $90 a month and watch about 98% of the same stuff without all the added costs. And I especially like getting all my locals on YouTube TV (the main 4). Where I live, down in a valley like surrounded by trees, an antenna can only work so good for us, I still use it as a backup, but its nice being able to get my locals via streaming.

I also have Amazon Prime, but I do not include that as a monthly cost because I pay for a year upfront and that is because of the actual savings for ordering things on Amazon (work and personal), the TV shows and movies that come with it are a bonus in my book, considering I was paying for Amazon Prime all along and didn't use their streaming services for the longest time. I also have Curiosity Stream, and I do not view that as a monthly expense either since I paid $15 upfront for a whole year. And there is also Pluto TV that is free and offers quite a bit and there is also Tubi TV as well that is also free.

I like my setup and I like my savings and couldn't be happier. There is this sense of freedom that comes over you when you cut the cord and use your own equipment and not being charged all these fees. My friends and family agree. No more haggling with the Cable TV/Satellite TV people on deals that only last so long and then the rates go up, man that feels great lol.

I use an Apple TV 4K in my family room, an Apple TV 4 in our bedroom, Roku TV in the man cave/game room and a Roku in the guest bedroom. And I happen to be lucky enough and have a small 19 inch TV I got on Amazon for $60 and added a Roku to that in my office at work, once a while I will turn it on and watch a baseball game and I will be using it for March Madness.

I really want to to switch to YouTube TV, but I have such a good deal with Directv Now that I don't want to jump ship ($55/month + HBO included). Although I think that if (more like when) AT&T decides to once again raise the price of DT Now, I'll jump ship over to YT TV.

Our current setup is as follows (our three TV's are connected to 4th gen. Apple TV's, with ATV 4K in the family room):

• FiOS internet: $65/month
• Netflix: Free (I'm billed through iTunes and have credit from birthday and Christmas)
• Hulu: Free (billed through Spotify premium)
• Amazon: I pay yearly on this, so I don't account for it in my monthly cost as my wife and I use it primarily for the Prime shipping. The streaming is an added bonus.
• Directv Now: $55/month

So $120/month is far better than the close to $180/month I was paying before I cut the cord.

 

[SkiHound2]

The origin of this thread was some time ago, but it seems to be of ongoing interest. We seem to be moving toward cutting cable. We have Verizon Fios. Service has generally been very good but the price has gotten ridiculous and there seems to be no way to negotiate a lower price other than to terminate service and have someone else in the household sign up. Prices for the only competitor are pretty similar and they play the same game. The equipment costs are just outrageous. Three set top boxes plus whole house DVR is $50 a month. I could get by without a STB, but it’s $24/month for 2 and$30 for 3, so... My wife especially likes the DVR. We want access to local stations but live in a low area surrounded by trees. And we’re not that close to the transmission towers so OTA seems out of the question. We are seeing how the transition goes. We reduced the Verizon package to the minimum. After looking at the live TV streaming packages I signed up for Youtube TV to give it a test run. We get all the local stations we care about and it seems to work fairly well. We also signed up for a Hulu trial and we have Amazon Prime. My wife really likes the DVR and there are a couple of things on Verizon that are not on Youtube TV. I think we’ll end up with Youtube TV, Amazon Prime since we already have a Prime account, probably buy the PBS package and then play stop and go with the other streaming services. If we got reliable OTA I’d opt for that and then maybe get a Tivo or something like that. Still not cheap. But considerably less expensive than what we’ve been paying with Verizon.

 

[Beelzbub]

The origin of this thread was some time ago, but it seems to be of ongoing interest. We seem to be moving toward cutting cable. We have Verizon Fios. Service has generally been very good but the price has gotten ridiculous and there seems to be no way to negotiate a lower price other than to terminate service and have someone else in the household sign up. Prices for the only competitor are pretty similar and they play the same game. The equipment costs are just outrageous. Three set top boxes plus whole house DVR is $50 a month. I could get by without a STB, but it’s $24/month for 2 and$30 for 3, so... My wife especially likes the DVR. We want access to local stations but live in a low area surrounded by trees. And we’re not that close to the transmission towers so OTA seems out of the question. We are seeing how the transition goes. We reduced the Verizon package to the minimum. After looking at the live TV streaming packages I signed up for Youtube TV to give it a test run. We get all the local stations we care about and it seems to work fairly well. We also signed up for a Hulu trial and we have Amazon Prime. My wife really likes the DVR and there are a couple of things on Verizon that are not on Youtube TV. I think we’ll end up with Youtube TV, Amazon Prime since we already have a Prime account, probably buy the PBS package and then play stop and go with the other streaming services. If we got reliable OTA I’d opt for that and then maybe get a Tivo or something like that. Still not cheap. But considerably less expensive than what we’ve been paying with Verizon.

PBS will be coming to YouTube TV sometime this year according to Cord Cutters News, a site I like to follow as well as their YouTube channel.
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/pbs-is-coming-to-youtube-tv/

 

[SkiHound2]

PBS will be coming to YouTube TV sometime this year according to Cord Cutters News, a site I like to follow as well as their YouTube channel.
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/pbs-is-coming-to-youtube-tv/

That will be a nice addition. I think for $60 / year you can get pretty much everything on PBS and I think there's some deal where if you donate $X to public TV you get it as well. Quite a bit of stuff we like on PBS. Because we're academics we also get Kanopy TV. Some of which is pretty esoteric and probably not of wide public interest. But there are some documentaries and educational programming that is of interest.

 

[Beelzbub]

That will be a nice addition. I think for $60 / year you can get pretty much everything on PBS and I think there's some deal where if you donate $X to public TV you get it as well. Quite a bit of stuff we like on PBS. Because we're academics we also get Kanopy TV. Some of which is pretty esoteric and probably not of wide public interest. But there are some documentaries and educational programming that is of interest.

Take a look at Curiosity Stream, https://curiositystream.com/, you can do a free trial and has a lot of educational stuff as well. I got lucky and picked it up for $15 for a whole year, normally it is $20 (1080p version) which is still good. They also have a 4K package for $70. I have a 4K TV, but chose the 1080p version.

 

[satcomer]

I really want to to switch to YouTube TV, but I have such a good deal with Directv Now that I don't want to jump ship ($55/month + HBO included). Although I think that if (more like when) AT&T decides to once again raise the price of DT Now, I'll jump ship over to YT TV.

Our current setup is as follows (our three TV's are connected to 4th gen. Apple TV's, with ATV 4K in the family room):

• FiOS internet: $65/month
• Netflix: Free (I'm billed through iTunes and have credit from birthday and Christmas)
• Hulu: Free (billed through Spotify premium)
• Amazon: I pay yearly on this, so I don't account for it in my monthly cost as my wife and I use it primarily for the Prime shipping. The streaming is an added bonus.
• Directv Now: $55/month

So $120/month is far better than the close to $180/month I was paying before I cut the cord.

What about a TV attend and cords to get that signal to your TV? I know that’s a one time fee but did you do that yet?

 

[PilotC150]

I really want to to switch to YouTube TV, but I have such a good deal with Directv Now that I don't want to jump ship ($55/month + HBO included). Although I think that if (more like when) AT&T decides to once again raise the price of DT Now, I'll jump ship over to YT TV.

Our current setup is as follows (our three TV's are connected to 4th gen. Apple TV's, with ATV 4K in the family room):

• FiOS internet: $65/month
• Netflix: Free (I'm billed through iTunes and have credit from birthday and Christmas)
• Hulu: Free (billed through Spotify premium)
• Amazon: I pay yearly on this, so I don't account for it in my monthly cost as my wife and I use it primarily for the Prime shipping. The streaming is an added bonus.
• Directv Now: $55/month

So $120/month is far better than the close to $180/month I was paying before I cut the cord.

I wouldn't count the internet access cost as part of it. You'd probably have that regardless of your TV provider. So really you're dropping from $180 down to $55, since you'd likely have Netflix, Hulu and Amazon even if you paid for DirecTV.

 

[SkiHound2]

Take a look at Curiosity Stream, https://curiositystream.com/, you can do a free trial and has a lot of educational stuff as well. I got lucky and picked it up for $15 for a whole year, normally it is $20 (1080p version) which is still good. They also have a 4K package for $70. I have a 4K TV, but chose the 1080p version.

I've heard of it. Haven't ever looked at it much. But I will give it a close look. Thanks for the recommendation. I don't care too much about 4K. We don't have huge TVs that really take advantage. On a 43" TV 4K programming only offers a small advantage compared to a good 1080p source. At least, my eyes don't see a huge difference.

 

[satcomer]

Plus if you are a beginner in the cord cutting adventure is the cord cutter Cord Cutter Beginners Guide for 2019.

 

[Apple_Robert]

How does Curiosity Stream or Nebula compare to what can be found on YouTube, as to subject matter, quality of video stream and presentation? I have seen Rene mention the two a lot and wanted to get some user feedback before submitting any user sign up information.

 

[JBaby]

How does Curiosity Stream or Nebula compare to what can be found on YouTube, as to subject matter, quality of video stream and presentation? I have seen Rene mention the two a lot and wanted to get some user feedback before submitting any user sign up information.

CuriosityStream is the same. What’s different is Nebula. On Nebula, which you can only get if you use one of the Nebula video creator’s links, allows for long form version of YouTube creators videos. Not all videos on Nebula are longer though. I can’t speak on all creator videos but I know some of the videos I’ve watched could never be on YouTube because of the algorithm would never pick them up so no one would ever see them. Rene has some videos on Nebula that are 30min+ long. He can’t do that on YouTube. The algorithm really dictates the kinds of videos creators upload if they want those videos to make money.

 

[Apple_Robert]

CuriosityStream is the same. What’s different is Nebula. On Nebula, which you can only get if you use one of the Nebula video creator’s links, allows for long form version of YouTube creators videos. Not all videos on Nebula are longer though. I can’t speak on all creator videos but I know some of the videos I’ve watched could never be on YouTube because of the algorithm would never pick them up so no one would ever see them. Rene has some videos on Nebula that are 30min+ long. He can’t do that on YouTube. The algorithm really dictates the kinds of videos creators upload if they want those videos to make money.

Thank you very much for the reply. From what you have watched on Nebula, have you found the intellectual offering to be at a much higher caliber? Also, how would I go about finding a creator link?

 

[JBaby]

Thank you very much for the reply. From what you have watched on Nebula, have you found the intellectual offering to be at a much higher caliber? Also, how would I go about finding a creator link?

Here’s the thing. Nebula isn’t tech specific. It’s like YouTube in that matter, but the catalog is far, far smaller. There is a lot of tech now. But that’s because nerds are usually the first people to embrace new things. Nebula is no exception. But if Nebula becomes successful I don’t expect it will remain that way. Don’t get me wrong I don’t expect beauty gurus to be on Nebula, but I also don’t expect it to be just STEM nerds. Even right now one of Nebula’s biggest creators is Kat Blaque, a black trans woman who focuses on race, gender, and social justice. Also, one of Nebula’s originals shows isn’t about learning at all.

I used Rene’s link or code. I can’t remember which. Basically you need to find one of his videos where he’s talking about Nebula. Everything you need is there. I got Nebula simply because I wanted CuriosityStream and if I was already going to get it I might as well get Nebula too since I wouldn’t be paying extra for it. If you use a creator link Nebula is just included. You aren’t paying more for both. You’re only paying for CuriosityStream but you get Nebula too.

You also need to know that the Nebula app is in beta so don’t expect to find it in the App Store. It’s a public beta though and you’ll need to get it if you want to watch on your tv. Right now the only non-beta way to watch is on a computer. I haven’t had any issues with the beta app though.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Here’s the thing. Nebula isn’t tech specific. It’s like YouTube in that matter, but the catalog is far, far smaller. There is a lot of tech now. But that’s because nerds are usually the first people to embrace new things. Nebula is no exception. But if Nebula becomes successful I don’t expect it will remain that way. Don’t get me wrong I don’t expect beauty gurus to be on Nebula, but I also don’t expect it to be just STEM nerds. Even right now one of Nebula’s biggest creators is Kat Blaque, a black trans woman who focuses on race, gender, and social justice. Also, one of Nebula’s originals shows isn’t about learning at all.

I used Rene’s link or code. I can’t remember which. Basically you need to find one of his videos where he’s talking about Nebula. Everything you need is there. I got Nebula simply because I wanted CuriosityStream and if I was already going to get it I might as well get Nebula too since I wouldn’t be paying extra for it. If you use a creator link Nebula is just included. You aren’t paying more for both. You’re only paying for CuriosityStream but you get Nebula too.

You also need to know that the Nebula app is in beta so don’t expect to find it in the App Store. It’s a public beta though and you’ll need to get it if you want to watch on your tv. Right now the only non-beta way to watch is on a computer. I haven’t had any issues with the beta app though.

Your posts have been very beneficial. I appreciate you taking the time to help me.

 

[A. P.]

I am about to cut the cord (pricing reasons). So, I am trying Hulu TV, AT&T TV Now, and Youtube TV. So far Youtube TV seems the best regarding channels and DVR space, and it does not use more than 8 Mbps per stream (for a max of 3), I read. Hulu TV sems too cumbersome and I do not like its guide. I like the AT&T TV Now interface but is missing some channels in my area. Any insight?

 

[Beelzbub]

I am about to cut the cord (pricing reasons). So, I am trying Hulu TV, AT&T TV Now, and Youtube TV. So far Youtube TV seems the best regarding channels and DVR space, and it does not use more than 8 Mbps per stream (for a max of 3), I read. Hulu TV sems too cumbersome and I do not like its guide. I like the AT&T TV Now interface but is missing some channels in my area. Any insight?

Testing is the best way as they all give you a free trial. We're currently doing YouTube TV, for the same reasons you mentioned. For us it works out to be the best. I also use Frndly TV as well from time to time for The Weather Channel, for some reason I like watching this channel during hurricane season.

Like you I have tested out the other streaming options, and for us YouTube TV was it. Even with the price increase, and added streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus and Frndly TV, it is still much cheaper than what I was paying when I had satellite TV.

The nice thing with these streaming services is there is no contract, so if you find a better one, just cancel the old one and download an app for the new one.

 

[A. P.]

Yeah, exactly my same mindset. I am also trying Philo for the channels that YT TV (and the others) do not have. And even with Philo added I would save $100/month compared to my cable company. I had Prime, Disney+ and Netflix for a while because my son and wife like them. But it will be nice to save with YT TV.

 

[calliex]

I live in Pgh, Pa. we have Comcast and Verizon to get our internet from. If I drop their TV package for streaming do I have then worry about the internet going up or data overage costs on my internet. I wish the internet was like electricity a public utility.

 

[A. P.]

Why 2 companies for home Internet?

Anyhow, if your Internet is unlimited, price should not go up with streaming TV.

I live in Pgh, Pa. we have Comcast and Verizon to get our internet from. If I drop their TV package for streaming do I have then worry about the internet going up or data overage costs on my internet. I wish the internet was like electricity a public utility.

 

[Beelzbub]

I live in Pgh, Pa. we have Comcast and Verizon to get our internet from. If I drop their TV package for streaming do I have then worry about the internet going up or data overage costs on my internet. I wish the internet was like electricity a public utility.

You would have to ask them. I do know that with Comcast you can buy your own modem, you would still need to supply your own router if you do not have one, but by doing that you lower your monthly bill because you are no longer paying for a modem rental fee, around here that fee is around $13 to $14 a month, about $160 a year in savings.

The modem my friend bought who has Comcast paid around $80 for one on Amazon. He then bought his own router for about $120. So basically a onetime fee of around $200 for him, but going forward he will make that back with savings.

Also by canceling your TV with Comcast, you will no longer have equipment fees and misc fees like one for DVR and HD. I think back when I had cable, I think half my bill was a bunch of BS fees. I pulled out an old bill I had from DirecTV and looked at all the fees, I had a DVR fee, a whole home DVR fee, an equipment fee, and insurance fee, a regional sports fee, all that crap combined was around $80. I don't miss that.

 

[calliex]

Why 2 companies for home Internet?

Anyhow, if your Internet is unlimited, price should not go up with streaming TV.

Comcast and Verizon are the only companies we can get our internet connection from. I have comcast.

 

[Beelzbub]

That is like where I live. One part of town Comcast, AT&T and Fiber from a local player is available. And on the other side of town AT&T, and Spectrum is available. I am lucky and happen to live in an area where fiber is at and man I love it.

 

[A. P.]

Lucky you! No fiber in my area. Can only get 100 Mbs Down / 20 Mbs Up from AT&T.

That is like where I live. One part of town Comcast, AT&T and Fiber from a local player is available. And on the other side of town AT&T, and Spectrum is available. I am lucky and happen to live in an area where fiber is at and man I love it.
View attachment 948038

 

[Rigby]

I am about to cut the cord (pricing reasons). So, I am trying Hulu TV, AT&T TV Now, and Youtube TV. So far Youtube TV seems the best regarding channels and DVR space, and it does not use more than 8 Mbps per stream (for a max of 3), I read. Hulu TV sems too cumbersome and I do not like its guide. I like the AT&T TV Now interface but is missing some channels in my area. Any insight?

Have you considered giving up linear TV altogether? I've only been using various OTT streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now/Max etc. on and off for years and haven't missed anything. Today I couldn't imagine to go back to sitting through commercials every few minutes, having to tune in at a specific time to watch something, or programming DVRs.