Just cut the cable finally - and abruptly - what are my TV options now?

[Nacho98]

After receiving the third price increase letter today in the mail in just 1.5 years, in which the TV service (Charter Spectrum, junk company) alone was going up close to 50% next month, I called them and told them to stuff it. I called them last time they increased it and they were willing to do nothing whatsoever to retain me, nor were they this time, so I finally just said see ya later, you can make some money or no money so I guess it's going to be no money. If only I could dump their internet too, but we aren't there quite yet.

Rant over.

I have two days of TV service left and then that's it.

I currently have Netflix. I have not paid attention to other TV alternatives, other than I know there is normal Hulu and now Hulu live.

I know Apple is hammering stuff out. I know Amazon offers stuff.

1) What are the current best options? I would *like* live CNN and sports, but it's not critical if I can at least get them with an hour or two delay or something. That's really about it, I have TV on often as just background, but do like to watch CNN at night and the occasional sports games. I know Hulu Live will meet these needs, but does Hulu basic provide delayed news/sports? How delayed?

2) Hulu live says it's $44.99 and says no hidden fees, but I'm assuming there's at least tax on top of that $44.99? Are we realistically at like $50 for Hulu live?

3) What is the Hulu live ad-free add on cost?

 

[a2jack]

For your local stuff, get an attic, or outdoor antenna. We are far from any major city, yet we get get 41 free HD channels.

As for the rest of your options, go up on line and search Kodi, Plex and Wireless Shack. But Warning !!!

Warning !!! Searching on line may subject you to copyright materiel, you must avoid this for the sake of corporate health. Good luck. A2

 

[konqerror]

Hulu live says it's $44.99 and says no hidden fees, but I'm assuming there's at least tax on top of that $44.99?

It completely depends on your state and potentially city.

Chicago’s Streaming Tax Is A Bad Tax But It’s Not A “Netflix Tax”

Bloomberg recently reported that Sony sent Chicago a $1.2 million check , ending its legal challenge to the city’s so-called “Netflix tax.” That everyone called...

www.taxpolicycenter.org

 

[lparsons21]

The good about streaming for those wanting to find the right service is that all of them have some period of free trial. Most are one week trials but currently YouTube TV is offering a 3 week free trial.
Another good thing about streaming is you can cancel any time you want to though none refund money. IOW, if you pay for a month and cancel 2 weeks in, you get the month and then it doesn’t renew.
I just went through a month of streaming and here’s few things I did:
1. I made a list of my ‘must have’ channels and only tried those services that had all of them. In my case it was 9 channels.
2. In making that list I didn’t put in channels that I could get another way. For instance with Hulu’s standard subscription.
3. I also looked at the free ad-supported services and found a lot there to like.
4. If you watch any local TV see if you can get those channels with an antenna. In my case I could get ABC and Fox with a cheap indoor antenna.

All the questions you asked are on the respective websites of the streaming providers, you would be well served to visit and read a bit.

Edit: Just looked. SlingTV is offering 40% off their subscription service. Both Sling Blue and Sling Orange have CNN in their lineup. First month would be $15 for either one and then go to $25 after that. Might be the cheapest that would fit your wants.

 

[TheRedOx]

2) Hulu live says it's $44.99 and says no hidden fees, but I'm assuming there's at least tax on top of that $44.99? Are we realistically at like $50 for Hulu live?

I don't know - my bill is $59.98 every month, I added HBO. I think taxes are built into that price you mention. I'm pretty happy with Hulu Live and I tried almost all of the others - DirecTV Now has the best channel lineup and guide but the price kept going up and I would hit or get real close to my ISP's data cap (1TB) every month with them so that may be something to think about as well. I also have Netflix and Amazon Prime and will definitely be subscribing to Disney+ and Apple TV+ next month.

 

[jdechko]

Oddly enough, I recommend you see if spectrum has the tv choice plan in your area. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to making your own bundle

It’s about $25/month for local channels and then you get to pick 10 additional channels.

Spectrum TV Stream | The Streaming Advisor

It is an offer from Spectrum to its customers that just might keep them around or bring some back. Here is how it works. Spectrum TV stream starts by offering the customer the major broadcast networks…

thestreamingadvisor.com

CNN, ESPN, FSN and NBC Sports are all options

I get sports, wife gets Hallmark, HGTV and Primetime TV and kids get cartoons.

 

[LizKat]

I just have Netflix and Amazon Prime and PBS Passport and the temptations of iTunes rental/sale offerings, and can't even keep up with any of that really, so they're way more than enough although I'll probably be tempted by by Apple TV. For news I have always relied on newspapers so now have a bunch of online subs and a local paper I take in hardcopy also. I like glancing in on things like The Daily Show now and then though. Laughter is still the best medicine...

 

[Nacho98]

Thanks guys, I've had a couple hours now to poke around and look.

Hulu Live looks really good and has all the channels I want. So does Sling Blue, and at a cheaper price. However I don't like having to do the antenna for local channels on Sling - Hulu just seems cleaner/easier/gold standard in this streaming TV area, even though it is a bit more than I'd like to pay.

I can't/won't go back to Charter on principle and how they just don't seem to care if I stay or go - not to mention their price increase letter didn't even attempt to make an excuse for why it was going up again, so I'm going and not coming back. Thank god I won't have to see their stupid TV commercials for their own services anymore. One thing I will look forward to is being able to watch TV in bed. We only have one TV, and it's not in the bedroom, so that will be nice with a streaming service and my iPad.

All that said, for Hulu (and Sling) I do need to upgrade my failing ATV3 to ATV4 or newer (may as well get the 4K one since ATV4 is already 4 years old). Also with rumors of a new ATV possibly launching this month, I can certainly wait a couple weeks to get back on the TV wagon.

 

[rhett7660]

I just have Netflix and Amazon Prime and PBS Passport and the temptations of iTunes rental/sale offerings, and can't even keep up with any of that really, so they're way more than enough although I'll probably be tempted by by Apple TV. For news I have always relied on newspapers so now have a bunch of online subs and a local paper I take in hardcopy also. I like glancing in on things like The Daily Show now and then though. Laughter is still the best medicine...

You tree killer!!! I kid of course... I don't know many people who still read the newspaper.

 

[D.T.]

I don't know many people who still read the newspaper.

Your words are strange and frightening, I know nothing of this newspaper.
[automerge]1570740813[/automerge]

I can't/won't go back to Charter on principle and how they just don't seem to care if I stay or go - not to mention their price increase letter didn't even attempt to make an excuse for why it was going up again, so I'm going and not coming back.

The thing I really like (CC-er for over 4 years ...), is the no commitment, own our equipment angle. All our TVs have an ATV connected, so the user experience is the exact same, same remote, same UI etc., and if I want to buy a month of HBO, binge Silicon Valley, and then cancel, I can do it all ONLINE, no CS rep, a couple of clicks and done.

 

[LizKat]

You tree killer!!! I kid of course... I don't know many people who still read the newspaper.

the hard copy of a local newspaper is as great as ever for wrapping fish guts the day after the fish ended up as dinner. Or it's great for wrapping used cat litter, or other charming items meant for the trash hauler and meanwhile needing some wrapping to keep it from stinking to the heavens. I'll never give that wrapping option up while newsprint comes free with the information I'm actually paying for.

At my age I also just figure I can absorb a lot more info in less time reading online newspapers than I can watching televised or video news casts. I'm at that age where one becomes aware that time passes more quickly than ever and there's not so much likely to be left to pass, either.

Also my preference is probably due to being in that last generation that learned to read before ever laying eyes on "moving pictures" on a screen. It was almost the mid 1950s before I ever saw a television program. I remember seeing film of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, for instance. That did stick in my mind but it didn't cause me to lay down papers or books for a spot in front of the tube back then. The preference has lasted until now... with some exceptions back in the 80s when I was working days and going to school nights, sometimes drank too much coffee and so ended up zoning out in front of a TV waiting for my brain to decaffeinate. TV as sleeping pill, it worked.

 

[D.T.]

the hard copy of a local newspaper is as great as ever for wrapping fish guts the day after the fish ended up as dinner.

That's fantastic, I remember my Dad doing that, but hadn't thought about it for decades Later in his fishing career, when it was mostly surf fishing, he'd just clean and ice them right on the shore, and toss the leftovers to a couple of his pelican regulars We used to come home, and there's be a note on the garage freezer, and a couple of bags of FLN or GRP (marked with a sharpie, that's Flounder and Grouper )

Let me tell you, it might not get any better than fresh, same day Flounder.

 

[mmomega]

I used to be Hulu Live user since they opened it up to beta but eventually settled in to YouTubeTV as my main source of channels.
I was a DirecTV user since it came out, bill for that was over $200/month and I was getting a bit frustrated with their - what I consider- restrictive service structure so I picked up DirecTV Live when it was introduced and did not like it whatsoever.

 

[Plutonius]

After receiving the third price increase letter today in the mail in just 1.5 years, in which the TV service (Charter Spectrum, junk company) alone was going up close to 50% next month, I called them and told them to stuff it. I called them last time they increased it and they were willing to do nothing whatsoever to retain me, nor were they this time, so I finally just said see ya later, you can make some money or no money so I guess it's going to be no money. If only I could dump their internet too, but we aren't there quite yet.

Rant over.

I have two days of TV service left and then that's it.

I currently have Netflix. I have not paid attention to other TV alternatives, other than I know there is normal Hulu and now Hulu live.

I know Apple is hammering stuff out. I know Amazon offers stuff.

1) What are the current best options? I would *like* live CNN and sports, but it's not critical if I can at least get them with an hour or two delay or something. That's really about it, I have TV on often as just background, but do like to watch CNN at night and the occasional sports games. I know Hulu Live will meet these needs, but does Hulu basic provide delayed news/sports? How delayed?

2) Hulu live says it's $44.99 and says no hidden fees, but I'm assuming there's at least tax on top of that $44.99? Are we realistically at like $50 for Hulu live?

3) What is the Hulu live ad-free add on cost?

Once you have a streaming device (Roku, Apple TV, etc.) hooked to your TV, you can try out all the streaming services to see which one you like.

There are lots of sites that compare the channels the different streaming services provide.
[automerge]1570743615[/automerge]

All that said, for Hulu (and Sling) I do need to upgrade my failing ATV3 to ATV4 or newer (may as well get the 4K one since ATV4 is already 4 years old). Also with rumors of a new ATV possibly launching this month, I can certainly wait a couple weeks to get back on the TV wagon.

I prefer a Roku over an ATV.

 

[44267547]

After receiving the third price increase letter today in the mail in just 1.5 years, in which the TV service (Charter Spectrum, junk company) alone was going up close to 50% next month, I called them and told them to stuff it. I called them last time they increased it and they were willing to do nothing whatsoever to retain me, nor were they this time, so I finally just said see ya later, you can make some money or no money so I guess it's going to be no money. If only I could dump their internet too, but we aren't there quite yet.

Rant over.

I have two days of TV service left and then that's it.

I currently have Netflix. I have not paid attention to other TV alternatives, other than I know there is normal Hulu and now Hulu live.

I know Apple is hammering stuff out. I know Amazon offers stuff.

1) What are the current best options? I would *like* live CNN and sports, but it's not critical if I can at least get them with an hour or two delay or something. That's really about it, I have TV on often as just background, but do like to watch CNN at night and the occasional sports games. I know Hulu Live will meet these needs, but does Hulu basic provide delayed news/sports? How delayed?

2) Hulu live says it's $44.99 and says no hidden fees, but I'm assuming there's at least tax on top of that $44.99? Are we realistically at like $50 for Hulu live?

3) What is the Hulu live ad-free add on cost?

Let me just say this about charter/spectrum. Not only did I cut my cable two weeks ago and migrated to YouTube TV (Which is outstanding) it was very liberating getting rid of three cable boxes, and about 25 feet of cable wire/HDMI cables.😁 [Your first week of YouTube TV is free, and it’s $49.99 there after per month.]

That said, when I went to cancel my cable with them, they tried to offer me this ‘digital cable package’, where you basically select 10 preferred channels of your choice, and all the local channels [Which I never use] are ‘free’ for $25 a month, and you get to keep the cable boxes, etc. The catch is, once you select the ten channels that you want, you cannot change them.

So not only did I tell Spectrum to shove it 😁, I think YouTube TV is superb for what it offers with the unlimited DVR service, pause/rewind capability, and stream anywhere where you go on your phone/tablet device pays for itself. (Plus, I can add up to six other members on my account, so if you have family members or friends who want to can join, they can.)

Side note:

Spectrums customer service representatives are clowns. (<— That’s definitely worth noting.) 😁

Edit: I don’t know that this is relevant for your preferences, but here’s another thread discussing ‘cutting the cable’.

Cutting the Cable Guide

Cutting the Cable Guide, but preserving content. A work in progress. UPDATE IN PROGRESS Jan 2022 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-...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[jdechko]

That said, when I went to cancel my cable with them, they tried to offer me this ‘digital cable package’, where you basically select 10 preferred channels of your choice, and all the local channels [Which I never use] are ‘free’ for $25 a month, and you get to keep the cable boxes, etc. The catch is, once you select the ten channels that you want, you cannot change them.

That's the one downside I have with it. I put channels for the kids on there, but they would rather watch YouTube, so those channels are essentially "wasted" now.

My wife, on the other hand, loves her network primetime shows and too many other streaming services just didn't have the local channels. What it comes down to for us is that we are only paying about $75/month for internet and TV which is plenty of video entertainment.

 

[44267547]

That's the one downside I have with it. I put channels for the kids on there, but they would rather watch YouTube, so those channels are essentially "wasted" now.

My wife, on the other hand, loves her network primetime shows and too many other streaming services just didn't have the local channels. What it comes down to for us is that we are only paying about $75/month for internet and TV which is plenty of video entertainment.

I kept spectrum for their Wi-Fi service, and throughout my house in every facet , it’s been clutch every time without issue. I just canceled the cable portion, but that’s exactly what I pay, is $75 a month for the Wi-Fi.

But to your point about the cable, that’s why I didn’t want to opt for the ‘digital package’ choosing 10 channels, because someone might want to make changes with various channel programs, but you can’t do that, and I believe there might even a fee associated to change the channel. Plus, what if spectrum can’t renegotiate a contract with certain cable channels, now that potential eliminates a channel that you liked, where you have to readjust your channel subscription, which is just creating more of a problem.

In the end, hard pass on cable.😁

 

[Gutwrench]

I dropped cable for data-only a few years ago and very pleased. Streaming has its issues over cable but it’s perfect for my viewing habits. I use Hulu Live, btw.

 

[Nacho98]

So after looking at Hulu Live, Sling, and YouTube TV, I've decided I' going to go with Hulu Live.

I returned my big ol DVR box today, and that feels good - one thing I didn't realize until I was disconnecting it is I can now rearrange my furniture however I like, no longer tied to where a cable jack is. That's nice.

Now I just need to upgrade my 3rd gen ATV to a newer, compatible model (may as well get the 4K, no point buying the 4 year old non-4K HD when the 4K is just a few bucks more and should last at least until 4K content actually becomes common.

Only problem is I suspect Apple is going to have an October event and update it with their new TV service coming out. I'm not quite in the 14 day return window to buy a new ATV today and still be able to return it for the new one.

Then again, what would I really need the new one for? My 3rd gen is perfectly fine other than the fact it isn't supported for any of the streaming services. Maybe I just buy a 4K today and just not care if they update it?

 

[44267547]

Yup, that is another benefit that was mentioned, now you can freely move your furniture anywhere without having to be tied to the cable jack in the wall. I have two cable jacks in my living room (Both on separate sides of the room), and I usually rearrange my decor twice a year, now I’m free to move my TV/stand anywhere in my living room without having to be tethered to the wall, and that’s a decent benefit. The same applies to the TV in my bedroom and other TV’s in my spare bedrooms. Plus, I can easily unplug my Roku stick from my living room TV and transition it in under 30 seconds to any other TV in my house to have instant access. [My smart TV in one of my spare bedrooms has a built-in app, so that wouldn’t be necessary in that application.]

I think once you make the transition to ‘digital cable’, it really shows you how obtrusive DVR boxes/Cable really is. ( I literally eliminated 25 feet of cable wire and 15 pounds of cable boxes from my house, Decluttering can be fun. 😁)

 

[JayMysterio]

The unfortunate truth is that due to your reaction & many others like yourself, will soon find that your streaming options also mimic your cable provider.

What I mean is I tried the cable cutting route & went with PS Vue. What I discovered was some severe buffering issues where audio was out of sync with video. It eventually drove me so nuts that I cancelled within the free period. Only to see that Vue raised their prices $5 shortly after I cancelled. In other words the rate that I was enticed by, wasn't long to be.

Such is the case with streaming now, since it's become the more appealing option. There's a reason that cable parent companies are all in a rush to start streaming services. The companies are well aware they provide a toxic but desired product, and want to cash in on the alternatives customers are fleeing to.

I eventually also went with Spectrum's choice option. Not because it was great, but because for myself it was the lesser of many evils. There's a reason why Spectrum doesn't heavily promote the choice option. 🤨

 

[jdechko]

I eventually also went with Spectrum's choice option. Not because it was great, but because for myself it was the lesser of many evils. There's a reason why Spectrum doesn't heavily promote the choice option. 🤨

Good point on the lesser of several evils.

if cable companies didn’t get so greedy and have their heads so far up their own asses, I think cable could have remained a competitive option in the cord cutter era.

not that Im saying it’s dead. Plenty of people still have traditional subs in 2019.

 

[chown33]

Your words are strange and frightening, I know nothing of this newspaper.

It's like a telegram, but longer.

 

[Gutwrench]

The unfortunate truth is that due to your reaction & many others like yourself, will soon find that your streaming options also mimic your cable provider.

What I mean is I tried the cable cutting route & went with PS Vue. What I discovered was some severe buffering issues where audio was out of sync with video.

Streaming Hulu Live, Netflix, YouTube, or Apple TV content has never been a problem for me. So while everyone’s milage varies the problem might have been your carrier or home hardware.

 

[JayMysterio]

Streaming Hulu Live, Netflix, YouTube, or Apple TV content has never been a problem for me. So while everyone’s milage varies the problem might have been your carrier or home hardware.

What I was pointing out, is the possible issues.

I have Hulu ( not live ) & Netflix as well with no issues. PS Vue was intended as a cable replacement though, as it carried many of the channels I had with cable. Something it wasn't capable of handling, and like cable isn't immune to the creep of rising prices.