Help with Cord Cutting

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

So, TAMU, what did you decide?

Still on my free trail of sling. But I think I'm going to keep it. It has everything I need fur the lowest price. YouTube TV isn't available in my area yet

[mueron]

I did a lot of research on this before cutting the cord. Comparing prices, channel availability, DVR capacity, User interface, device compatability etc. I ended up going with Hulu Live. Worst part about it is the UI but for $45 you get DVR, a lot of channels including ESPN and FS1 plus you get the added benefit of the full hulu library on demand which includes their original content

[MU82]

Still on my free trail of sling. But I think I'm going to keep it. It has everything I need fur the lowest price. YouTube TV isn't available in my area yet

The more I'm hearing about YouTube TV, the less interested I am in it. My wife does not want to have to use her phone as a remote, they have little customer service, and they apparently have quite a few glitches.

Not sure what I'm gonna do, but I'm gonna do it by Friday!

[drewm88]

The more I'm hearing about YouTube TV, the less interested I am in it. My wife does not want to have to use her phone as a remote, they have little customer service, and they apparently have quite a few glitches.

Not sure what I'm gonna do, but I'm gonna do it by Friday!

I'd love to hear more. On its face (channel list and $), it seems like a great option. Anyone have experience?

[PaintTouches]

One thing with Sling that drove me back to cable last year was the delay between the digital and cable feeds. Obvi it will depend on internet speeds, but even even using 100mb/s, there was a 7-15 second delay. Nothing huge, but if you like to Tweet and watch, makes for lots of spoilers, particularly in end game situations. When I read the OMG Miggy Tweets after his granny and the at bat was only 1 pitch in on my screen, I caved.

I know cable companies got wise to this, but try calling and asking if they can drop the price to a point you'd be comfortable (35-40). I did that and got a 12 month promo rate for 20 bucks more than I was paying for internet alone. I live in rural Ohio, though,  so that may be a factor.

[mu_hilltopper]

PSVue has a 10-20 second delay as well. 

[MU82]

I'm officially a free agent. DirecTV wouldn't make me a good enough offer to keep me, so I canceled. I currently have no service but I'm not home this week so I don't care. Once I return in a few days, I have to come up with a plan.

I'm thinking about trying the YouTube TV 1-month trial. If I don't like it after a few days, I'll have to start thinking about Plan B. Unless others have a better suggestion based on their experience ...

[brewcity77]

I'm officially a free agent. DirecTV wouldn't make me a good enough offer to keep me, so I canceled. I currently have no service but I'm not home this week so I don't care. Once I return in a few days, I have to come up with a plan.

I'm thinking about trying the YouTube TV 1-month trial. If I don't like it after a few days, I'll have to start thinking about Plan B. Unless others have a better suggestion based on their experience ...

DirecTV came through with a great offer, but not until after I had cancelled their service. By that point, I already had Time-Warner installed. I looked at cord cutting, but my TWC/Spectrum internet/tv/phone combo (phone line isn't even hooked up) was a couple hundred bucks a year cheaper than cutting the cord would have been. The real downside I found to cord cutting was that everyone jacks their internet prices if you go internet only. By the time I would have PS Vue and premiums (at least HBO & Showtime) I was looking at a more expensive total package than if I just went with Spectrum all the way.

I hope in time it comes down to a more viable price point, but for me, it just isn't there yet.

[MU82]

DirecTV came through with a great offer, but not until after I had cancelled their service. By that point, I already had Time-Warner installed. I looked at cord cutting, but my TWC/Spectrum internet/tv/phone combo (phone line isn't even hooked up) was a couple hundred bucks a year cheaper than cutting the cord would have been. The real downside I found to cord cutting was that everyone jacks their internet prices if you go internet only. By the time I would have PS Vue and premiums (at least HBO & Showtime) I was looking at a more expensive total package than if I just went with Spectrum all the way.

I hope in time it comes down to a more viable price point, but for me, it just isn't there yet.

Since we moved to Charlotte, we have used Windstream for Internet. It's a relatively small carrier and, in fact, one that has been in financial trouble. It is a "legacy" company that derived all of its income from landlines until only a few years ago. It has tried to branch out into broadband (somewhat successfully), cable (unsuccessfully) and cellphones (unsuccessfully). I have been mostly satisfied with them as an Internet provider and they actually are relatively inexpensive.

I actually priced out how much canceling them and DirecTV, and comparing how much it would be to use Spectrum cable (the former Time Warner here) for everything. I was surprised to see it would not be materially different, which is why I haven't rushed to Spectrum.

I remain open-minded, and hey brew ... maybe DirecTV will come back at me with a spectacular offer now that they miss me so much!!

[Jockey]

Since we moved to Charlotte, we have used Windstream for Internet. It's a relatively small carrier and, in fact, one that has been in financial trouble. It is a "legacy" company that derived all of its income from landlines until only a few years ago. It has tried to branch out into broadband (somewhat successfully), cable (unsuccessfully) and cellphones (unsuccessfully). I have been mostly satisfied with them as an Internet provider and they actually are relatively inexpensive.

I actually priced out how much canceling them and DirecTV, and comparing how much it would be to use Spectrum cable (the former Time Warner here) for everything. I was surprised to see it would not be materially different, which is why I haven't rushed to Spectrum.

I remain open-minded, and hey brew ... maybe DirecTV will come back at me with a spectacular offer now that they miss me so much!!

Keep us informed on how things go. I got DirectTV a couple months ago and am very pleased with the cost. Went from $225.00 for Cable, internet, phone, and HBO to $126.00 for cable, internet and HBO with directv.

Actually when I called Spectrum about getting rid of the phone to lower costs and keep Spectrum, they told me it would go UP $10 a month if I dropped the phone.
Now they are calling all the time about the deals they have - the same thing I called them asking about. I told them I was tired of paying $35 a month for two boxes and the modem and was told too bad. Now they call me offering them for free with the package. One thing I know is that I will never go back to cable.

I was willing to go up 2 package levels for an extra $20 to get all the sports channels on directv or the monthly cost would be even cheaper.

But in 21 months when the deal is up, I will be probably be looking to move again so its nice to keep up with what others here are using.

[brewcity77]

I remain open-minded, and hey brew ... maybe DirecTV will come back at me with a spectacular offer now that they miss me so much!!

It annoyed me because I called them in the past and they could never knock off more than $20-30 on a $200+ bill. Suddenly they could cut my bill by over $100/month now that I've already changed? Pound sand, you had your chance.

[MU82]

It annoyed me because I called them in the past and they could never knock off more than $20-30 on a $200+ bill. Suddenly they could cut my bill by over $100/month now that I've already changed? Pound sand, you had your chance.

I absolutely understand. But I am a bottom-line guy. Be cheaper, with decent quality, and I'll use you. I learned long ago not to "cut off my nose to spite my face," as my mom used to say.

[brewcity77]

I absolutely understand. But I am a bottom-line guy. Be cheaper, with decent quality, and I'll use you. I learned long ago not to "cut off my nose to spite my face," as my mom used to say.

Spectrum has a policy in place not to raise rates. If I went back to DirecTV (after already sitting through one installation process) I would've had to block time again and my rates would've been jacked back up after my promotional period ended.

If Spectrum's policy changes, I'll probably shop around again, but from a customer service perspective, not having to have the same push and pull over rates every other month is worth a few extra bucks (and the cost difference was pretty negligible).

[mu_hilltopper]

"Spectrum has a policy in place not to raise rates."    WOW!!!!!

I think there's a hidden asterisk there.  "... until they want to raise rates."

[brewcity77]

"Spectrum has a policy in place not to raise rates."    WOW!!!!!

I think there's a hidden asterisk there.  "... until they want to raise rates."

I know that policies can change, but it's there now. If they go the DirecTV route and more than double my rates after two years, I'll be gone. My bill went from $248 per month with DirecTV to $130 with Spectrum. And that DirecTV bill was with a discount for being an AT&T subscriber and a "promotional rate" they gave me a year ago.

If it goes up, I'll go through the process again of looking at all the options, including cutting the cord, but as of right now, it would cost me more to cut the cord than to go with Spectrum.

[mu03eng]

As long as the ISPs are in the content delivery business cutting the cord will never be cheaper than going through a cable provider (assuming you want new/live content) and that doesn't even factor in the integration cost of multiple streaming interfaces/log-ins/finding content....

It's a corollary to the golden rule(he who has the gold makes the rules): They who control the pipes control your cost.

[YoungMUFan4]

Fantastic News!...For those of us with Playstation Vue, CBS Sports Network was added as part of the Core package and better (everything except slim).

[mu_hilltopper]

Fantastic News!...For those of us with Playstation Vue, CBS Sports Network was added as part of the Core package and better (everything except slim).

Correction .. "Slim" isn't the package name .. it's "Access" .. Access is $40, Core is $45.

I suppose you could upgrade for 3 months, Dec-Feb.

.. Also .. I can't recall if it's been discussed in this thread, but YouTube TV has added the Milwaukee market now.  $35/month.

Interesting it comes with 6 accounts .. like they're begging people to share their credentials, split the costs.  They have FS1/2, CBSSN.  Not sure about the Fox regionals, though.

No HGTV, so wives everywhere will veto, though.

https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/?gaiachoice=true

edit: Not Mormon, don't have multiple wives as far as you know, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Correction .. "Slim" isn't the package name .. it's "Access" .. Access is $40, Core is $45.

I suppose you could upgrade for 3 months, Dec-Feb.

.. Also .. I can't recall if it's been discussed in this thread, but YouTube TV has added the Milwaukee market now.  $35/month.

Interesting it comes with 6 accounts .. like they're begging people to share their credentials, split the costs.  They have FS1/2, CBSSN.  Not sure about the Fox regionals, though.

No HGTV, so my wives everywhere will veto, though.

https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/?gaiachoice=true

It shows that Fox RSNs are included

[brewcity77]

Correction .. "Slim" isn't the package name .. it's "Access" .. Access is $40, Core is $45.

I suppose you could upgrade for 3 months, Dec-Feb.

.. Also .. I can't recall if it's been discussed in this thread, but YouTube TV has added the Milwaukee market now.  $35/month.

Interesting it comes with 6 accounts .. like they're begging people to share their credentials, split the costs.  They have FS1/2, CBSSN.  Not sure about the Fox regionals, though.

No HGTV, so my wives everywhere will veto, though.

https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/?gaiachoice=true

How many do you have? I didn't know you were Mormon 

[mu_hilltopper]

Oops. Edited.

[Hards Alumni]

What does Sling TV Broadcast at?  1080?  720?

[The Lens]

What do all you cord cutters do for Internet?

[Hards Alumni]

What do all you cord cutters do for Internet?

I currently have Charter (Spectrum) for internet, but plan on switching to TDS asap since they just installed lines last month (Madison area).  Basically, you're stuck with the local ISPs in your area... and typically, there is very little competition... so you're sort of stuck with what you get.

[Chili]

What do all you cord cutters do for Internet?

AT&T Fiber