Cutting the cable, lets talk options and media setups (4 Viewers)

[DavidM]

As of Oct 2024, DirectTv wanted $150~( best offer they could give a 23 yr vet lol ) - so even at $83 plus the $4.99 4k - still much better. Once i get to above $110-20 range, then ill start looking again, but for now i can stomach the $90/mo.

Dropping the 4K upgrade was a value decision more so than a cost one. Combining all of our subscriptions, we’re spending as much, if not more, for TV entertainment. I think when I discontinued the 4K I used that to justify subscribing to YouTube premium because I got tired of the ads.

I could probably drop YouTubeTV without feeling much sacrifice. Most of what we watch is on native apps with standalone subscriptions.

 

[St. Widge]

Dropping the 4K upgrade was a value decision more so than a cost one. Combining all of our subscriptions, we’re spending as much, if not more, for TV entertainment. I think when I discontinued the 4K I used that to justify subscribing to YouTube premium because I got tired of the ads.

I could probably drop YouTubeTV without feeling much sacrifice. Most of what we watch is on native apps with standalone subscriptions.

Which is why a ESPN standalone streaming service would be a game changer. If I could stream ESPN content I wouldn't even bother with a live streaming service. As it is, I only have a live streaming service during football season.

ESPN keeps talking about doing it but they have never pulled the trigger. I assume it's because they still think they make more money this way. Hopefully that changes soon.

 

[DavidM]

Yep. I actually just switched to Hulu with Live TV because my YouTube TV was set to renew on December 15. I already have the Hulu/Disney/ESPN bundle so when compared to the new price for YouTube TV I'm saving $10. Which isn't much but I only use the live TV stuff for sports as it is and I'm just tired of YouTube doing $10 price increases for the same channels and services.

I might have to look into this again. When I was comparing streaming TV services, there was more I liked about YTTV, but Hulu was next. We already have a Hulu, Disney, ESPN subscription so it would be an easy change to make.

Most of what we watch is on AppleTV, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock. Peacock I usually subscribe to for a month when a movie is on we want to see, then we’ll binge a show or two. We’ve got Prime and Netflix in addition to the other services mentioned. I already downgraded from 4K Netflix and haven’t missed that at all. 4K is nice but 1080p is fine. I think my wife watches some stuff on there because last time I mentioned dropping Netflix, she didn’t love the idea.

Yeah, we’re not saving money on TV. These days I justify it all because we almost never go out to a movie (can’t remember the last time). I guess that stops being a good excuse…

 

[porculator]

The other day one of the neighbor kids saw us watching cable (which we have to watch local baseball-still the only way)
She said "oh my grandmother used to have that"

Not only is her grandmother the only person she knows that had cable, her grandmother also got rid of her cable.

 

[bigdaddysaints]

The other day one of the neighbor kids saw us watching cable (which we have to watch local baseball-still the only way)
She said "oh my grandmother used to have that"

Not only is her grandmother the only person she knows that had cable, her grandmother also got rid of her cable.

my parents are in their 80s and got rid of cable.. lol. although i get call weekly 'how do i do (insert) again?"...

 

[Sailorsaint]

A parallel question. Does anyone have ATT Air for their internet? I currently have ATT Fixed Wireless and it's pretty good, but they are phasing it out and I want to make sure I don't end up paying the "you have no other choice" tax. The guy at the ATT store made Air sound awesome, but I would like to hear from someone that actually uses it. What is the Wifi coverage like? Is it dependable? etc.

 

[Det. Brees]

its basically what Verizon did. we have verizon and love it. we live way out in the county and had limited options. very happy with verizon.

 

[Zztop]

A parallel question. Does anyone have ATT Air for their internet? I currently have ATT Fixed Wireless and it's pretty good, but they are phasing it out and I want to make sure I don't end up paying the "you have no other choice" tax. The guy at the ATT store made Air sound awesome, but I would like to hear from someone that actually uses it. What is the Wifi coverage like? Is it dependable? etc.

It's going to come down to however good At&t is in your area. It's just a fancy name for fixed-location wireless cellular connection/modem you put in your home. Vz, and tmo also offer something similar

Review: Cellular Routers & Data Plans For Fixed Wireless Residential and Business Service by Verizon, AT&T, and UScellular

Cellular-based home internet service providing a router and unlimited data for fixed locations only.

www.rvmobileinternet.com

 

[GrandAdmiral]

bruh....yall jinxed it.

I just got email, 10 min ago, stating my base package price will go to $82.99 eff Jan 13, 2025

LOLOLOL. I dont know if im still within some promo period because im at the $64.99 rate, but it says after Jan 2025, base rate goes from $73.99 to $82.99.

The "price increase creep" has begun.....damn.

Price increases, in the words of Thanos, are "inevitable"

Yeah. I don't know if I'm willing to keep YTTV at that rate. They're approaching cable levels of crazy prices now.

 

[Rickboy]

The only reason I have YTTV is for Sunday Ticket. When the season is over, I always cut it off. It’s not work $70+ and it certainly isn’t worth $80+. The only reason I even got Sunday Ticket this year was due to a veterans discount that brought the price down to what it originally was.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

What's plan B?

Hulu / Disney / ESPN package?

I believe that the answer is something called IPtv .

I dont know exactly how it works, but what i do know is that i have a hookup with a guy in my area, he apparently hooks up a number of people and right now the whole thing is word of mouth- but the important thing is that i get 10,000 channels for $80 PER YEAR… not a typo.. is it operating in a gray area legally speaking ? Probably.. to me it kinda reminds me of some of the people back in the 1980s who would steal their neighbor’s cable signal, except im actually paying somehting for mine.. i get all the espns and fox sports and news and even though im out of the country, i can watch all the NOLA channels 4,6,8,26 etc i want, or channels in Little Rock or Seattle if i want.. the app I downloaded is a little glitchy at times, but hey for $80 per year i cant complain a whole lot.. my advice would be to google, ask around and find someone in ur area who has the hookup for IPtv .

 

[efil4stnias]

I believe that the answer is something called IPtv .

I dont know exactly how it works, but what i do know is that i have a hookup with a guy in my area, he apparently hooks up a number of people and right now the whole thing is word of mouth- but the important thing is that i get 10,000 channels for $80 PER YEAR… not a typo.. is it operating in a gray area legally speaking ? Probably.. to me it kinda reminds me of some of the people back in the 1980s who would steal their neighbor’s cable signal, except im actually paying somehting for mine.. i get all the espns and fox sports and news and even though im out of the country, i can watch all the NOLA channels 4,6,8,26 etc i want, or channels in Little Rock or Seattle if i want.. the app I downloaded is a little glitchy at times, but hey for $80 per year i cant complain a whole lot.. my advice would be to google, ask around and find someone in ur area who has the hookup for IPtv .

all streaming services are "IPTV"

so you must be on one like "BunnyStream" or "NomadTv" ( the actual provider ) that doesnt charge but $10/month vs Hulu/YTTV or other streaming platforms.

thats the key- and if they pay licensing fees to stream the content

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

all streaming services are "IPTV"

so you must be on one like "BunnyStream" or "NomadTv" ( the actual provider ) that doesnt charge but $10/month vs Hulu/YTTV or other streaming platforms.

thats the key- and if they pay licensing fees to stream the content

Well you are ahead of the game in terms of what u know, since all i knew is that IPtv stands for Internet Protocol television lol



Yeah there are many different types of IPtv services but i would recommend it if you can get it .

 

[bigdaddysaints]

Well you are ahead of the game in terms of what u know, since all i knew is that IPtv stands for Internet Protocol television lol



Yeah there are many different types of IPtv services but i would recommend it if you can get it .

the hard part about those IPTV services, is you have to know what you are doing. it can get complicated for a lot of people.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

the hard part about those IPTV services, is you have to know what you are doing. it can get complicated for a lot of people.

I can see that being the case.. i have almost no idea what i am doing.. i think that they key is having someone you purchase it from who can get it all set up for you, as was the case with me… he literally just sent me a screenshot of which app to download, then after i downloaded it he manipulated whatever he needed to do behind the scenes so that it worked for me .