Cable cutters, rejoice

I will have to get back to you once I'm able to check that out. According to NHL.TV, it appears that Colorado is what will be blacked out for me, but by using Sling...Colorado and St Louis are both blacked out, so we'll see what happens. Aside from local teams, the nationally broadcast games are also blacked out (I couldn't watch the Boston vs Pittsburgh game through NHL.tv last night,) which I assume is the reason why you aren't able to watch the playoffs on the subscription. If they would only settle the blackout issue, I really think that they'd see a boom in the number of subscribers.
I'd cut the cord and subscribe to their channel in a heartbeat if they'd make my games available. I'm very close to simply saying 'screw it' as far as the television coverage goes. I hate to do that but I think I could learn to live with that decision. My Dish Network commitment is done on February 19th. I'm going to be making some sort of move after that.
 
Are you able to get any of your home games for the team in your market? Are you able to get any of their away games?

The only thing preventing me from dropping satellite and going strictly streaming is the loss of our local sports network. I wouldn't be able to get any of our NHL or MLB games without an alternative. The way I read the subscription for the streaming NHL/MLB is that you don't get any of you home games. It is vague as to whether or not you even get the away games. It does seem that you get all of the out of market games.

Colorado at Dallas game is blacked out for me. Unfortunately, it looks like your local market games will be blacked out, whether they are at home or away. Because of that, the NHL subscription would not be worth it if you're a fan of the local team.
 
Colorado at Dallas game is blacked out for me. Unfortunately, it looks like your local market games will be blacked out, whether they are at home or away. Because of that, the NHL subscription would not be worth it if you're a fan of the local team.
I have been wearing a sore spot scratching my head as to why these regional sports networks won't stream for a price. There are customers out there for that service.
 
Getting close to the February 19th end of my two year commitment to Dish Network. Been looking harder at making the switch to a streaming only household. My internet connection is more than capable of handling the bandwidth required for streaming 4k on multiple devices without any hiccup whatsoever. The only streaming service that I can find that streams my locals live is Vue. I plan on trying out their service later this month. They offer x # of days as a free trial , no commitment.

One of the major hurdles for our household would be the loss of our regional sports network. It's not streamed along with any service provider that I can find other than cable or satellite. Someone gave me a couple places to look for the NHL and MLB games online. I've been trying them with the NHL for over a month and I've been able to stream every game that I've looked for. Have to wait until the beginning of the MLB season to find out if those links work.

In order to stream the NHL or MLB games I have to have some sort of web browser capabilities for my main television. I don't currently have that but I've been looking at a mini PC that I can leave connected to the television. One I'm looking at is a MINIX NEO N42C-4, Intel Pentium Mini PC with Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) [4GB/32GB/Upgradeable/Dual-Band Wi-Fi/Gigabit Ethernet/4K @ 60Hz/Triple Display/USB-C] on Amazon. It looks like this would be capable of accomplishing what I need, web browsing capabilities. Anyone familiar with this type of unit?

I've been purchasing Roku equipment for each of the un-Smart televisions in the house so that I can utilize everything I already have. Only a couple more to purchase and then I'm all set..... I think.
 
I have been wearing a sore spot scratching my head as to why these regional sports networks won't stream for a price. There are customers out there for that service.
I don't have local NBC RSNs but I think you can stream those through NBC Sports Live Extra. I can stream both FOX Sports Florida and Sun through FSGo.
 
Lame, I don't know how a provider could neglect that service in this day and age.
Me and you both.

I even looked into paying for the NHL & MLB packages through their online streaming packages. For whatever the reason may be, when you subscribe to either of those two services, they don't allow you to stream your home market games. How much sense does that make? If I lived in Florida I could watch the Penguins and Pirates. Living in the Pittsburgh market, I can't even watch my own games. What the heck kind of sense does that make? They, AT&T Sports net must get a helluva lot more kickback from cable and satellite subscriptions than they think they can by streaming them outright.

Fortunately, as I've found out, there are ways around all of this and that's the route that I intend on taking. I can easily save over $100/month by dropping Dish Network and switching to streaming through Vue. I think it only makes sense to make the move. The only thing that I'll miss is the portability of having a traveling satellite system for RVing. Unless I've got a good cell signal, I'll be sol on some of the games I'll want to see.
 
@dpkimmel2001 The MINIX style boxes are kind of a split crowd. I am sure it's better than chromecasting from your desktop, but I'm not sure what they are really capable of, seeing as the Minix only uses a 1.1 ghz CPU.

As far as local channels, are you within range to receive them with a set of rabbit ears? That's what I have here for a failover if we lose uVerse. But i'm also near Line of Sight to the commercial broadcast towers 25 miles away.
 
@dpkimmel2001 The MINIX style boxes are kind of a split crowd. I am sure it's better than chromecasting from your desktop, but I'm not sure what they are really capable of, seeing as the Minix only uses a 1.1 ghz CPU.

As far as local channels, are you within range to receive them with a set of rabbit ears? That's what I have here for a failover if we lose uVerse. But i'm also near Line of Sight to the commercial broadcast towers 25 miles away.
Dont you still have to have internet, which means depending on cable? With u verse or sonny do you get live TV?
 
Streaming media is starting to get to the point of not worth it.

Apparently, CBS and Disney are both about to start doing different "packages" and some things will be on this streaming service and others on that.

This is the same problem cable television has. Which really, it's no surprise since the reason cable is so expensive is because of the media giants wanting too much money.

I mean, if you think about it...

Internet capable of handing HD streaming (which is about to see changes itself due to Net Neutrality being cancelled), Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, PSVue/YouTube/HuluLive/Sling/whatever, Disney, ESPN, CBS All Access, CBS Sports All Access.... this **** adds up. And none of these new subscription services (Disney's upcoming one, ESPN's upcoming one, CBS) allow you to use your cable login to watch. Plus, some of the newer streaming services have commercials too and it's only a matter of time before Netflix goes down that road.

They're getting greedy.
 
@dpkimmel2001 The MINIX style boxes are kind of a split crowd. I am sure it's better than chromecasting from your desktop, but I'm not sure what they are really capable of, seeing as the Minix only uses a 1.1 ghz CPU.

As far as local channels, are you within range to receive them with a set of rabbit ears? That's what I have here for a failover if we lose uVerse. But i'm also near Line of Sight to the commercial broadcast towers 25 miles away.
Thanks for the MINIX info. I’m going to continue to do my research.

No go on the locals. I’m on the fringe of the signal from the Pittsburgh market. Only problem is I live in a valley. Even with an amplified antenna, I can only pull in CBS.
 
Dont you still have to have internet, which means depending on cable? With u verse or sonny do you get live TV?
Don’t take the term cable cutters to literally. I’m talking about dropping Dish Network. I’m not familiar with u verse or Sony as a streaming provider or is that some form of cable?
 
Streaming media is starting to get to the point of not worth it.

Apparently, CBS and Disney are both about to start doing different "packages" and some things will be on this streaming service and others on that.

This is the same problem cable television has. Which really, it's no surprise since the reason cable is so expensive is because of the media giants wanting too much money.

I mean, if you think about it...

Internet capable of handing HD streaming (which is about to see changes itself due to Net Neutrality being cancelled), Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, PSVue/YouTube/HuluLive/Sling/whatever, Disney, ESPN, CBS All Access, CBS Sports All Access.... this sh!t adds up. And none of these new subscription services (Disney's upcoming one, ESPN's upcoming one, CBS) allow you to use your cable login to watch. Plus, some of the newer streaming services have commercials too and it's only a matter of time before Netflix goes down that road.

They're getting greedy.
It’s $39/month vs. over $150/month. That alone makes it worth it. Vue is the only streaming service I’ve found that streams my local ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC affiliates. Vue’s least expensive package has those networks as well as all the others we watch. That, and there’s no commitment. Bottom line..... worth the switch IMO.
 
I think a streaming service is definitely "worth it" if you don't feel like you need 100+ channels. If I'm going to get the Sling blue+orange along with all the add on's, then yes...I might as well go with a cable company. Or if I'm going to get the Playstation Vue Ultra package and pay $75, then yes...I might as well go with cable. However, if Sling Blue has all the channels I need, then paying $25 for that option seems like the best choice. It just depends on what you want out of your cable service when deciding whether cable or streaming services are best for you. I think that's why everyone has a different opinion on it...because they all want something different.
 
I think a streaming service is definitely "worth it" if you don't feel like you need 100+ channels. If I'm going to get the Sling blue+orange along with all the add on's, then yes...I might as well go with a cable company. Or if I'm going to get the Playstation Vue Ultra package and pay $75, then yes...I might as well go with cable. However, if Sling Blue has all the channels I need, then paying $25 for that option seems like the best choice. It just depends on what you want out of your cable service when deciding whether cable or streaming services are best for you. I think that's why everyone has a different opinion on it...because they all want something different.
I'm currently paying for over 120 channels and only watch a handful. The package that I'd like to get from Vue is their least expensive @ $39/month. It includes all of the channels that I currently watch and once again, a bunch I don't The biggest thing for me with whatever streaming package I decide to purchase is that I get all of the locals broadcast live. So far, Vue is the only service that I found where that's possible in the Pittsburgh, PA market. If you or anyone knows of another option, please let me know. I'd like to explore everything that I can.


If he has TV through dish, then DP likely has internet through another provider, DSL/copper connection.
Yes, I do have a cable connection for my internet service. Lightning fast. It's a decent price for me but I don't want to add cable television. I'd be right back in the same price range as I am currently with Dish Network. You don't need to look any further for a reason that I'd like to move to streaming than the bill that I'm posting below. $155.84/month vs. $39.99/month. What would you do?

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I think a streaming service is definitely "worth it" if you don't feel like you need 100+ channels. If I'm going to get the Sling blue+orange along with all the add on's, then yes...I might as well go with a cable company. Or if I'm going to get the Playstation Vue Ultra package and pay $75, then yes...I might as well go with cable. However, if Sling Blue has all the channels I need, then paying $25 for that option seems like the best choice. It just depends on what you want out of your cable service when deciding whether cable or streaming services are best for you. I think that's why everyone has a different opinion on it...because they all want something different.

I'm paying $50 for DIRECTV right now and I get everything I want. When my two year contract is up, I might cancel it and switch to a streaming service but that means losing MAVTV and Smithsonian Channel. Yeah, I can get Lucas Oil TV app, but once again, we're going back to spending $40 for PS Vue or YouTube TV or something (Sling sucks, absolutely horrid, no go zone for me), then $10 for Lucas Oil, then another $12 for Netflix, then another $9 for CBS (since CBS is putting their new shows on their subscription service instead of online).

Oh and it still requires better internet than I can get. I use a hotspot with "unlimited data" for everything but I'm pretty sure AT&T will bitch if I ran up over 250 gigs of data streaming content.

If it's possible, streaming is the way to go ... for now. All I'm saying is these companies' greed is eventually going to napalm the value in streaming.

And wait until Netflix and others follow the CBS All Access model and start running commercials. Cable TV used to be commercial free once upon a time.
 
All of the regular network TV I watch, I watch on the respective On Demand app, ie NBC On Demand, Fox On Demand. Except for CBS, they are all free, and the CBS All Access is like $5 per month. So unless I watch CBS OTA, I don't watch CBS shows. Funny thing is the differences I see in commercials.
(the following apply to shows I watch within a day or two. If I wait, I may not get commercial s at all)

NBC On Demand has commercial breaks, and you can't fast forward through them
ABC On Demand has commercial breaks, but you can fast forward through them
Fox on Demand has commercial breaks, but it seems to be a single commercial each break, and for one of their own shows.
CBS On Demad I don't watch, since it isn't free.
 
I have been wearing a sore spot scratching my head as to why these regional sports networks won't stream for a price. There are customers out there for that service.

That will change when ESPN's takeover of Fox's regional networks is finalized. When ESPN's subscription service takes hold, NBC will follow suit.
 
All of the regular network TV I watch, I watch on the respective On Demand app, ie NBC On Demand, Fox On Demand. Except for CBS, they are all free, and the CBS All Access is like $5 per month. So unless I watch CBS OTA, I don't watch CBS shows. Funny thing is the differences I see in commercials.
(the following apply to shows I watch within a day or two. If I wait, I may not get commercial s at all)

NBC On Demand has commercial breaks, and you can't fast forward through them
ABC On Demand has commercial breaks, but you can fast forward through them
Fox on Demand has commercial breaks, but it seems to be a single commercial each break, and for one of their own shows.
CBS On Demad I don't watch, since it isn't free.

Yeah, I find myself not watching CBS because of All Access. Best part about Supergirl:wub: moving to The CW, I can actually watch on demand if I miss an episode. If it wasn't for the Jags games, I wouldn't know CBS still existed.

However, if the Twilight Zone reboot is any good, I might sign up for CBS All Access.
 
I'm paying $50 for DIRECTV right now and I get everything I want. When my two year contract is up, I might cancel it and switch to a streaming service but that means losing MAVTV and Smithsonian Channel. Yeah, I can get Lucas Oil TV app, but once again, we're going back to spending $40 for PS Vue or YouTube TV or something (Sling sucks, absolutely horrid, no go zone for me), then $10 for Lucas Oil, then another $12 for Netflix, then another $9 for CBS (since CBS is putting their new shows on their subscription service instead of online).

Oh and it still requires better internet than I can get. I use a hotspot with "unlimited data" for everything but I'm pretty sure AT&T will bitch if I ran up over 250 gigs of data streaming content.

If it's possible, streaming is the way to go ... for now. All I'm saying is these companies' greed is eventually going to napalm the value in streaming.

And wait until Netflix and others follow the CBS All Access model and start running commercials. Cable TV used to be commercial free once upon a time.
Just curious, what don't you like about Sling? Even if it didnt have the NHL Network, it would likely still be my go-to, though that could be a different story if I didnt live in a big city due to their lack of local channels and the fact that they limit what you can watch when signing into apps such as NBC Sports.
 
Just curious, what don't you like about Sling? Even if it didnt have the NHL Network, it would likely still be my go-to, though that could be a different story if I didnt live in a big city due to their lack of local channels and the fact that they limit what you can watch when signing into apps such as NBC Sports.

On the final part, that's NBC limiting that. They took that option away from PS Vue as well. Which is another reason this streaming stuff is going to be worse than cable in the long run, I think all these networks will push their own subscription services and put stuff exclusively on those but put other stuff exclusively on cable as well, and one subscription won't allow you to access the other.

When I looked at Sling, their options really kind of sucked. You could get this or that, or pay this for both which, at the time, ended up being more expensive than PS Vue. And there was no DVR function or anything like that. They might have that now, IDK. Vue was actually like having cable TV through your internet whereas Sling was like just watching a stream.
 
One of my coworkers uses a hacked Amazon Firestick. IDK anything about that.
I'm assuming ;);) but if not I have a friend ;);) that went through the process and learned a lot about it. It basically allows you to open it up into the development mode. At that point a web browser can be downloaded. The Fire Stick runs the Android operating system. Once the browser is downloaded, KODI can be installed. KODI opens up internet streaming on steroids. Interesting product.
 
On the final part, that's NBC limiting that. They took that option away from PS Vue as well. Which is another reason this streaming stuff is going to be worse than cable in the long run, I think all these networks will push their own subscription services and put stuff exclusively on those but put other stuff exclusively on cable as well, and one subscription won't allow you to access the other.

That's quite upsetting. I really enjoyed being able to use my Vue login to watch NASCAR and Football that was being streamed on NBC and Fox. Are there any other stations and/or channels that are currently like CBS All access? I obviously know that channels and stations have their own apps, but with them all, you have to have a cable subscription.
 
That's quite upsetting. I really enjoyed being able to use my Vue login to watch NASCAR and Football that was being streamed on NBC and Fox. Are there any other stations and/or channels that are currently like CBS All access? I obviously know that channels and stations have their own apps, but with them all, you have to have a cable subscription.

Disney's upcoming streaming service will be like CBS All Access. That includes ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN Networks, Fox Sports Networks, FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic and NatGeo Wild.
 
Not much info here about YouTube TV. Nobody tried it? Local channels, cloud based DVR. What is wrong with it?
While it looks inviting, especially another $5 off per month over Vue, it doesn't offer two of the channels that we watch. My wife's HGTV and TBS. I did see that they have all of my locals live, which is important for watching the NFL games. They offer a ton of regional sports networks. Not mine, but they sure seem to cover a great portion of the country. Were it not for my wife's affinity for coming up with new home projects and the occasional viewing of BBT reruns, I'd be all over that package.
 
I'll probably go back to cable for another year. Just under $100 for TV & internet with HBO & Skinamax.
I can't touch that price with our local cable/internet provider. I'd pull the trigger on that deal, especially if it's a fast reliable connection.
 
I wish I were able to just build my à la cart streaming package.

Local networks, ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC.
AT&T SportsNet
FS1
FS2
NBCSN
NFL Redzone
ESPN's range of feeds
AMC
TBS
HGTV
TWC
 
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