OT: Cutting the Cord 2.0 - ESPN/Fox/Warner Launching Combined Sports Streamer

[Badgerlander]

Warner Bros. Discovery is in talks to merge with Paramount. Max would then merge with Paramount+.

People have had enough paying for multiple streamers. Consolidation makes sense.

I wonder what they will call it. Can't be any stupider than Max.

I vote for Maxamount

DiscoMax? Lol

[MickeyDavis]

With this mornings news that Bucks and Brewers games on Bally's may be available on Amazon (pending bankruptcy court approval) I am going to revisit dumping Spectrum. I'm in no hurry, I'm guessing they're targeting April for baseball and next season for basketball so I have some time to decide.

There have been a lot of good opinions on here but I'm looking for updated opinions on YouTubeTV, Fubo, DirecTV stream, Hulu with Live TV (I already have Hulu without Live TV) . What I want

Local Channels
ESPN channels
NFL Network AND Red Zone
NBATV
TNT
B10 Network

Good DVR service. I'm assuming all of them let you set recordings and start watching before the event is over. I often record a game and start watching a few minutes after it starts.

Price is a factor but I don't mind paying for what I want as long as it's less than Spectrum.

Based on some light Googling:

Hulu with Live TV - I'm already paying for the Hulu/ESPN+/Disney bundle at $26.95 and it looks like adding Live TV takes it to about $90 (no ads). But it looks like I'd need a sports package for another $10 to get Red Zone (and 6 other channels I'd never watch). But I can't live without Red Zone. They do not have NBATV though nor AMC. No NBATV sucks. So about a $75 increase in what I'm already paying for the Hulu/ESPN+/Disney bundle.

YouTube TV - Similar price, it looks like it's around $73 and also another $10 for a package that includes Red Zone.

DirecTV Stream, looks to be about $75. No NFL Network though and I don't see an option that has it. Additional charge for package with Red Zone.

Fubo - Doesn't look like it has TNT, so no go for me.

[ReasonablySober]

NFL+ Premium has Red Zone and is $14.99 a month.

[MickeyDavis]

Gentlemen,

PLEASE HELP!!

I need some advice. I'm not as media savvy as 99% of you so keep that in mind.

I pay $260/ month for UVerse, internet and landline. The Uverse is a mid package that does have MAX, but the cost has increased a lot and I can't keep paying this. I need some recommendations. I don't mind streaming stuff since I figured it out, but there's too many choices.

Here's what I like to watch:

Local channels
some cable news
basketball-Bucks, Badgers, Marquette so I probably need access to ESPN and all its iterations, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Bally, TNT, et al. Don't watch much Brewers at all.

The big caveat is I use my DVR a lot, so I do want the ability to record and playback. I can't stay up and watch all these games.


Is there a package you can recommend? Thanks for any help.

[MickeyDavis]

Big O, I had Uverse for a long time and liked them. But they no longer offer it to new people, they stopped adding people in 2020 so their price has gone up and their support has gone down. I switched to cable. But now I'm looking to ditch cable too.

You'll still need internet of course. If your uVerse internet is good enough you can just keep them.

You also mention landline though, I'm not sure what you'll do about that. Perhaps keep internet and phone with ATT and move your TV service elsewhere as discussed in this thread.

Lots of people have good info here.

[Ryan5UW]

YouTube TV would probably fit the bill there, except it doesn't have Ballys. Which you can obviously subscribe to separately, but I'd only recommend that to my ex-wife.

[MickeyDavis]

YouTube TV would probably fit the bill there, except it doesn't have Ballys. Which you can obviously subscribe to separately, but I'd only recommend that to my ex-wife.

That's why Bally's being on Amazon is huge.

[Ryan5UW]

YouTube TV would probably fit the bill there, except it doesn't have Ballys. Which you can obviously subscribe to separately, but I'd only recommend that to my ex-wife.

That's why Bally's being on Amazon is huge.

True. It'll be interesting to see how much Amazon charges for it.

[Finn]

Any idea if out-of-state Prime users will be able to watch Bucks' games or does one have to be in the "local" market?

[MickeyDavis]

Any idea if out-of-state Prime users will be able to watch Bucks' games or does one have to be in the "local" market?

The initial reports are the location restrictions won't change. It's going to be the same as it is today but with Prime now an option along with cable, Fubo and the Bally's app.

[MickeyDavis]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[MickeyDavis]

I'm seeing conflicting reports about whether all sports content from all 3 will be on the platform or just some.

[MikeIsGood]

It will include offerings from 15 linear networks -- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, truTV -- and ESPN+.

Lol.

[humanrefutation]

If they just took all of those networks and put them on a package, I'll sign up and drop cable. If they're only offering some of the content, they can **** right off.

[MickeyDavis]

If they just took all of those networks and put them on a package, I'll sign up and drop cable. If they're only offering some of the content, they can **** right off.

That's what's unclear. ESPN is suppose to start their own streaming service this year so it seems odd that they would put all their content on this combo package. On the other hand viewers are getting tired of having so many different streamers that bundling some of them makes some sense. If ESPN is only going to put in their ESPN+ stuff then forget it. Warner has TNT NBA games (for now, that deal expires soon) and TBS baseball, that's about it.

[ibanezjp]

Any idea if out-of-state Prime users will be able to watch Bucks' games or does one have to be in the "local" market?

The initial reports are the location restrictions won't change. It's going to be the same as it is today but with Prime now an option along with cable, Fubo and the Bally's app.

I had league pass since 2010 living in Texas. This season I canceled league pass and have been using my parents login on the Bally App since they still live in WI. Do you know when they make the switch to Amazon will I still be able to do something similar? Can I pay for the app to get the Bucks games on Bally or is the paid version only offered to people in WI?

[MickeyDavis]

Any idea if out-of-state Prime users will be able to watch Bucks' games or does one have to be in the "local" market?

The initial reports are the location restrictions won't change. It's going to be the same as it is today but with Prime now an option along with cable, Fubo and the Bally's app.

I had league pass since 2010 living in Texas. This season I canceled league pass and have been using my parents login on the Bally App since they still live in WI. Do you know when they make the switch to Amazon will I still be able to do something similar? Can I pay for the app to get the Bucks games on Bally or is the paid version only offered to people in WI?

No details are out yet

[ibanezjp]

The initial reports are the location restrictions won't change. It's going to be the same as it is today but with Prime now an option along with cable, Fubo and the Bally's app.

I had league pass since 2010 living in Texas. This season I canceled league pass and have been using my parents login on the Bally App since they still live in WI. Do you know when they make the switch to Amazon will I still be able to do something similar? Can I pay for the app to get the Bucks games on Bally or is the paid version only offered to people in WI?

No details are out yet

How does it currently work? Like can only people in Wisconsin pay for the Bally App and get the Bucks? I’d imagine if paid for it I’d get the Texas teams that use Bally which I believe is like the Dallas Stars.

[MickeyDavis]

I had league pass since 2010 living in Texas. This season I canceled league pass and have been using my parents login on the Bally App since they still live in WI. Do you know when they make the switch to Amazon will I still be able to do something similar? Can I pay for the app to get the Bucks games on Bally or is the paid version only offered to people in WI?

No details are out yet

How does it currently work? Like can only people in Wisconsin pay for the Bally App and get the Bucks? I’d imagine if paid for it I’d get the Texas teams that use Bally which I believe is like the Dallas Stars.

I believe that's how it works, I don't use the app. However it works now will be how it will work on Amazon supposedly. Still has to be approved by the court and then some details and timing should come out.

[tski1972]

Cable. We didn’t really know how great we had it until it went away.