OT: Cutting the Cord 2.0 - Black Friday streaming deals

[MickeyDavis]

I have had Warner (horrible), DirecTV (good) and now Uverse. I'm happy with Uverse but it's pricey and I get tired of the "call and threaten to cancel to get a better rate" game. I don't want to go back to Warner (Comcast) or DTV. So what are my options if I want:

Locals (no antenna) in HD
Sports channels ESPN, FSN and Red Zone
Showtime and HBO
Normal channels like AMC, History, etc... in HD of course

and I want a DVR to record them. I also don't want to watch on my computer or phone, I want to watch everything on my TV.

[Badgerlander]

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[jschligs]

I have had Warner (horrible), DirecTV (good) and now Uverse. I'm happy with Uverse but it's pricey and I get tired of the "call and threaten to cancel to get a better rate" game. I don't want to go back to Warner (Comcast) or DTV. So what are my options if I want:

Locals (no antenna) in HD
Sports channels ESPN, FSN and Red Zone
Showtime and HBO
Normal channels like AMC, History, etc... in HD of course

and I want a DVR to record them. I also don't want to watch on my computer or phone, I want to watch everything on my TV.

My experience with Uverse was horrendous, I will never go back to them. At my new apartment we only have the choice between them and Charter. Well, pretty much all of Madison has those options.

I liked DirecTV but it was a little pricey.

For you, you've got to either build a PC with a TV Tuner so you can record stuff. Or get Sony Vue, Sling TV and Tivo, plus the Showtime/HBO Go monthly packages. All in all will still cost you $50 ish a month not counting internet.

[ackypoo]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

[jschligs]

I have had Warner (horrible), DirecTV (good) and now Uverse. I'm happy with Uverse but it's pricey and I get tired of the "call and threaten to cancel to get a better rate" game. I don't want to go back to Warner (Comcast) or DTV. So what are my options if I want:

Locals (no antenna) in HD
Sports channels ESPN, FSN and Red Zone
Showtime and HBO
Normal channels like AMC, History, etc... in HD of course

and I want a DVR to record them. I also don't want to watch on my computer or phone, I want to watch everything on my TV.

My experience with Uverse was horrendous, I will never go back to them. At my new apartment we only have the choice between them and Charter. Well, pretty much all of Madison has those options.

I liked DirecTV but it was a little pricey.

For you, you've got to either build a PC with a TV Tuner so you can record stuff. Or get Sony Vue, Sling TV and Tivo, plus the Showtime/HBO Go monthly packages. All in all will still cost you $50 ish a month not counting internet.

To add to this, I use PLEX which allows content sharing. They just announced they're Plex DVR is now in beta. I recommend checking that out too.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

[ackypoo]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

i live by the zoo and im pretty sure 5nines doesnt get out that far, unfortunately.

[jschligs]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

i live by the zoo and im pretty sure 5nines doesnt get out that far, unfortunately.

I was going to say I've never heard of 5nines, but if you don't get it by the zoo, no way am I getting it out in Fitchburg

[humanrefutation]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

How did you sign up for 5Nines? I live on the near East Side, so I'm not sure if 5Nines is even an option. But, I don't see anything on their site referring to a paid service other than the business option.

[ackypoo]

att dsl is the worst.

if you live in madison, charter is the only option that i am aware of.

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

How did you sign up for 5Nines? I live on the near East Side, so I'm not sure if 5Nines is even an option. But, I don't see anything on their site referring to a paid service other than the business option.

you have to live downtown downtown, like, on or around where 5nines is located. they have a huge fiber line coming in, i think, and they have some wifi microwaves on rooftops n ****.

id would highly doubt youd get it on the near east side as theyre located 222 w wash.

[humanrefutation]

I live downtown and use 5Nines with Roku to stream PS Vue. Its a fantastic set up. Internet is fast and less than $50 a month. PS Vue is $35 a month.

How did you sign up for 5Nines? I live on the near East Side, so I'm not sure if 5Nines is even an option. But, I don't see anything on their site referring to a paid service other than the business option.

you have to live downtown downtown, like, on or around where 5nines is located. they have a huge fiber line coming in, i think, and they have some wifi microwaves on rooftops n ****.

[humanrefutation]

The **** of the internet in Madison is precisely why I don't feel comfortable cutting the cord at this moment. I've got charter, and its too unreliable to count on for that purpose.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Yeah I think 5Nines is just downtown downtown at the moment. They are growing pretty fast though. If you live in an apartment or condo building near their headquarters it is worth talking to your building manager or HOA about contacting 5Nines. My building just brought them in earlier this year. Typically you need a minimum number of people to sign on to get them to equip your building, but that minimum number usually sky rockets after the service is brought in because word of mouth among neighbors is so strong.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Also, if you are ready to cut the cord, but don't want to fork over the money to buy a new Roku, you can do what one of my coworkers is doing. He signed up for Charter's over the top bundle that includes a free Roku. After the first month he is going to cancel (there is no contract) and then he is going to sign up for Playstation Vue. Pretty creating/sly way of getting a Roku for "free".

[smauss]

just started my trial with Sling Blue last night. No Fox-Wisconsin found. That is a dealbreaker if it can't be resolved.....

[DickCunningham]

just started my trial with Sling Blue last night. No Fox-Wisconsin found. That is a dealbreaker if it can't be resolved.....

You won't find a channel called Fox Wisconsin. To find Fox Wisconsin content (Brewers, Bucks), you need to look for Fox North Alternative channels. I've used it for Brewers games without problems.

[smauss]

just started my trial with Sling Blue last night. No Fox-Wisconsin found. That is a dealbreaker if it can't be resolved.....

You won't find a channel called Fox Wisconsin. To find Fox Wisconsin content (Brewers, Bucks), you need to look for Fox North Alternative channels. I've used it for Brewers games without problems.

Thx Dick - found that out over the long weekend. Kind of gettin used to the interface. Somewhat less than dynamic but serviceable I think....

[humanrefutation]

Also, if you are ready to cut the cord, but don't want to fork over the money to buy a new Roku, you can do what one of my coworkers is doing. He signed up for Charter's over the top bundle that includes a free Roku. After the first month he is going to cancel (there is no contract) and then he is going to sign up for Playstation Vue. Pretty creating/sly way of getting a Roku for "free".

...but isn't he paying for one month of service?

It's cheaper just to buy the damn Roku.

[ReasonablySober]

I've read the new Apple TV's been hacked and you can install Kodi onto it. If that's the case, I may finally upgrade. I prefer Apple's interface to Roku's by a large margin. Gonna have to do some research.

[Nowak008]

I know some people have used ball streams in the past, how has that gone for you guys? Do you need a TV provider to have it? Basically only have cable to watch NBA games.