OT: Cutting the Cord 2.0 - Black Friday streaming deals

[Thunder Muscle]

I got an extremely good deal with AT&T - U300/HD/4STB/internet 24(good speed) for $130 after all taxes and fee's - Lock in for 2 years - it's under my wife's name and when its done, i'll cancel it and order it under my name with more discount.

Aren't they getting smarter on offer the new deal by household (address) not name? Plus I don't want to dick around with cancelling it, taking the **** back in, and then re-setting it up. I don't feel like you can cancel today, have your spouse sign-up later that day, and essentially no drop in service. I could be wrong I guess, but I feel like you have to return the equipment, etc.

I've seriously considered cutting the cord, but I just don't feel like I'm going to save "that" much for me to be worth it with what I'm gong to need with internet to pull it off. After we pay for internet and the different apps (e.g. SlingTV, Hulu, etc), if the difference is only like $20/month - well I'd rather pay that to avoid buffering, lags and ****.

[Thunder Muscle]

I'm currently paying about $190/month after taxes for DirecTV (Choice XTRA Classic package) AND AT&T 18 speed internet (unlimited data). Internet is $60/month and DirecTV is about $130/month. That includes 3 Receivers (1 - Genie; 2 - HD), Whole Room DVR, and the package I have I'm grandfathered into but I get pretty much any channel I'd want besides premium (e.g. HBO, Showtime, etc). At the moment I am NOT on a new subscriber rate and only am getting $17/month discounts that are essentially lifetime. I likely can (and will) call in to get probably minimum $10-20/month off again for loyalty discounts.

If I were to drop DirecTV, I would lose my unlimited data with internet for sure. So I would likely have to pay more to get that back.

I'm sure I can save money if I drop DirecTV, it would just be a matter of what I'm willing to concede in channels. Lets say I have to pay $75/month for unlimited data internet, I'd have about $65-70/month budget in my mind to spend on streaming services to justify switching. That would save me $50/month (unless DirecTV gives me more discounts, which they might).

[humanrefutation]

Seriously, who do you guys get internet from that any of these services are worth it over simply getting a cable package?

Charter has better internet - significantly better - than U-Verse. But their cable offering is worse, IMO.

If it was up to me, I'd have DirecTV, but it's not possible at my complex because there are trees blocking the satellite's line of sight. Which sucks, because I had DTV for two years and LOVED it. Easily the best TV service I've ever had.

[MickeyDavis]

I can't have a dish now either but when I had DTV is was great.

[humanrefutation]

hr, I'd honestly recommend giving PS Vue a shot. I remember 3 years ago I dropped cable entirely, despite a serious sports addiction. I basically got so sick of Charter that I canceled them on whim. This is well before Sling and the other OTT options came to market too. Something I noticed while waiting for OTT to become a reality is that I didn't NEED to watch tv as much as I was. I was just in the habit of watching a ton of TV because I always had since college. Once I cut the cord I realized all of the other hobbies I enjoyed just as much as watching shows/sports/news but I never got around to because I would get home from work and immediately turn on the TV. Now, I'm not advocating getting rid of TV all together (I watch a good amount on Vue currently), but it is kind of a liberating experience to limit your TV options. Even now I find myself occasionally going an entire work week without turning on my tv.

I'm going to have to think about it. I'm hoping they can either resolve the network TV issue or the FSWI issue. If they can do either one, I can probably bite the bullet and switch.

FWIW, does anyone know whether FSGO only shows events live, or whether you can start them afterwards? Like, does it have pause/rewind? I seem to remember it having that, but that the game was removed from the app after it was done so you couldn't watch it the next day.

[Thunder Muscle]

Just called DirecTV and they knocked $10/month for my internet and $45/month off of DirecTV bill. The only caveat was had to agree to 1 year deal for DirecTV service to get the $45/month deal. I don't think I could save a ton more by cutting the cord and still receiving most everything I want.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

My current breakdown:

5Nines Internet (100 Mbps): $49
PS Vue (Core Slim): $35
HBO Now: $15
Total: $99 Monthly

Other stuff:
Amazon Prime: $99 annually ... Or has it gone up? I don't even know
Netflix: $0 ... my parents have had an account for years and we all have our own profile on the account
HD Antenna: One time cost of like $20-40 for the Mohu Leaf
Refurbished Roku 3 and 2: Probably about $100 combined

And I'm extremely happy with this set up. The key though is the 5Nines internet in downtown Madison. Before they became available, I literally could only get Charter and I was paying close to $70 a month I think, just for internet.

[Bucksfan28]

I cut the cord a few years back and still feel great about the move.

My hardware consists of a Samsung SmartTv and Roku 3.
The programs I stream through (regularly):
Amazon Prime - $99/yr
Split Netflix & HBO Go with a friend - not even sure on the monthly cost but it's dirt cheap
NBA App (league pass) - $200/yr
mlb.tv - use a friend's login
watchespn - use parent's cable login

We pay $65/mo for internet through Time Warner. It's fast and mostly reliable, plus we got a "free" digital converter for all basic channels. WatchESPN sucks but that's the only app that's lacking. Streaming right through the tv for netflix and amazon results in some pretty incredible picture considering it's a stream.

PSVue sounds like a sufficient product though so I may consider that investment soon.

[crkone]

I cut the cord a few years back and still feel great about the move.

My hardware consists of a Samsung SmartTv and Roku 3.
The programs I stream through (regularly):
Amazon Prime - $99/yr
Split Netflix & HBO Go with a friend - not even sure on the monthly cost but it's dirt cheap
NBA App (league pass) - $200/yr
mlb.tv - use a friend's login
watchespn - use parent's cable login

We pay $65/mo for internet through Time Warner. It's fast and mostly reliable, plus we got a "free" digital converter for all basic channels. WatchESPN sucks but that's the only app that's lacking. Streaming right through the tv for netflix and amazon results in some pretty incredible picture considering it's a stream.

PSVue sounds like a sufficient product though so I may consider that investment soon.

FYI word is Spectrum will be recalling those converter boxes soon and don't plan to replace them.

[Bucksfan28]

I cut the cord a few years back and still feel great about the move.

My hardware consists of a Samsung SmartTv and Roku 3.
The programs I stream through (regularly):
Amazon Prime - $99/yr
Split Netflix & HBO Go with a friend - not even sure on the monthly cost but it's dirt cheap
NBA App (league pass) - $200/yr
mlb.tv - use a friend's login
watchespn - use parent's cable login

We pay $65/mo for internet through Time Warner. It's fast and mostly reliable, plus we got a "free" digital converter for all basic channels. WatchESPN sucks but that's the only app that's lacking. Streaming right through the tv for netflix and amazon results in some pretty incredible picture considering it's a stream.

PSVue sounds like a sufficient product though so I may consider that investment soon.

FYI word is Spectrum will be recalling those converter boxes soon and don't plan to replace them.

Thanks for the heads-up. It's incredibly useful when the major sports get into their playoffs.

[midranger]

Meh. After the first year, U200 package with internet went to $185. Every month we'd call ATT and and wait 45 minutes to speak with 3 different people you can't understand. Without fail, they'd eventually say they'd only charge $125. Every month the bill came at 185. Call back and there is no record. Repeat x 8 months. Completely ridiculous company. We canceled earlier this month when we noticed on the bottom of the bill we could break any contract without penalty. Felt great. Honestly, the worst customer service I've ever encountered.

Got the Spectrum internet (50 after taxes) and the 35 dollar PSVue. That's 100 less per month than ATT. Minus initial start cost for Roku and an antenna (I think 70 dollars total), that's more than 1,100 post-tax dollars this year. Plus, no dealing with ATT's ****. I'm sure Spectrum will dick us around next year, but we'll deal with it then.

It's far from a perfect viewing experience, but the savings and spiting ATT was more than worth it to me.

My ATT saga continues.

Despite my bill stating explicitly that Wisconsin residents who canceled before February 22nd cannot be charged an early termination fee, and despite the ATT employee that we spoke with when canceling the service verbally confirming that we'd be charged no early termination fee....... ATT just sent a bill for $350 for early termination fee.

Two things....

1. If you or your families are considering ATT for any service, please reconsider and go with someone else. They are a terrible company. The worst I've ever dealt with.

2. If there are any lawyers on here, could you please describe what recourse I have. I have the means to pay the fee but refuse based solely on principle. I also have the means to fight it. I suppose I would like to sue them in small claims court here in Milwaukee both to eliminate this fee and for time lost dealing with this issue. I would assume that ATT does not have an attorney on retainer here in Milwaukee to show in court. Would this approach make sense? Note: I have never signed any contract with ATT. They have stated that my family had a "verbal" contract based on a verbally agreed upon price that never remotely materialized in reality.

[Mags FTW]

For my Minnesota peeps:

Soon I will be staying in your state for 6 months - a year for work. What are the cable/non-cable options?

[xTitan]

DirectTv customer service has gone down considerably since ATT bought them

[soboMP3]

I signed into my DirecTV Now account to cancel it before it auto-renews tomorrow (finished my 3-month trial w/ free Apple TV), because they didn't have Fox Sports Wisconsin channel, or even a login for the FoxSports Go app. I was going to just stick with Playstation Vue and lo-and-behold Fox Sports Wisconsin has been added! I guess I will stick with DTVNow for the time being, as the $35+5 for the package+HBO is pretty hard to beat. Sounds like the Roku app is as close as a few weeks away as well.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I signed into my DirecTV Now account to cancel it before it auto-renews tomorrow (finished my 3-month trial w/ free Apple TV), because they didn't have Fox Sports Wisconsin channel, or even a login for the FoxSports Go app. I was going to just stick with Playstation Vue and lo-and-behold Fox Sports Wisconsin has been added! I guess I will stick with DTVNow for the time being, as the $35+5 for the package+HBO is pretty hard to beat. Sounds like the Roku app is as close as a few weeks away as well.

Interesting, I'll have to look at DirecTV Now when the Roku app comes out.

[CannondaleF400]

trying out Playstation Vue with Fox Sports Go app - is the quality normally a little blurry and laggy?

[Mags FTW]

For my Minnesota peeps:

Soon I will be staying in your state for 6 months - a year for work. What are the cable/non-cable options?

Bump

[0BobLobLaw0]

Meh. After the first year, U200 package with internet went to $185. Every month we'd call ATT and and wait 45 minutes to speak with 3 different people you can't understand. Without fail, they'd eventually say they'd only charge $125. Every month the bill came at 185. Call back and there is no record. Repeat x 8 months. Completely ridiculous company. We canceled earlier this month when we noticed on the bottom of the bill we could break any contract without penalty. Felt great. Honestly, the worst customer service I've ever encountered.

Got the Spectrum internet (50 after taxes) and the 35 dollar PSVue. That's 100 less per month than ATT. Minus initial start cost for Roku and an antenna (I think 70 dollars total), that's more than 1,100 post-tax dollars this year. Plus, no dealing with ATT's ****. I'm sure Spectrum will dick us around next year, but we'll deal with it then.

It's far from a perfect viewing experience, but the savings and spiting ATT was more than worth it to me.

My ATT saga continues.

Despite my bill stating explicitly that Wisconsin residents who canceled before February 22nd cannot be charged an early termination fee, and despite the ATT employee that we spoke with when canceling the service verbally confirming that we'd be charged no early termination fee....... ATT just sent a bill for $350 for early termination fee.

Two things....

1. If you or your families are considering ATT for any service, please reconsider and go with someone else. They are a terrible company. The worst I've ever dealt with.

2. If there are any lawyers on here, could you please describe what recourse I have. I have the means to pay the fee but refuse based solely on principle. I also have the means to fight it. I suppose I would like to sue them in small claims court here in Milwaukee both to eliminate this fee and for time lost dealing with this issue. I would assume that ATT does not have an attorney on retainer here in Milwaukee to show in court. Would this approach make sense? Note: I have never signed any contract with ATT. They have stated that my family had a "verbal" contract based on a verbally agreed upon price that never remotely materialized in reality.

I PMd you some info...

[ahagen87]

My current breakdown:

5Nines Internet (100 Mbps): $49
PS Vue (Core Slim): $35
HBO Now: $15
Total: $99 Monthly

Other stuff:
Amazon Prime: $99 annually ... Or has it gone up? I don't even know
Netflix: $0 ... my parents have had an account for years and we all have our own profile on the account
HD Antenna: One time cost of like $20-40 for the Mohu Leaf
Refurbished Roku 3 and 2: Probably about $100 combined

And I'm extremely happy with this set up. The key though is the 5Nines internet in downtown Madison. Before they became available, I literally could only get Charter and I was paying close to $70 a month I think, just for internet.

How did you get 5Nines, I live by Hilldale (Not sure if its available in that area) and I checked out their website and don't see any option of the internet service unless your a business or non-profit? Maybe I'm missing something.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

My current breakdown:

5Nines Internet (100 Mbps): $49
PS Vue (Core Slim): $35
HBO Now: $15
Total: $99 Monthly

Other stuff:
Amazon Prime: $99 annually ... Or has it gone up? I don't even know
Netflix: $0 ... my parents have had an account for years and we all have our own profile on the account
HD Antenna: One time cost of like $20-40 for the Mohu Leaf
Refurbished Roku 3 and 2: Probably about $100 combined

And I'm extremely happy with this set up. The key though is the 5Nines internet in downtown Madison. Before they became available, I literally could only get Charter and I was paying close to $70 a month I think, just for internet.

How did you get 5Nines, I live by Hilldale (Not sure if its available in that area) and I checked out their website and don't see any option of the internet service unless your a business or non-profit? Maybe I'm missing something.

Lobbied my building to bring them in as an option. They are exclusively downtown (like near the capitol and campus) right now, but spreading. My gf's building just brought them in as an Internet option.

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