Tired of paying for high TV

smokinjoe24smokinjoe24
in Everything Else
We pay about $130/mo for Directv and as little as we get to watch it, I'm looking for options. I've looked into Roku, Hulu, Sling, Amazon Prime, and Netflix but can't decide what I need and don't need. The only thing we get to watch is Disney and Nickelodeon, but I'd love to keep ESPN if possible. Any of you folks do any of these listed above or something different? Do you know what I would need to at least get those kid channels? I appreciate any help!
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Comments

  • theirontoupeetheirontoupee
    We pay $38 per month for DirecTV for whatever the second level package was with minimal sports and premium channels. We then referred some friends and got a kick back which makes it $28 per month. We don't really watch too many movies or other stuff and just use the free stuff on Hulu and YouTube
  • TulpaTulpa
    Might look at www.canistream.it



    I use Amazon Prime and like it, though I haven't been watching as much as in the past.



    Sports are often the toughest to stream.
  • quest4nesquest4nes
    to me there is too many exclusive streaming options. Seriously, you listed all those services. And all have exclusives. Its just nuts. They need to consolidate that mess. I watch too much sports to disconnect from satellite. I get astros, rockets, longhorn network specifically with directv where I couldnt get any of the 3 with any other service due to blackout restrictions and other providers not offering it.
  • TulpaTulpa
    Originally posted by: quest4nes

    to me there is too many exclusive streaming options. Seriously, you listed all those services. And all have exclusives. Its just nuts. They need to consolidate that mess.

    The problem is that they're all separate companies, so it would be impossible unless one of them started buying the others up.



     
  • dannyplantedannyplante
    streaming over the net 0$/mo
  • Viper0hrViper0hr
    Originally posted by: dannyplante

    streaming over the net 0$/mo





    Well, that and a good VPN for $5/montg.
  • dannyplantedannyplante
    you can get some good vpn nearly free or free
  • NostalgicMachineNostalgicMachine
    I haven't had cable TV since 2012, and I have zero regrets. Between my ROKU, the iPad, YouTube, and all my NES shit...I don't miss paying for it at all.
  • The 8 Bit ReduxThe 8 Bit Redux
    The majority of TV watched here in Aus is free to air, foxtell and netflix are the only other things here really, but not a huage amount of people get them.

    Personally I don't really watch TV though, wit hthe internet I dont see why anyone would.
  • MuNKeYMuNKeY
    Originally posted by: NostalgicMachine



    I haven't had cable TV since 2012, and I have zero regrets. Between my ROKU, the iPad, YouTube, and all my NES shit...I don't miss paying for it at all.



    This x2 I been without TV for several years I've actually forgotten how long now but I know its been over 10 and I don't miss it once bit. I rarely even watch movies unless its something very interesting, plus with netflix etc it's a cheaper route ( I don't watch it but the the kids do off and on)

     
  • jonebonejonebone
    At a bare minimum, you can call DirectTV and get your bill reduced. I typically do it every 12 months.



    I have internet through Comcast so I mention that I got an offer to bundle for much cheaper (which I get in the mail all of the time). I make sure to say I'm happy with Direct TV service and wanted to see if there was anything they could do. I refuse to change my package and after 10-20 minutes of holding I typically get $10 or $20 off my bill for 12 months.



    I like my sports and there's a decent amount of content we watch so I don't mind paying the bill. I do put in some effort to make sure they don't keep raising it through the roof though.
  • PowerPlayersPowerPlayers
    Paying $140/mo. After taxes, fees, and rental charges. I get premium movie channels, 2 DVR cable boxes, 50/25 MB internet speed, and a phone line.



    I could get it down to $60/mo if I cut my cable and phone and switch to sling box + Netflix.



    Netflix is what, $10? Sling box is $25/mo for each TV and I have two TVs so....I'm back to $120



    Yeah no point in switching over just yet
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    Originally posted by: jonebone



    At a bare minimum, you can call DirectTV and get your bill reduced. I typically do it every 12 months.



    I have internet through Comcast so I mention that I got an offer to bundle for much cheaper (which I get in the mail all of the time). I make sure to say I'm happy with Direct TV service and wanted to see if there was anything they could do. I refuse to change my package and after 10-20 minutes of holding I typically get $10 or $20 off my bill for 12 months.



    I like my sports and there's a decent amount of content we watch so I don't mind paying the bill. I do put in some effort to make sure they don't keep raising it through the roof though.



    You can probably get a similar 10 to 20 per month knocked off of your internet bill by getting the contract rate every 12 months.

     
  • Ozzy_98Ozzy_98
    It won't replace what you need, but to help supplement it buy a cheap antenna, Over-the-air is actually quite good in most areas. I'm out in the boonies, but my local areas 4, 6, 10 28 and 34 have now transformed into like 12 separate channels now. If you get good channels, you might want to invest in a better one, we have a normal mast in our attic
  • dannyplantedannyplante
    if you like living on the edge google south iks or south iptv
  • xMaGuSxxMaGuSx
    No cable for us.



    Netflix and hulu. Not big tv watchers anyway
  • JandremJandrem
    I have Sling tv, and it sucks. I'm cancelling it. It's a great concept, but their infrastructure is not good enough. It constantly lags and hangs up. Constantly. I reboot/hard reset all my devices, and it still sucks. Netflix functions fine, Hulu is fine, Sling still lagging. Hmmm... It's a shame because aside from Comedy Central(and local news), Sling provides the only channels my family watches; Cartoon Network, Disney, Food Network, and the Travel Channel. If we could actually make it through more than 30 seconds of a show before it lags and crashes to the dash, that'd be awesome.
  • BilltownSpartyBilltownSparty
    we were in the same boat a couple years ago. Love sports, movies and hbo shows. When we cut the cord we were able to get hbo alone for 14.99 and Netflix for 8.99. Between those 2 that's more than we can watch. We watch them on an apple tv which the one we got was only $60 (no fees just one time). You can also stream anything off your phone to the apple tv and a lot of full episodes of stuff is on you tube.



    I hate the shit out of espn, their coverage of sports now is like tmz, they only promote and delve into shit that pay money to cover and are more about drama than sports. The talent at that place is nonexistent from the late 80s and 90s and most of the broadcasters are just plain terrible. Beth mowins? dan dakich? dick vitale? I mean bloody ears man. I do not regret dropping it at all. If there is a big game go to a bar friends house if you can t be there in person and you would be surprised how much content you can get for free with an hd antenna. I get cbs, nbc, abc, pbs, fox and some ion channles crystal clear for free. You would be amazed how much college football and basketball is covered still on networks. Also almost all nfl games are either fox or cbs, nba has a lot on abc



    EDit to say the hd antenna i have cost me a whopping 9.99
  • Silent HillSilent Hill
    Ah the perks of working for a telecommunications company - Fully loaded TV and 50/5 Internet for free!



    If I had to pay, I'd pay for Internet only and continue with my Netflix. We really don't watch too much TV on average.
  • FaxanadudeFaxanadude
    Youtube, Netflix and my NES are all I need.
  • ShakzShakz
    We have Rokus in every room in the house.

    I have plex installed on them https://plex.tv/

    I am also running a plex server on an old core i5 computer.

    That same computer (running ubuntu linux) has Sickrage running on it.

    Sickrage finds our tv shows....sends them to transmission (a bittorrent clinet) which downloads them then dumps them to Plex...Its a beautiful system that I do not have to maintain. Plex also runs on IOS and Android.

    For ESPN we have the NFL app on our Roku as well. You can stream any football game thats on....live....although we perfer to just watch them on broadcast TV. I am not sure if the NBA has something similar as I don't really follow Basketball.

     
  • dewisp02dewisp02
    I pretty much stream tv shows from geektv, couchtuner, or similar streaming service. Usually use my ps4 so I can watch on my big tv, too.
  • VGS_HammerfestusVGS_Hammerfestus
    We dropped cable a few years ago. We use Netflix and Hulu though I basically only ever use the Hulu to watch Seinfeld. Local channels usually fill my sports needs but those basketball games on tnt can be annoying. For the kids I know there's a kids channel on Netflix
  • Milwaukee_NintendoMilwaukee_Nintendo
    We ditched cable and only pay for internet and Netflix. We traded our Netflix password for my buddies HBO/Showtime password, which is pretty nice. Local TV stations play Packer games, but god damn do I miss ESPN during NFL season.



    I can't decide if cable companies or cell providers are worse! Crooks!
  • mkiker2089mkiker2089
    Just to agree with what some others have said, cut the cord and don't look back. Netflix has more children and family programming than you could ever watch.



    Sports is the only hard part but new answers are coming along everyday. Think of ESPN as a giant leech. They charge a fortune to give you mostly sports fluff and cheesy talk shows with an occasional game in between. Kind of like MTV is to music. The problem is that they have a head start so they have many contracts in place to keep them safe. Pretty soon ESPN will feel the sting that other channels are now. Don't give them your money. Sign up with the leagues directly and cut out the middle man.
  • mkiker2089mkiker2089
    Originally posted by: MuNKeY

     
    Originally posted by: NostalgicMachine



    I haven't had cable TV since 2012, and I have zero regrets. Between my ROKU, the iPad, YouTube, and all my NES shit...I don't miss paying for it at all.



    This x2 I been without TV for several years I've actually forgotten how long now but I know its been over 10 and I don't miss it once bit. I rarely even watch movies unless its something very interesting, plus with netflix etc it's a cheaper route ( I don't watch it but the the kids do off and on)

     





    x3. I didn't even intend to cut the cord. I just found Netflix to be so good that I wasn't watching cable. After a few years I had it taken to broadcast level service. After a few more years Hulu and Youtube caught my eye and I cut even that.



    Time Warner occasionally offers me free trials of digital cable and I can easily tell them no without thinking twice. I don't need it and don't want it. Once you get used to streaming going back to broadcast is difficult. Even with good DVR boxes Netflix is still just that much easier.
  • BouncekDeLemosBouncekDeLemos
    I'm gonna be the killjoy of the group here. 



    I pulled away from television's grasp many many years ago. None of the shows that everybody watched excited me and at the time, "reality TV" was taking over shows that where IMO actually pretty good. Never thought it was a good idea to give the networks or television providers money when all they do is give me stuff I don't want, and produce sensationalism, so I quit. lol Plus, I was never on the hype train to The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, or any of those shows... mainly because they don't interest me. (OMG, shocker! Amirite?!)



    My mind's mostly governed-on about things that I myslef would rather see more so than what people want me to see. I have DVDs, Blu-Rays, Video Games, and Youtube. While in some aspects they're free and others not, I can control what I want to buy/watch, and when I want to buy/watch it. 
  • quest4nesquest4nes
    Originally posted by: mkiker2089



    Just to agree with what some others have said, cut the cord and don't look back. Netflix has more children and family programming than you could ever watch.



    Sports is the only hard part but new answers are coming along everyday. Think of ESPN as a giant leech. They charge a fortune to give you mostly sports fluff and cheesy talk shows with an occasional game in between. Kind of like MTV is to music. The problem is that they have a head start so they have many contracts in place to keep them safe. Pretty soon ESPN will feel the sting that other channels are now. Don't give them your money. Sign up with the leagues directly and cut out the middle man.





    You cant sign up for leagues directly with blackout restrictions in almpst all sports.  Plus those league passes of you are actually out of market are extremely expensive themselves. 



    Also the bar crowd... Hell no cant stand watching sports with alot of people. 
  • USFLegendUSFLegend
    I haven't had cable TV in over 8 years. I feel uncomfortable watching TV and seeing ads now. I feel like its weird that you pay for TV and then have to also watch ads. I only enjoy ads when I am at a sports bar because we all get to talk about what just happened in the game or fight before it comes back on.
  • VGDVGD
    kodi is pretty awesome.





    https://kodi.tv/
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