The cost of cable cutting is going up

[imoldernu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Yes, my Dish>PS Vue savings have dropped from $600/yr to $540/yr. Not surprised, I can live with it...

[wmc1000]

Technology costs:

1. Entertainment

OTA w/ HTPC DVR (4 program sim. max) $0
Internet $40
Hulu $8

Entertainment costs total $48

2. 2 cell phones unlimited + 5GB data $70

Total Monthly Technology costs $118

[Cobra9777]

I could live without the major broadcast networks, but DW wants them. OTA is not an option for us, so we have to subscribe to something. Right now we have PS Vue "Access" for $40, going to $45 with the increase announced yesterday. This provides a nice lineup of ~50 cable channels as well as the major networks, plus a really good cloud DVR and lots of on-demand. DW watches it more than me. I don't watch fictional programs at all. Just YouTube and documentaries where I can learn something.

Our internet is FiOS 50/50, which we love. But an alternative for us is to get Charter 30/5 (we have an old legacy Charter cable network). That would enable us to get Spectrum TV Choice for $21.99 (all locals, including PBS, plus 10 cable channels of our choice from a list of 65). I think that could work for us. They have on-demand but no cloud DVR functionality, which sucks.

Anyway, our internet would go down about $10/mo and TV would go down $20. I think we'd be just fine with 10 live cable channels plus the major networks. And $21.99 seems like a fair price. It would be really nice to get live PBS back for the syndicated shows that you can't get on the app. With the PS Vue price increase, I'm looking at this option a little closer. We also subscribe to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and PBS Passport.

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by txtig Not too surprising, but I just got an email from the PSVue folks. The price of my mid-level package is going up from $45 to $50 per month,effective August 31. An increase of over 11%. .

You mentioned 'cutting the cable'. How about if you did that?

I have no PSvue here.

[Chuckanut]

They can keep their streaming platforms and I will keep my money.

[T-Minus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hesperus Hopefully not for us - as an early subscriber we grandfathered in at $35 forever for 'go big' package.

I too am a first-day Go Big plan subscriber and am currently enjoying a $35/mo. pricing. I’ve read in several forums that my rate will increase by $5/mo. starting in August.

[Mulligan]

Very odd....I use Direct TV and have to run the phone gauntlet every 2 years to get any savings extracted. My present two year $20 off discount was expiring this month (Could have had $30 off for 12 months but didnt want to call again in 12 months, lol ). Anyhow, I just received a letter thanking me for calling and accepting a $20 monthly discount for an additional 2 years (and thus stay under contract, also). The odd thing is I never called. I am fine with it as I was going to call, but now I dont. This has never happened in the 20 years I have had Direct. I suspect its no accident and they are trying to claw into the existing customers and keep them from leaving.

[Teacher Terry]

We find cable worth the money. I went to my son’s and watching TV was very complicated and a PITA when he was not there and I didn’t have enough choices.

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry We find cable worth the money. I went to my son’s and watching TV was very complicated and a PITA when he was not there and I didn’t have enough choices.

To each his own, and if someone wants to cut the cord, or like internet apps and tv, I certainly respect that....But, I am retired and not interested in learning things I dont want to learn. I huff and bluff to save a few bucks to amuse me, but I have zero intention of ever cancelling my “cable”. $3 a day for having any channel I need on the channel number I know where its at is worth it...Just like having my A/C cranked low...Well worth the $4 a day to be comfortable.

[sonarvord]

Yes the hype about cutting the cord for TV is getting to be passe'. PS Vue has glitches too. System hangs, pixel problems, down time, performance issues. I would complain and try to get a credit but no one to contact reliably. I would drop but the sports coverage is very good. However, the big sporting events tend to have performance issues. Tried Youtube Red yet?

[pc95]

If you live close (or, if lucky, walking distance) from a public library in a metro or suburb of a metro, the library can provide a huge chunk of your entertainment wants at no additional cost. They're part of your taxes, so take advantage. I check out television and movie content weekly. I also bought a ChannelMaster DVR+ (recently discontinued) in 2015 (primarily for NFL), but have branched out into wasting my time more elegantly with PBS content. Buying a DVR was an excuse for watching more television. My outlay for all the gear was about $300 at the time. I consider it a great expenditure for making my entertainment "efficient" (that is unless you are entertained by commercials) time-wise. I have trouble watching any tv if it isn't recorded now. Spoiled.

[Scuba]

Does anyone have a solution for recording and watching NFL games on game day without having traditional cable? We don’t like TV so we cut it after the Super Bowl, but we may have to go back on cable in the fall. So far we have been unable to find a way to DVR NFL games on game day without having cable. We will not watch the games “live” ... way too many ads ... but also want to watch them the same day as the actual game.

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonarvord Yes the hype about cutting the cord for TV is getting to be passe'. PS Vue has glitches too. System hangs, pixel problems, down time, performance issues. I would complain and try to get a credit but no one to contact reliably. I would drop but the sports coverage is very good. However, the big sporting events tend to have performance issues. Tried Youtube Red yet?

Depends on where you are I guess. PS Vue has been more reliable than Dish Network satellite for us. Picture quality is as good or better, and we lost signal due to weather with satellite occasionally, internet reliability is much better. We’re not having any of the issues you describe regularly, and it seems to be getting better all the time. I wonder if your internet connection is adequate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry We find cable worth the money. I went to my son’s and watching TV was very complicated and a PITA when he was not there and I didn’t have enough choices.

if you prefer cable, that’s great. But streaming doesn’t have to be any more complicated than satellite or cable, must be in your son’s setup. If it was complicated, my DW would have demanded we go back to satellite. She got the hang of it in a day or two, and has her friends asking about it - they’re all still paying 2 to 5X more for cable or satellite.

[pc95]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Does anyone have a solution for recording and watching NFL games on game day without having traditional cable? We don’t like TV so we cut it after the Super Bowl, but we may have to go back on cable in the fall. So far we have been unable to find a way to DVR NFL games on game day without having cable. We will not watch the games “live” ... way too many ads ... but also want to watch them the same day as the actual game.

I've been using Channelmaster DVR+ for 3 years with an antenna direct antenna for recording OTA. I live in San Diego, so a big bonus was getting about 90% of the World Cup games recently on Telemundo live through Tijuana stations and in HD. Although channelmaster dvr+ has been discontinued, there are other alternatives. The dvr+ isn't perfect, but its gotten the job done. Some people have had buggy units I've read avforum website, and the initial remote was a terrible design - my remote died, but the replacement remote has been great. You might be able to find a DVR+ on the cheap now or used, but there is a chance you get a lemon maybe. I've been happy with mine on the whole. It may be worth the risk, may be not.

Here's a few ideas:
https://www.techhive.com/article/317...d-cutters.html

www.channelmaster.com

I was hoping channelmaster would refine and improve their dvr+, but they opted to contract the design out for their new stream+! That left me disappointed, although the new "stream+" is significantly cheaper. Noticed on the new unit a deal-breaker for me in you can't watch and record the same stream while its recording - at least the review read like that - horrible if true.