Update on Cord Cutting (Cable TV) - 2021 version

JoeWras said:
I'm addicted to PlutoTV* and slowly jettisoning everything else. Now that they added the Drew Carey "The Price is Right", I'm set. I can watch TPIR all day, either with Bob or Drew. (I may have a problem.)
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I'm really am not into game shows myself, especially Price is Right. Brings back childhood memories when it was on and felt forced to watch it back in the day when we had just a few channels. But if you really like it, that can certainly save you a lot on streaming services, so that's great.

I do sometimes watch PlutoTV or Xumo, but when commercials come on, I end up moving to another channel and may not return. I'm glad to have them, though, as I'm not paying for any streaming services at this time.
 
DW says she feels sick when I watch classic TPIR because that's what she watched during sick days.

The pube commercial is Gillette.
 
TABLO announces a 4th generation device and brand refresh

Tablo fans have noticed they've been quiet since Scripps bought their parent company about 18 months ago.

Today, they opened the floodgates. https://www.tablotv.com/blog/evolution-of-tablo-introducing-4th-generation-tablo/

They have:
- New logo
- A new two tuner device for $110, which includes a little antenna
- Integrated hard drive, with optional expansion
- No-subscription required guide
- New App
- Integration of some FAST streaming channels
- Continued support for legacy devices
- ATSC 1.0 tuners (2), and punting on ATSC 3.0 for now

So there it is. I don't know a whole lot about this, I'm just passing along information.

At first glance, this looks nice. ATSC 3.0 has been a sh*t show of epic proportions, so I don't blame them for shelving it for now. They started focusing there, and it probably hosed them completely until Scripps bought them.

Scripps. Uh huh. There ya go, that's the FAST (Free Ad Supported TV) streamer integration. It is focused on Scripps channels, with no integration of others. I personally like the FAST stuff that PlutoTV or Roku Channel puts out. Still, there's a few nice channels that the new Tablo supports like H&I and MeTV that will be cool to be able to record. Yeah, that's right, the device allows recording some streamer channels.

I paid a lifetime subscription for my Tablo, so I don't intend on changing anything, and they promise that's OK. I get this feeling that there's something I'm not seeing here, cough, cough, likely some strict tie in to the Scripps world. I don't want to give up what I paid for. There's a lot to digest with this massive announcement. If I want this new stuff, I'll just get a new device.

A lot of the announcement is USA focused. Tablo was (or is) a Canadian company. That's a small chunk of the North American potential. Looks like Scripps slapped them around a bit and really wants to expand the USA market.

This is probably worth a look if you currently don't have a device like Tablo now. ATSC 1.0 is good for at least 3, probably 5 or more years. Maybe by 2027 ATSC3.0 will play nice with recording devices (patents and other problems are holding that up).
 
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The new Tablo device sounds good. But, can it record several OTA shows at one time? My ancient TiVo has four tuners and often I use two or three at once.
 
Two tuners. Four tuner version in development.

The previous gen Tablo had a 4 tuner version.
 
Paramount+ is running a promotion for new and existing users. 30-day free trial, including Showtime, by entering the coupon code REDEEM30.
 
Sojourner said:
Paramount+ is running a promotion for new and existing users. 30-day free trial, including Showtime, by entering the coupon code REDEEM30.
Click to expand...

If these promotions are like the others, you can get the premium no commercials version also. Must make sure to cancel before the 30 days are up or you are billed at the higher premium rate for the next 30 day period. Paramount is almost always having a promotion.
 
JoeWras said:
Tablo fans have noticed they've been quiet since Scripps bought their parent company about 18 months ago.

Today, they opened the floodgates. https://www.tablotv.com/blog/evolution-of-tablo-introducing-4th-generation-tablo/

They have:
- New logo
- A new two tuner device for $110, which includes a little antenna
- Integrated hard drive, with optional expansion
- No-subscription required guide
- New App
- Integration of some FAST streaming channels
- Continued support for legacy devices
- ATSC 1.0 tuners (2), and punting on ATSC 3.0 for now

So there it is. I don't know a whole lot about this, I'm just passing along information.

At first glance, this looks nice. ATSC 3.0 has been a sh*t show of epic proportions, so I don't blame them for shelving it for now. They started focusing there, and it probably hosed them completely until Scripps bought them.

Scripps. Uh huh. There ya go, that's the FAST (Free Ad Supported TV) streamer integration. It is focused on Scripps channels, with no integration of others. I personally like the FAST stuff that PlutoTV or Roku Channel puts out. Still, there's a few nice channels that the new Tablo supports like H&I and MeTV that will be cool to be able to record. Yeah, that's right, the device allows recording some streamer channels.

I paid a lifetime subscription for my Tablo, so I don't intend on changing anything, and they promise that's OK. I get this feeling that there's something I'm not seeing here, cough, cough, likely some strict tie in to the Scripps world. I don't want to give up what I paid for. There's a lot to digest with this massive announcement. If I want this new stuff, I'll just get a new device.

A lot of the announcement is USA focused. Tablo was (or is) a Canadian company. That's a small chunk of the North American potential. Looks like Scripps slapped them around a bit and really wants to expand the USA market.

This is probably worth a look if you currently don't have a device like Tablo now. ATSC 1.0 is good for at least 3, probably 5 or more years. Maybe by 2027 ATSC3.0 will play nice with recording devices (patents and other problems are holding that up).
Click to expand...


Thanks for the heads up. I own a Tablo and checked Tablo's website about the Channel Guide subscriptions. I don't have the subscription. For right now, the subscription will only be free for the new devices. The new app version, with FAST channels, will not be available for older devices either. The good news is the FAQ says that their plan is to eventually update the new app versions to also be compatible with old devices. At that time, older devices will gain access to the newest app versions with FAST channels and a free Channel Guide.
 
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Does Roku go down and mess up the ability to access channels (Sling, Max, Roku itself, Pluto TV, ...)?
 
I've used Roku devices and Roku TV's for about 10 years now and the only problem I ever had was a remote went crazy once and I originally thought the device was bad. I bought a new $8 generic remote on Amazon and that solved the problem. You might want to change the batteries, sometimes that can cause problems. Overall they've worked great for me and in my opinion are far more stable than the fire sticks that I also had.
What exactly is happening when you say mess up the ability to access channels?
 
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My DW's attempt on TV #1 resulted in the remote not getting past the Roku opening menu. I power-cycled the Roku (Ultra LT in this case), but that didn't fix the issue. She was stuck on the main screen of the Roku. Changing the remote batteries didn't help.

My DW then tried TV #2 that has a different Roku device (4K streaming stick), and the device won't even wake up past the Roku screensaver. I have to power-cycle the streaming stick to get it to wake up, but after that, it gets stuck on the Roku main screen. Rebooting the modem/router didn't fix the problem.

At some point, the Ultra LT on TV #1 allowed my DW to get into Sling and Max, but that's where some really odd things have been happening. For one, she wanted to jumped into a show that was recording on Sling, something she has done in the past, but the screen goes blank and the Roku freezes. In the case of Max, she tried several shows she has on her Continue Watching list, and each attempt was met with the screen going blank, and then the Ultra LT rebooting, bringing up the main Roku screen. She tried watching a show on Pluto TV, but all she got was audio and a blank screen. Trying one of Roku's channels did the same thing.

We've had these two Roku devices hooked up for over five months with Sling and Max, and this is the first time we've seen this happen. The fact that it's happening on two different TV-Roku setups would seem to indicate we don't have a localized hardware problem. And Wi-Fi is up and working.
 
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Check this link, Jerry had a similar problem on both TV's.
Also try downloading the Roku remote app to your phone or to a spare phone and see if that solves the problem. The Roku app in my opinion is actually better than the remote that comes with. I used this when my remote went out till I got the new one.

https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f54/roku-acting-up-118351.html
 
I got the Roku streaming stick to respond to the remote again by pulling the batteries from the remote, then re-inserting the same batteries back in after 30 seconds. One of several suggestions I saw on YT videos. Pretty much the same goes for the Ultra LT, although in that case I put in new batteries. The Ultra LT didn't work completely at first, but it seems fine now

Except for the show that's been DVR'ed on a channel with Sling. We're getting a "28:29" error and to "try later". Helpful. Not. Other DVR'ed shows are fine. Could be coincidental with the Roku remote-device hiccups. Buy why both??
 
I gave up on Roku after having three Roku 2 units die barely out of warranty & so switched to FireTV sticks.
 
Today Amazon announces that beginning in 2024 it will include ads iitd Prime Video programming and offer Prime subscribers a new $2.99 pr month option for ad-free programming. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/prime-video-update-announces-limited-ads
To continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time, starting in early 2024, Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers. Ads in Prime Video content will be introduced in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada in early 2024, followed by France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia later in the year. No action is required for Prime members. We’re not making changes in 2024 to the current price of Prime membership. We will also offer a new ad-free option for an additional $2.99 per month* for U.S. Prime members and will share pricing for other countries at a later date. We will email Prime members several weeks before ads are introduced into Prime Video with information on how to sign up for the ad-free option if they would like.
Click to expand...
 
MichaelB said:
Today Amazon announces that beginning in 2024 it will include ads iitd Prime Video programming and offer Prime subscribers a new $2.99 pr month option for ad-free programming. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/prime-video-update-announces-limited-ads
Click to expand...

Ugh... the slow, steady march of insidious ad-creep. Seems like more and streaming services are going in this direction.

I already watch Prime less often than I do my other paid services, and this will only exacerbate that trend. Might even cancel Prime altogether one of these days, although I know DW would resist that (she loves the "free" shipping).
 
The party is over. The hangover already sucks and it is going to get worse.
 
Sojourner said:
Ugh... the slow, steady march of insidious ad-creep. Seems like more and streaming services are going in this direction.

I already watch Prime less often than I do my other paid services, and this will only exacerbate that trend. Might even cancel Prime altogether one of these days, although I know DW would resist that (she loves the "free" shipping).
Click to expand...
I don't have Prime, but I still get the free shipping by waiting to order until I hit a minimum. I've had free Prime trials various times, but the only thing I ever watched on Prime as a football game one time.
 
GenXguy said:
I don't have Prime, but I still get the free shipping by waiting to order until I hit a minimum. I've had free Prime trials various times, but the only thing I ever watched on Prime as a football game one time.
Click to expand...

I did that for years, not hard to hit the minimum, and if I paid for fast shipping a couple times a year, probably cheaper than the subscription. We are near distribution centers, so shipping seemed fast either way.

I would take one of their free offers a few times, and cancelled at the end of the free period. Came in handy during the holidays. But then DW got hooked on some old series, OK, not going to deny her that for a few bucks.

But it bugs me that we pay for the service, then have to pay to watch most movies. And now ads on top of that (or pay even more for the 'privilege' of paying for a movie?)?

QUESTION: It's not clear to me - if I drop Prime, can I still pay to watch an Amazon Prime movie by paying the rental fee? And is that fee different for non-prime accounts?

-ERD50
 
going to have to take a hard look at Walmart vs Prime when Prime comes due. Walmart, easier returns, Paramount, about the merchandise. Comments from those that have tried Walmart welcomed.
 
I would love to drop Prime. I rarely order from Amazon, but when I do, I pretty much always qualify for the non-Prime free shipping.

Not getting that idea past DW, and she doesn't use Prime for videos of any kind unless she's ordering Blu-Rays/DVDs.
 
steelyman said:
It’ll be interesting to see if/how many people drop Prime as a result of this.
Click to expand...

My guess is very few. The driver of Prime is speedy delivery and now has many add-ons, such as music and reading. None are good enough to compete on a stand-alone basis, but together they have a little something for everyone.

It like the old cable bundle.

For sure Amazon will be showing personalized ads built from people’s search histories and purchase profiles.
 
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