That Cable Bill went up again !!

[FiveDriver]

The Cable Bill arrived in our mailbox yesterday. Yet another increase. I want out !!

We have a Spectrum (the old Time Warner) bundle of Cable TV, Internet, and Landline. I've had it with their "Death by a Thousand Cuts" approach to cost increases. Their Cable channels are all reruns of the same shows -- 10-year old episodes of Beachfront Bargain Hunt are no longer relevant. I'm not paying over $300 bucks a month to watch Seinfeld repeats.

I think I found Home Internet and a Landline separately thru a provider. On Cable, we only want the History Channel, Military, Nat Geo. MLB TV, the local affiliates of the big 3 Networks, and PBS.

What is the best way to get my Smart TV hooked into streaming cable ??

Is it Roku ? Hulu ? Other ??

 

[REWahoo]

This is a good "how to" article: Cut the cord: Your guide to canceling cable and streaming TV online

I really like the ROKU as a streaming device but many people also like the Amazon FIRE devices. Doubt you will go wrong whichever you choose.

 

[target2019]

Your smart tv may have apps in it already. For example, our newe LG TV has IP channels that can be accessed for free.

Step 1 is to login your TV to your WiFi.

 

[aja8888]

What's a landline?

 

[Chuckanut]

Not quite cable but I recently cancelled my main streaming service. They wanted to charge me a lot more per month for their non-commercial service.
And I refuse to pay a monthly fee to watch shows with commercials.

All I have left is my 99 cents a month HULU service and that is going down also. Too many darn commercials, the same ones repeated over and over and over and over ad-nauseam.

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

If you dump cable TV, you can get 5G internet pretty cheap. Unlimited 5G internet is being advertised in the DC area at $20/month.

 

[FiveDriver]

Thanks guys. I think my TV is Smart.....it's a 2 year old Samsung. Has a bunch of hieroglyphic symbols at the bottom of the screen when I log on.

I check it out.

 

[Qs Laptop]

My approach was to keep cable, but only the bare minimum, most basic cable package. This gives me the local broadcast channels, PBS, CNN, TNT, CSPAN, History, Fox News, the local community channels, the shopping channels, a bunch of music stations, etc. If you dump cable completely you won't be able to get the local broadcast channels (local news, NFL football) unless you have an antenna.

Basic cable costs something like $24.99 a month but with taxes comes in at $38 or thereabouts. Still, a lot less than $300 a month.

The reason I kept the most basic cable package was to get the local broadcast channels and the ability to DVR up to 10 hours of programming but almost as importantly, I can use my Xfinity login credentials to log into the streaming apps for CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, TNT, History, etc. This means I can watch the entire catalog of these channels on demand, whenever I want.

Of course you will need a method for streaming these apps. You can use either the built-in apps on your smart TV or else get a streaming device. I recommend Roku since it's the most popular streamer and it's the easiest to use.

If you have a smart TV and you want to try out streaming without a Roku, you can check out the Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Freevee, basic Peacock TV, etc. by using the apps built in to your TV. You will be able to get 90% of the 10 year old crap you're paying for on cable without paying a cent.

 

[REWahoo]

Thanks guys. I think my TV is Smart.....it's a 2 year old Samsung. Has a bunch of hieroglyphic symbols at the bottom of the screen when I log on.

I check it out.

Yes, you can use the smart feature of your Samsung to stream but many people find built-in smart features to be slow to respond and clunky to use. A Roku or other streaming device is a better choice and can be had for less than $50. Well worth it, at least for me.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I switched to YouTube tv and share it with a friend which makes the monthly price half of 74 and I get a bunch of channels.

 

[FlaMariner]

What's a landline?

A landline (land line, land-line, main line, fixed-line, and wireline) is a telephone connection that uses metal wires from the owner's premises also referred to as: POTS, Twisted pair, telephone line or public switched telephone network (PSTN).

 

[FiveDriver]

My approach was to keep cable, but only the bare minimum, most basic cable package. This gives me the local broadcast channels, PBS, CNN, TNT, CSPAN, History, Fox News, the local community channels, the shopping channels, a bunch of music stations, etc. If you dump cable completely you won't be able to get the local broadcast channels (local news, NFL football) unless you have an antenna.

Basic cable costs something like $24.99 a month but with taxes comes in at $38 or thereabouts. Still, a lot less than $300 a month.

The reason I kept the most basic cable package was to get the local broadcast channels and the ability to DVR up to 10 hours of programming but almost as importantly, I can use my Xfinity login credentials to log into the streaming apps for CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, TNT, History, etc. This means I can watch the entire catalog of these channels on demand, whenever I want.

Of course you will need a method for streaming these apps. You can use either the built-in apps on your smart TV or else get a streaming device. I recommend Roku since it's the most popular streamer and it's the easiest to use.

If you have a smart TV and you want to try out streaming without a Roku, you can check out the Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Freevee, basic Peacock TV, etc. by using the apps built in to your TV. You will be able to get 90% of the 10 year old crap you're paying for on cable without paying a cent.

This approach interests me. It seems like Basic Cable, with a separate Internet connection might be the best approach.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Rereading your OP I see that you also want Nat Geo, Military, and MLB.TV. These three services don't come with the most basic cable tier of service. You would have to purchase them separately and stream them using their apps.

You were likely paying extra on your cable bill for MLB.TV already. It's $149.99 for a full season. (I'm a subscriber.) The problem is when you get to the MLB playoffs you won't be able to get games that are on ESPN1, ESPN2, or FS1, since these aren't included in the basic cable package. You will be able to get games on FOX, and TBS since they are in the basic cable package, and get games on MLB.TV, if you are a subscriber.

 

[FiveDriver]

Rereading your OP I see that you also want Nat Geo, Military, and MLB.TV. These three services don't come with the most basic cable tier of service. You would have to purchase them separately and stream them using their apps.

You were likely paying extra on your cable bill for MLB.TV already. It's $149.99 for a full season. (I'm a subscriber.) The problem is when you get to the MLB playoffs you won't be able to get games that are on ESPN1, ESPN2, or FS1, since these aren't included in the basic cable package. You will be able to get games on FOX, and TBS since they are in the basic cable package, and get games on MLB.TV, if you are a subscriber.

As much as it pains me to say it, I would be OK with no MLB.TV for the significant savings. I just looked up Spectrum's Basic cable package and it's $29 a month for the first 2 years (don't know yet what it kicks up to after the 2 years).
So Basic Cable, plus a one time charge for Roku ($50) gets tis done ?

I wonder if Turner Classic Movies is on any of these basic packages ?

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Yes, you can use the smart feature of your Samsung to stream but many people find built-in smart features to be slow to respond and clunky to use. A Roku or other streaming device is a better choice and can be had for less than $50. Well worth it, at least for me.

My 10 year old “smart” Samsung’s apps have been obsolete for several years now. Another good reason to use an external streaming device; in my case, an AppleTV.

 

[Car-Guy]

Paying $251mo for DirecTV. Pay nothing for basic streaming services but I watch it almost as much as DirecTV. I haven't tried to figure out what premium streaming services I'd buy to be equivalent to what I'm getting with DirecTV. Maybe someday I'll figure it out and switch once the streaming wars settle down.

I need to look into how to record off streaming since the DW really likes that feature on DirectTv.

 

[target2019]

This approach interests me. It seems like Basic Cable, with a separate Internet connection might be the best approach.

We had basic cable (with just the minimum channels) for about $12 per month. When we finally dropped it the price was over $20 per month. Additionally, using the cable meant we were tied into the expensive cable box rental.

And in time we just didn't watch what was on there. When we need one of those channels, it's in our Hulu Live package.

As an example, when we cut all tv cable, the bill dropped from $135 to $63 per month.

Everyone gets to choose, so if you decide to stay with the cable box for tv, additional fees, and so on, it still is cheaper than $300 per month.

 

[aja8888]

A landline (land line, land-line, main line, fixed-line, and wireline) is a telephone connection that uses metal wires from the owner's premises also referred to as: POTS, Twisted pair, telephone line or public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Oh yeah, I recall those now. I think we had one in the 1990's.

Actually, my NEW single family house built in 2023 is wired for a land line! (of which is not in use)

 

[Route246]

I switched to YouTube tv and share it with a friend which makes the monthly price half of 74 and I get a bunch of channels.

Same here, share it with my nephew. Unlimited cloud DVR, too.

 

[Qs Laptop]

As much as it pains me to say it, I would be OK with no MLB.TV for the significant savings. I just looked up Spectrum's Basic cable package and it's $29 a month for the first 2 years (don't know yet what it kicks up to after the 2 years).
So Basic Cable, plus a one time charge for Roku ($50) gets tis done ?

I wonder if Turner Classic Movies is on any of these basic packages ?

Yep, basic cable plus Roku Streaming Stick 4K would do it. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is listed at $49.99, but it's on sale almost everyday for $34.99. I went with the Roku Ultra, listed at $99.99, but is usually on sale for $79 or $89, and sometimes for $59. The Ultra has a better remote, more range on the wifi reception, and ability to use ethernet and also plug in a USB stick. If you go Ultra, be sure you get the newest one with the backlit remote keys.

I don't get Turner Classic Movies on my Xfinity basic cable; don't know about Spectrum. There is a wide variety of classic movies on Tubi, Pluto, Roku Channel, etc. and other free streaming channels. You will have ads but there are very few of them.

 

[Gotadimple]

I use a streaming stick that attaches by a dongle to the HDMI port on my TV. It's an old TV, not a smart TV, but has the HDMI port. I cancelled Xfinity at the beginning of the year (basic cable that for some reason costs $75/month) because I found I already had apps on the player (Roku) for all the channels I wanted - except local stations. Antennas don't work well in the Seattle area.

I added a You Tube TV subscription that gives local channels and plenty of other channels including some local sports live broadcast. Plus it comes with a DVR library that you can save to0, or schedule a show to watch later.

You Tube TV $74 plus sales tax
Netflix $7 plus sales tax for lowest tier with ads
Hulu $12 plus sales tax with ads
Amazon Prime subscription that I get a lot more from than streaming
Internet $50 replaced CenturyLink ($65 plus taxes & fees) with Fiber cable.

About $150 month compared to $158. So a swap for better streaming choices with little change in the total cost. And I'm dropping my landline that ran another $15 a month.

 

[MBSC]

I just looked up Spectrum's Basic cable package and it's $29 a month for the first 2 years (don't know yet what it kicks up to after the 2 years). So Basic Cable, plus a one time charge for Roku ($50) gets this done ?

If you are referring to Spectrum 'TV Choice 15', it's $29.99 for the first 2 years then $49.99, but that doesn't include $26 local broadcast fee and $10 cloud DVR. Might as well get $73 Youtube TV.

Spectrum's Basic cable does not have a promo rate. It's $10 + $26. It only has local channels, C-SPAN, music channels and shopping networks. Might as well try an antenna.

If you dump cable completely you won't be able to get the local broadcast channels (local news, NFL football) unless you have an antenna.

Youtube TV, Hulu Live TV, Fubo TV, and DirecTV Stream include the major local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) in most markets. The free PBS app includes the live national PBS channel but not the sub-channels.

 

[FiveDriver]

That Spectrum website is designed to confuse the consumer. They've got so many different flavers of Choice, Choice Plus, Select.....that's just awful.

Do the streaming plugins like Roku have all these hidden charges ?? Local Broadcast fees and such ??
Is Youtube TV a monthly fee of $73 ??

 

[Texas Proud]

What's a landline?

I went to a meeting last night and someone there said they tried to get in touch with me... I looked and said 'the problem is you called my cell phone'... I said you should call my land line...

SOOO many there said that I was the ONLY person they know that has a land line!!!

Yep, feeling old...

 

[Texas Proud]

Oh yeah, I recall those now. I think we had one in the 1990's.

Actually, my NEW single family house built in 2023 is wired for a land line! (of which is not in use)

Or just to have hand sets at different locations...

I plug in my VOIP to a phone plug and it energizes the whole house.. have a base unit downstairs that has 5 handsets...

US mobile has a home unit that uses the cell towers but does the same thing... I might be going that way... like $10 per month...