OT: B1G Cord-Cutting News - YouTube offers new monthly Live TV service $35/month

[PeteGiam07]

B1G news for sports fans!

https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/youtube-launches-youtube-tv-its-live-tv-streaming-service/

Channel Line up:

• Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of popular cable networks. YouTube TV gives you the best of live TV, from must-see broadcast shows like “Empire,” “The Voice,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Scandal,” to the live sports you want. YouTube TV includes major sports networks like ESPN and regional sports networks like Fox Sports Networks and Comcast SportsNet, so you can watch your favorite NBA or MLB teams. We’ve also partnered with local TV stations, so you’ll also get sports and local news based on where you live. And YouTube TV offers dozens of additional cable channels, so you won’t miss out on the latest news from MSNBC or Fox News, popular shows and movies from USA or FX, kids programming from the Disney Channel or Sprout, or reality TV from E! or Bravo. You can also add Showtime, or Fox Soccer Plus to your networks for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV gives you access to more than 40 networks, listed below.
• A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, you’ll be able to record live TV and never run out of storage. Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months.
• A service that works great on all your screens. You can watch YouTube TV on any screen—mobile, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV. YouTube TV works on both Android and iOS. And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever and wherever you want.
• YouTube Red Originals. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right on the new YouTube TV app.
• Six accounts, one price. Every YouTube TV membership comes with six accounts, each with its own unique recommendations and personal DVR with no storage limits. You can watch up to three concurrent streams at a time.
• Half the cost of cable with zero commitments. A YouTube TV membership is only $35 a month and there are no commitments—you can cancel anytime.

 

[LevaosLectures]

Interesting...

 

[R1776U]

hmmmmmmmm... one more step to a la carte....

 

[Knight Shift]

hope it works better than youtube. videos freeze and stutter.

 

[RUinOhio]

the DVR thing is huge, but not a lot of channels...and not sure if it would be HD using chromecast?

I'm paying $35 for Directv Now, and it's north of 100 channels, with DVR service (supposedly) coming soon. And with that you can use it on AppleTV or Firesticks. Full HD.

 

[Knight Shift]

really need a true a la carte service. Still a lot of unused channels in that package like disney and freeform. wonder if local option will have YES and SNY and MSG, which are must haves for local sports fans.

 

[Abro1975]

Could be great for bars , too.

 

[Myrtleknight]

I have directv now. Got the intro package for $35 a month. 2 things with this.

No way in hell I'm getting this until user reviews come out. Directv now was terrible the first 6 weeks.

If YouTube has the nfl on cbs and directv now still does not, I'll likely make the switch.

 

[miketd1]

Won't the cable companies just jack up the internet access rates in response?

Because there are so few companies actually "competing" in this media "marketplace", I honestly think this fragmentation hurts everyone in the long run.

Pay $100 for 100 channels you don't need or $150 for the three you do which happen to each be on separate, exclusive access networks. One for NFL, one for BigTen, and another for kids channels.

Right now, everyone subsidizes each other's viewing habits creating the opportunity for niche TV networks I never thought I'd be interested in (Velocity, Smithsonian, HGTV, FoodNetwork, etc.).

If we go to a fully a la carte market, I'm not sure many of these channels even get off the ground -- too much risk to pour good money into unproven markets. So what you'll get is low quality stuff that no one watches "proving" to TV execs that there's no market for it in the first place.

Or I could be completely wrong.
I hope I am.

 

[Ataylor1989x]

There are some other odd quirks. NFL content will be available on TV and PC, but not on mobile, where Verizon has the exclusive streaming rights.

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/28/1...g-tv-service-announced-hd-live-cable-channels

 

[PeteGiam07]

Could be great for bars , too.

I thought about that, but I would assume bars find ways to write off their cable packages for business/tax purposes so it probably isn't worth it. Having a service support center able to come to their business probably also helps them out too.

 

[PhilaPhans]

The key is how do you manage to find cheap enough internet to make it worthwhile?

 

[Toddwills00]

PlayStation Vue already has a very similar package with NFL Network and more channels. They have different price points but I currently have the $44.99 package which also has unlimited DVR. Only thing I am missing is SNY for the Mets but it does have the Yes Network.

 

[SJScarlet]

The key is how do you manage to find cheap enough internet to make it worthwhile?

This is why I lol at people touting the "cord cutting" trend. $35 a month, separate internet service from your friendly neighborhood ISP such as Comcast or Verizon and voila! You have saved about $0 for way less channels with the quality and reliability of watching YouTube!

 

[PhilaPhans]

Although if I have 6 different accounts (like Netflix having a bunch), then I may not be saving any money, but my brother and sister may be saving money by using my accounts. That's the way I'd think of it. But yeah, I essentially would be paying very close to what I pay for TV/Internet if I just got internet (Comcast). Not many choices outside of that here.

 

[DHajekRC84]

My Direct TV loyalty rebates just ran out. $60 per month discount that a year ago the rep said, when these run out call back and we'll re-install them for another year.

Well I did and they wouldn't. 4 HD Sets with direct billing (so I get free HD service) and the damn thing just went up to $150/month. I don't have the top end listing..and zero premium channel. $150/month to watch about 10 different channels between my wife and I.

$100 for both Internet and TV would save me @ least $115 a month. Screw these guys. Thanks for the tip. (my son has the Direct Now for the Orig $20..and I saw it the other night with no issues)

 

[PeteGiam07]

the DVR thing is huge, but not a lot of channels...and not sure if it would be HD using chromecast?

I'm paying $35 for Directv Now, and it's north of 100 channels, with DVR service (supposedly) coming soon. And with that you can use it on AppleTV or Firesticks. Full HD.

Streaming content is HD. It is the Cable companies that can't keep up with HD/4K content.

This is why I lol at people touting the "cord cutting" trend. $35 a month, separate internet service from your friendly neighborhood ISP such as Comcast or Verizon and voila! You have saved about $0 for way less channels with the quality and reliability of watching YouTube!

You are misinformed. Actually YouTube has great 4K quality you will find out there.

I have an OTA antenna (HD Clear and have people amazed by the clarity) in my attic that gives me all local channels plus others I don't watch for a total of 35 channels. I then have internet through cablevision at $45 a month (renegotiate yearly), netflix for about $13 (which I let my elderly parents use too), and amazon prime for $11 a month.

So I pay $69 a month for internet and my TV entertainment. That is $828 a year. I would assume most on this board pay this for 4 months worth a cable maybe less.

With this service I can get my college football and B1G Ten Network for 4 months and sign up/cancel as needed. So that is $104 a month for 4 months and $69 a month for 8 months. So that is $968 a year for what I want to watch.

The big money saver is signing up and cancelling when ever you want too. It gives you the freedom to bounce around to competitors as you want to also, Vue, Sling, DirectTV etc...

 

[SJScarlet]

Streaming content is HD. It is the Cable companies that can't keep up with HD/4K content.




You are misinformed. Actually YouTube has great 4K quality you will find out there.

I have an OTA antenna (HD Clear and have people amazed by the clarity) in my attic that gives me all local channels plus others I don't watch for a total of 35 channels. I then have internet through cablevision at $45 a month (renegotiate yearly), netflix for about $13 (which I let my elderly parents use too), and amazon prime for $11 a month.

So I pay $69 a month for internet and my TV entertainment. That is $828 a year. I would assume most on this board pay this for 4 months worth a cable maybe less.

With this service I can get my college football and B1G Ten Network for 4 months and sign up/cancel as needed. So that is $104 a month for 4 months and $69 a month for 8 months. So that is $968 a year for what I want to watch.

The big money saver is signing up and cancelling when ever you want too. It gives you the freedom to bounce around to competitors as you want to also, Vue, Sling, DirectTV etc...

Points well taken. It's the "renegotiate yearly" part that helps you keep your costs down though. Most providers people use don't offer internet-only service at desirable speeds for that low a price, and a big reason for that is they want to force you into buying their tv service as well. If those internet service prices start to come down, then yes there will be many others like you and the tv service business model will fall apart. and at that point, much of the content/channels available now will go away as no one will be willing to pay for it.

 

[krup]

This is why I lol at people touting the "cord cutting" trend. $35 a month, separate internet service from your friendly neighborhood ISP such as Comcast or Verizon and voila! You have saved about $0 for way less channels with the quality and reliability of watching YouTube!

The thing is that all of these lower priced options like Vue, Sling and now YouTube are only low priced because the vast majority of the country is still paying monthly carriage fees and, in effect, subsidizing these new options. As the world switches to a true a la carte model the price points will get much higher as the content generators lose that guaranteed cable income.

It's fine for the people who want to take trade convenience for savings now, but long term people will overall be paying a similar amount as they do now for a cable package, just to several places instead of bundled to one cable/sat company.

 

[RUseaweed]

My Direct TV loyalty rebates just ran out. $60 per month discount that a year ago the rep said, when these run out call back and we'll re-install them for another year.

Well I did and they wouldn't. 4 HD Sets with direct billing (so I get free HD service) and the damn thing just went up to $150/month. I don't have the top end listing..and zero premium channel. $150/month to watch about 10 different channels between my wife and I.

Similar story here. My total bill was about $80. The discounts ran out and it went up to $130. I called and said there's no way I'm going that high, and they offered me $20 off a month. I said that's still insane and I'm going to cancel, and now I have Dish for $60 a month.

DirecTV's customer service used to work any deal imaginable to retain you. Maybe the merger with AT&T has them needing to rein in the discounts. Either way I get letters every month from them asking me to come back.

 

[FanuSanu52]

This is why I lol at people touting the "cord cutting" trend. $35 a month, separate internet service from your friendly neighborhood ISP such as Comcast or Verizon and voila! You have saved about $0 for way less channels with the quality and reliability of watching YouTube!

You'll definitely save money in the short term. Whether ISPs jack up Internet prices or not remains to be seen. The cord cutting trend is a good one, if only for creating options and making folks realize they don't need to spend so much time surfing through 200 channels.

I planned on canceling cable this week anyway and will likely try this or PSU Vue come football season.

Wish I didn't like sports so much ...it'd be Netflix, Amazon and the occasional on demand movie.

 

[FanuSanu52]

The thing is that all of these lower priced options like Vue, Sling and now YouTube are only low priced because the vast majority of the country is still paying monthly carriage fees and, in effect, subsidizing these new options. As the world switches to a true a la carte model the price points will get much higher as the content generators lose that guaranteed cable income.

It's fine for the people who want to take trade convenience for savings now, but long term people will overall be paying a similar amount as they do now for a cable package, just to several places instead of bundled to one cable/sat company.

Says you. People, especially younger people, have been proving they're willing to dump paid TV completely. Eliminate affordable options and people will start dumping en masse. Still plenty of free content, legal and illegal out there. L

 

[JERSEYROOTS]

I recently cut the cord in our household (after months of convincing my wife). We currently utilize a Roku Stick primarily for Sling TV. You can easily get in and out of packages from month to month, which we like.

That said, this is very interesting (mostly because of the inclusion of BTN. I'll have to take a look to see if there are options for HBO (vital in our home).

Thanks for sharing!

 

[FanuSanu52]

HBO has its own streaming service for around $15 a month.

 

[JMORC2003]

Won't the cable companies just jack up the internet access rates in response?

Because there are so few companies actually "competing" in this media "marketplace", I honestly think this fragmentation hurts everyone in the long run.

Pay $100 for 100 channels you don't need or $150 for the three you do which happen to each be on separate, exclusive access networks. One for NFL, one for BigTen, and another for kids channels.

Right now, everyone subsidizes each other's viewing habits creating the opportunity for niche TV networks I never thought I'd be interested in (Velocity, Smithsonian, HGTV, FoodNetwork, etc.).

If we go to a fully a la carte market, I'm not sure many of these channels even get off the ground -- too much risk to pour good money into unproven markets. So what you'll get is low quality stuff that no one watches "proving" to TV execs that there's no market for it in the first place.

Or I could be completely wrong.
I hope I am.

This plus unless they start making their own content, they'll have to license it (either library or as distribution deals). Networks will say if you want this, then you have to buy this too (you want to carry AMC on your OTT for $10, then you have to carry AMC and IFC for $15). Same as when Army used to sell single game tix for when RU came to visit (you'd have to buy the Duke game as a "discount package").

They could start making their own stuff, but it's crazy expensive. And the media companies are too smart and have too much money to lose by just letting their brands and content go out piece by piece.

 

[krup]

Says you. People, especially younger people, have been proving they're willing to dump paid TV completely. Eliminate affordable options and people will start dumping en masse. Still plenty of free content, legal and illegal out there. L

The affordable options can only exist because a lot of people are still willing to pay more than they could because they don't want the inconvenience or illegality of the cheaper/free options. The money has to come from somewhere or a lot of the content goes away. These aren't charities generating the content.

 

[DHajekRC84]

DirecTV's customer service used to work any deal imaginable to retain you. Maybe the merger with AT&T has them needing to rein in the discounts. Either way I get letters every month from them asking me to come back.

exactly ... my experience with their CS dept. had always been stellar...and answered phone right away. This time had to make multiple calls due to delays in getting answered after holding for 15+ mins and then bounced around between people who knew nothing. So that's another reason for the disappointment. And an $8 increase for services or about 7%..again...really? buh-bye.

hey, was returning all the equipment a big deal and did you leave your DTV dish on the house "just in case"?

 

[RUfinal4]

this is a good 1st step for cord cutting. It appears this is mostly a sports package where ABC / ESPN throws in the old ABC Family (Free From).

Technology should drive this. Once 5G comes out you may not need a physical cable for tv. Wireless tv using Sling, Apple TV, Roku, or other companies may be the future.

in 2007 much of the tech we have today was a dream. Imagine what 2027 will bring. By then you may have self driving cars, TV anywhere via web account through 5g wireless carriers, affordable battery Tesla type cars where gas stations also have electric charging, plus lots of more advancements, and .... the same NJ Transit trains as today that were built in the 90s :)

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

The key is how do you manage to find cheap enough internet to make it worthwhile?

There is no cheap internet.

Basically there is cable or getting one of those MoFI things and trying to get it to work with anything that isn't a laptop.

 

[RUseaweed]

hey, was returning all the equipment a big deal and did you leave your DTV dish on the house "just in case"?

I returned the DVR in a package they sent me (got a $90 gift card to make up for the deposit). They never asked for the dish so I threw it in a dumpster...hopefully it's making some mouse at a dump a happy home.

 

[PeteGiam07]

Points well taken. It's the "renegotiate yearly" part that helps you keep your costs down though. Most providers people use don't offer internet-only service at desirable speeds for that low a price, and a big reason for that is they want to force you into buying their tv service as well. If those internet service prices start to come down, then yes there will be many others like you and the tv service business model will fall apart. and at that point, much of the content/channels available now will go away as no one will be willing to pay for it.

Well to be honest with you, I only have 25/25 internet so this is the lowest of the low. The normal price is like $54 so I'm only saving $10 a month for internet only at these speeds and negotiating. I have never had a problem streaming 2 things at once (My household is only 2 people) and using mobile internet at the same time. I even have a ecobee smart thermostat hooked up to my wifi constantly, along with Sonos Speakers system which uses wifi constantly.

Optimum (my provider) had (has? not sure) a "cord cutter" package which is what I started with. It was $45 a month and they even gave me a free OTA flatwave TV antenna, which I didn't use but it was a nice perk to get you started.

My last domino for my desired viewing was getting live sports for college football and having that BTN for Rutgers games. This is it for me, I will use this and watch the competition begin between streaming services... :pimp:

 

[rucoe89]

BUBBLE BURST ALERT

The YouTube package sounds great and is moving in the direction consumers want. However, whether longer term cost savings will be achieved is another story. The FCC right now under new Chairman Pai is pushing to remove Net Neutrality rules, which heavily favors Internet provides such as Verizon and Comcast (which I understand many of you may work for). As this is looking more like when rather than if, it will give the Internet provides power over pricing based on things such as bandwidth and usage. In the cord cutting scenario that is desired it could mean paying $35 / month for content, but $100 to $200 / month (e.g., based on usage, bandwidth consumed, and even websites or content sites used) for delivery of that content. Over time, as their are very few Internet providers, you may find yourself paying significantly more that what you pay today in view of the changes being pushed as the FCC.

 

[FanuSanu52]

The affordable options can only exist because a lot of people are still willing to pay more than they could because they don't want the inconvenience or illegality of the cheaper/free options. The money has to come from somewhere or a lot of the content goes away. These aren't charities generating the content.

So then a lot of content goes away. Supply, demand.

I'll cut back to OTA only if I have to. Plenty others already have.

 

[PeteGiam07]

BUBBLE BURST ALERT

The YouTube package sounds great and is moving in the direction consumers want. However, whether longer term cost savings will be achieved is another story. The FCC right now under new Chairman Pai is pushing to remove Net Neutrality rules, which heavily favors Internet provides such as Verizon and Comcast (which I understand many of you may work for). As this is looking more like when rather than if, it will give the Internet provides power over pricing based on things such as bandwidth and usage. In the cord cutting scenario that is desired it could mean paying $35 / month for content, but $100 to $200 / month (e.g., based on usage, bandwidth consumed, and even websites or content sites used) for delivery of that content. Over time, as their are very few Internet providers, you may find yourself paying significantly more that what you pay today in view of the changes being pushed as the FCC.

No one's bubble is bursting, don't worry.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Wonder if Google will quicken pace on its Internet now that it has a subscription TV service, not to mention a million other services and devices.

It's available an hour from me ... just a little farther.

 

[c_husk]

B1G news for sports fans!

https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/youtube-launches-youtube-tv-its-live-tv-streaming-service/

Channel Line up:

• Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of popular cable networks. YouTube TV gives you the best of live TV, from must-see broadcast shows like “Empire,” “The Voice,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Scandal,” to the live sports you want. YouTube TV includes major sports networks like ESPN and regional sports networks like Fox Sports Networks and Comcast SportsNet, so you can watch your favorite NBA or MLB teams. We’ve also partnered with local TV stations, so you’ll also get sports and local news based on where you live. And YouTube TV offers dozens of additional cable channels, so you won’t miss out on the latest news from MSNBC or Fox News, popular shows and movies from USA or FX, kids programming from the Disney Channel or Sprout, or reality TV from E! or Bravo. You can also add Showtime, or Fox Soccer Plus to your networks for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV gives you access to more than 40 networks, listed below.
• A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, you’ll be able to record live TV and never run out of storage. Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months.
• A service that works great on all your screens. You can watch YouTube TV on any screen—mobile, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV. YouTube TV works on both Android and iOS. And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever and wherever you want.
• YouTube Red Originals. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right on the new YouTube TV app.
• Six accounts, one price. Every YouTube TV membership comes with six accounts, each with its own unique recommendations and personal DVR with no storage limits. You can watch up to three concurrent streams at a time.
• Half the cost of cable with zero commitments. A YouTube TV membership is only $35 a month and there are no commitments—you can cancel anytime.

Do you still need cable access? Or do you just need internet / wifi access?

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Amazon Prime is looking to offer sports, still early:
http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/amazon-sports-rights-prime-video-1201923915/

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

can you fast forward through commercials?

 

[tico brown]

Amazon Prime is looking to offer sports, still early:
http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/amazon-sports-rights-prime-video-1201923915/

Just start by have B1G Network on Amazon Fire TV

 

[czxqa]

really need a true a la carte service. Still a lot of unused channels in that package like disney and freeform. wonder if local option will have YES and SNY and MSG, which are must haves for local sports fans.

Haha you obviously don't have any teenage or young girls in the house. I'd have a mutiny on my hands if I got rid of their Disney and Freeform...

 

[Knight Shift]

Haha you obviously don't have any teenage or young girls in the house. I'd have a mutiny on my hands if I got rid of their Disney and Freeform...

Teenage girls?

:scream::scream::scream::scream:

Just a joke. Not interested in teenage girls. Please don't hunt me down and wound or kill me.