OT: Cord Cutting Revisited...

[RUevolution36]

Good breakdown. Only other thing I'd think about...do you need TV and/or Netflix year-round?

I often cancel my TV streaming package between Feb and Aug. Maybe it's changed, but cable didnt allow you to cancel and restart that way. Cutting that monthly out for six or seven months is a nice chunk of change.

Also, I found that having four or five streaming services + a TV package was just totally too much. I had Hulu with TV, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime and dropped Netflix and Disney. I can't keep up with all that, anyway, especially during MLB and FB season. And I can always cancel one and re-add another.

There's also some good free content out there if you look. It's easy to overspend so that you have access to all content all the time, which is extraneous for average viewers ...more than you can keep up with.

Netflix year round isn't a must have, but is included in my cable package - we do watch it plenty, so $14/mo

Disney/Hulu/ESPN is a package at $14 not including live tv.

YTTV for general stuff my wife and i watch would be $65

HBO is included in my cell plan - no cost

Prime streaming is just an added benefit...I got Prime for free 2 day shipping, not streaming - would pay for this anyway

Discovery+ - my wife and i watch a lot of stuff on their networks - $7/mo

Peacock - I need my Premier League fix - $5/mo

So, for the most part, my cable package covers pretty much all of it. Plus I get 800mb internet service, which is listed at $106/mo, but with all the other fees and such, would end up being closer to $120+ or so with fees. that's plus the $105/mo in other stuff, which adds up to just about what I currently spend on my all-in-Xfinity bill.

 

[DanceAppreciationTA]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this but you can split YoutubeTV if you're in the same region with up to 5 people (not really supposed to but they haven't cracked down in the years we've had it). The other perk is I can watch on any device! Phone, ipad, laptop, etc ... Seamless transition and great recording options.

Only downfall, limit 3 screens can watch at one time and you pay extra for 4k

 

[fsg2]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this but you can split YoutubeTV if you're in the same region with up to 5 people (not really supposed to but they haven't cracked down in the years we've had it). The other perk is I can watch on any device! Phone, ipad, laptop, etc ... Seamless transition and great recording options.

Only downfall, limit 3 screens can watch at one time and you pay extra for 4k

So if you split it with 5 people, only 3 can watch at once?

 

[rutgersguy1]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this but you can split YoutubeTV if you're in the same region with up to 5 people (not really supposed to but they haven't cracked down in the years we've had it). The other perk is I can watch on any device! Phone, ipad, laptop, etc ... Seamless transition and great recording options.

Only downfall, limit 3 screens can watch at one time and you pay extra for 4k

I haven’t done that but know people who do. If my family members make a switch I’ll look to do the same.

 

[krup]

Have you looked at the new DTV Stream service?

I have been on Direct TV for years and am so fed up with them I wouldn't be able to bring myself to sign up for their streaming.

 

[S_Janowski]

So...have you all calculated what your total spend on the separate services is compared to just paying for cable?

I do need live sports, so I feel like, total spend, I would end up around the same, with the extra headache of remembering which service I need to log into to watch what i want to watch.

I pay for Amazon Prime for various purposes, Netflix is included with my cable package, HBO Max comes with my cell service, my family uses a shared Disney+ account, so i'm not sure cutting the TV portion of my cable bill makes a big difference if I have to pay $60/mo for YT TV.

I don’t think the cord cutters are saving that much money anymore especially if you watch sports. All of the streaming services have upped their prices big time from a couple years ago (YouTube, Hulu).

My 2 year contract was just up with Comcast and they quoted me at $89.99 for internet (not sure what speed but they said comparable to what I have currently). So cutting the cord would have actually been more expensive then renewing for another 2 years. I get BIG, DVR and voice remote so I’m happy.

Also with Comcast you only need one box as you can stream TV straight through a Smart TV and their app.

In the end these cable companies and streaming services with always have us by the balls. It was only a matter of time before it all evened out.

 

[fsg2]

Hasn't evened out, and they don't really have you by the balls, either. Not if you learn to watch less. That's the underlying Trump card of cord cutting.

 

[WhoRU?]

On cost, I'm probably saving some... but not a ton. At this point, I like Youtube TV better. I can access the unlimited DVR from anywhere. There's no contract and the cost doesn't creep up and have to be negotiated - I don't have the time for that anymore. I have a FireTV, so the remote is compact, and it works everything.

 

[Knight Shift]

Hasn't evened out, and they don't really have you by the balls, either. Not if you learn to watch less. That's the underlying Trump card of cord cutting.

Sounds like you are good at Biden your time on watching less TV?
Orange you glad you watch less TV? 😉

To your point, I do find myself watching less TV now that I have YouTubeTV. Found myself watching AXS whenever nothing was on TV, which was a lot of the time. Now without AXS, I turn it off, and listen to live radio more often while doing other more productive things.

 

[fsg2]

Sounds like you are good at Biden your time on watching less TV?
Orange you glad you watch less TV? 😉

To your point, I do find myself watching less TV now that I have YouTubeTV. Found myself watching AXS whenever nothing was on TV, which was a lot of the time. Now, I turn it off, and listen to live radio more often while doing other more productive things.

Yeah, when I had cable (and before kids) I watched hours of questionable trash regularly. Going to just Netflix/Amazon really thinned that out to focusing on a few programs I really like, instead of just flipping around to the best of what's on.

Now, when I get live TV for FB season, there's no going back to watching pure junk. Sports, select shows I really like, or do something more productive. And the idea of canceling paid TV all together, should it get too expensive or inflexible, really isn't so crazy.

And lol ..they auto-cap Trump now.

 

[Knight Shift]

Yeah, when I had cable (and before kids) I watched hours of questionable trash regularly. Going to just Netflix/Amazon really thinned that out to focusing on a few programs I really like, instead of just flipping around to the best of what's on.

Now, when I get live TV for FB season, there's no going back to watching pure junk. Sports, select shows I really like, or do something more productive. And the idea of canceling paid TV all together, should it get too expensive or inflexible, really isn't so crazy.

And lol ..they auto-cap Trump now.

Watching a lot less news nowadays. There seems to be a lot less "news." Haven't looked in a while but news channels have taken a beating. Not missing any of those fringe news channels like Newsmax and OAN and Newsy, but I do miss the late night WWII newsreel films Newsmax used to run, which was great insomnia theater.

 

[Scarlet4ever]

OK, so I'm much closer to considering this than I was a couple of years ago when the big thread started. I'm in South Jersey in a development without an option for FIOS, so for internet, I'm pretty much limited to Comcast/Xfinity. I'll be calling them today for their internet-only pricing. Re: TV, we are in a family plan with Verizon with unlimited data so we qualify for their bundle of Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for free, so that's pretty awesome.

But that brings me to my question: I know a lot if cord cutters have gone either the Youtube TV or the Hulu route. In my case, because of the Verizon Wireless deal, it makes sense to go Hulu. That said, for those of you who are also Hulu subscribers, are you satisfied? Any buffer issues? DVR good with Hulu? And are you pretty much good to go to get most/all Rutgers games? I'm a football and a men's basketball fan so those are the two I'd want to maintain if I kill my Xfinity bundle.

TIA!

Do yourself a favor and look up what internet only connections you can get as a NEW customer. If they don’t match that pricing for the quality of signal you are looking for be ready to cancel your account and schedule a startup (as a new customer) a day or so after your shutoff date.

 

[RUevolution36]

Do yourself a favor and look up what internet only connections you can get as a NEW customer. If they don’t match that pricing for the quality of signal you are looking for be ready to cancel your account and schedule a startup (as a new customer) a day or so after your shutoff date.

"Hey boss, sorry, won't be able to work on Wednesday because I'm canceling my internet service for a day so that I can save $20"

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Every time I try to cut the cord they sucker me in with some crazy deal but I think This time will be really it for me. Once my contract runs out I will keep internet and drop cable at long last.

 

[Raritan83]

Haven't physically had the cable in my tv since end of last year but still haven't cut it.

On an expired FiOS deal where being charged $85/month for internet and tv including the sports channels. Just won't save much getting rid of it.

What has helped is I own my own modem/router and also bought tivo boxes years ago I use so I am paying no equipment fees.

Once BTN goes direct to consumer I will cancel and just do that.

 

[Block R]

Do yourself a favor and look up what internet only connections you can get as a NEW customer. If they don’t match that pricing for the quality of signal you are looking for be ready to cancel your account and schedule a startup (as a new customer) a day or so after your shutoff date.

This was the off-the-record advice I received from a Comcast employee in-person about 3 years ago. He said it can take up to a week before you “clear the system” and then become a new customer and we all know new customers get the best rates (wink, wink). Downgrading to internet only as an existing Triple Play customer was a terrible deal at the time and probably still is. I had decided to cancel right before a vacation to minimize the impact but when they transferred me to retention, I got them to agree to remove the “HD Technology” fee which I argued was ridiculous and throw in a steep discount on the DVR service so I kept my existing Triple Play package. The math worked out in my favor and I’m perpetually stuck with Comcast for internet since Fios isn’t in my neighborhood. I read they are not as flexible when you threaten to cancel now. I do pay quite a bit more now but I’ve since upgraded to the package that includes their highest tier internet and gets you free Netflix (which I had already been paying for) to defray the increase a bit.

One thing to consider if you’re going to be stuck with Comcast but otherwise “cutting the cord” is data caps. Comcast has introduced data caps in ~27 states already. Like a mobile plan, if you consume more than 1.2 TB in a month, they charge you for each additional 50gb. They’ve advertised they will introduce these caps in the Northeast states for years now but they keep pushing out the dates, most recently due to the pandemic but Fios competition has certainly played a role. The current target is early 2022.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Dispute between NBC and Google. Google says if it can't resolve dispute it will reduce price by 10 bucks/month while NBC networks aren't available. Says customers can cancel any time and sign up for Peacock for 5 bucks/month. September 30th is the deadline.

Outside of CNBC I'm not sure I watch any of these channels much when I think about it.

From the article:

Responding via a blog post, Google says negotiations are ongoing and that it’s seeking the “the same rates that services of a similar size get from NBCU” and for YouTube TV to be treated like “any other TV provider.” Google added that if it’s unable to reach an agreement it’ll drop its US prices by $10 (bringing its monthly price down from $64.99 to $54.99) while NBCU’s lineup is off the service. Google says that customers are free to cancel anytime and can sign up for Peacock separately for $4.99 a month.

Variety reports that there are several points of contention in the ongoing negotiations. NBCU is reportedly asking for higher rates for its channels than Google is willing to pay, and wants YouTube TV to bundle NBC’s Peacock video streaming service.

NBC gets super aggressive in YouTube TV dispute

Over a dozen channels could go after September 30th.

www.theverge.com

 

[RUevolution36]

Dispute between NBC and Google. Google says if it can't resolve dispute it will reduce price by 10 bucks/month while NBC networks aren't available. Says customers can cancel any time and sign up for Peacock for 5 bucks/month. September 30th is the deadline.

Outside of CNBC I'm not sure I watch any of these channels much when I think about it.

From the article:

Responding via a blog post, Google says negotiations are ongoing and that it’s seeking the “the same rates that services of a similar size get from NBCU” and for YouTube TV to be treated like “any other TV provider.” Google added that if it’s unable to reach an agreement it’ll drop its US prices by $10 (bringing its monthly price down from $64.99 to $54.99) while NBCU’s lineup is off the service. Google says that customers are free to cancel anytime and can sign up for Peacock separately for $4.99 a month.

Variety reports that there are several points of contention in the ongoing negotiations. NBCU is reportedly asking for higher rates for its channels than Google is willing to pay, and wants YouTube TV to bundle NBC’s Peacock video streaming service.

NBC gets super aggressive in YouTube TV dispute

Over a dozen channels could go after September 30th.

www.theverge.com

It would make sense since Comcast owns NBCU. If they're going to lose subscribers to YTTV, they are going to want a pound of flesh from YT in order to carry NBCU content.

 

[rutgersguy1]

It would make sense since Comcast owns NBCU. If they're going to lose subscribers to YTTV, they are going to want a pound of flesh from YT in order to carry NBCU content.

Seems like they want(need) help with distribution of Peacock and of course Google with YouTube would be a good medium for it.

 

[krup]

It would make sense since Comcast owns NBCU. If they're going to lose subscribers to YTTV, they are going to want a pound of flesh from YT in order to carry NBCU content.

Comcast has always been a pain in the ass. I just recently got rid of Direct TV and my local market was considered to be Philadelphia, but I for years I got no Philly sports channels because Comcast and DTV could never agree on a fee.

At this point I would be happy to pay $10 less on my YouTube TV if they lose the NBC channels. I can just use “other methods” to watch the few things I would care about like Sun night football and some EPL matches.

 

[gmay8]

My house flooded and got demo'd down to the studs... we're out of the house for about 6 months in a rental one town over. I have Comcast Xfinity in my house. For the rental, I didn't want to deal with cable boxes and moving service and all of that. So i cancelled Comcast (they didn't charge cancellation fee because of flood), turned on FIOS internet in the rental and am just working with Hulu Live for now... i also have netflix and disney+. But I'm amazed how easy it has been with Hulu Live and I realize i basically only watch a half dozen channels anyway, outside of netflix and the streaming stuff.

I wonder if I ever go back to cable when I move back into my actual house. For anyone interested in Hulu Live, I've been very happy with it so far... (about 1 week in).

 

[nick614]

Its pretty much to the point where cord cutting is not worth it anymore. In the future, it might even be more so as most of these OTT services aren't making any money yet, so once more consolidation happens, the prices will go up even more.

 

[fsg2]

Its pretty much to the point where cord cutting is not worth it anymore. In the future, it might even be more so as most of these OTT services aren't making any money yet, so once more consolidation happens, the prices will go up even more.

No, it's still worth it.

 

[Knight Shift]

My house flooded and got demo'd down to the studs... we're out of the house for about 6 months in a rental one town over. I have Comcast Xfinity in my house. For the rental, I didn't want to deal with cable boxes and moving service and all of that. So i cancelled Comcast (they didn't charge cancellation fee because of flood), turned on FIOS internet in the rental and am just working with Hulu Live for now... i also have netflix and disney+. But I'm amazed how easy it has been with Hulu Live and I realize i basically only watch a half dozen channels anyway, outside of netflix and the streaming stuff.

I wonder if I ever go back to cable when I move back into my actual house. For anyone interested in Hulu Live, I've been very happy with it so far... (about 1 week in).

Flooded? IIRC, you were one town West of me on the peninsula (we moved in 2017). Flood from the Navesink or rainwater runoff?

 

[Knight Shift]

Dispute between NBC and Google. Google says if it can't resolve dispute it will reduce price by 10 bucks/month while NBC networks aren't available. Says customers can cancel any time and sign up for Peacock for 5 bucks/month. September 30th is the deadline.

Outside of CNBC I'm not sure I watch any of these channels much when I think about it.

From the article:

Responding via a blog post, Google says negotiations are ongoing and that it’s seeking the “the same rates that services of a similar size get from NBCU” and for YouTube TV to be treated like “any other TV provider.” Google added that if it’s unable to reach an agreement it’ll drop its US prices by $10 (bringing its monthly price down from $64.99 to $54.99) while NBCU’s lineup is off the service. Google says that customers are free to cancel anytime and can sign up for Peacock separately for $4.99 a month.

Variety reports that there are several points of contention in the ongoing negotiations. NBCU is reportedly asking for higher rates for its channels than Google is willing to pay, and wants YouTube TV to bundle NBC’s Peacock video streaming service.

NBC gets super aggressive in YouTube TV dispute

Over a dozen channels could go after September 30th.

www.theverge.com

I could live with all of NBC's properties except for SNY, but does it really matter since the Mets season has been over since the beginning of September?

Also, Google pulled some sort of stunt with Roku too. Google seem like they can be pricks to deal with.

"YouTube TV may also drop NBC Sports regional networks including NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY and NBC Sports Washington"

 

[gmay8]

Flooded? IIRC, you were one town West of me on the peninsula (we moved in 2017). Flood from the Navesink or rainwater runoff?

Neither! A freak pipe burst in upstairs bathroom on a Saturday afternoon while we weren't home all day... they are doing a bunch of water main work on River Road, plumber said he suspects the pipe had a defective part and when there were massive water pressure fluctuations the defective piece popped off... water ran uninterrupted in my house from upstairs bathroom through entire house for hours... collapsed ceilings, popped out walls, and took out 80% of the flooring in my house and entire finished basement .
I found a rental in your old town... major pain

 

[Knight Shift]

Neither! A freak pipe burst in upstairs bathroom on a Saturday afternoon while we weren't home all day... they are doing a bunch of water main work on River Road, plumber said he suspects the pipe had a defective part and when there were massive water pressure fluctuations the defective piece popped off... water ran uninterrupted in my house from upstairs bathroom through entire house for hours... collapsed ceilings, popped out walls, and took out 80% of the flooring in my house and entire finished basement .
I found a rental in your old town... major pain

Oh, that is awful. Sorry to hear it. You had done quite a bit of renovation work.

 

[nick614]

No, it's still worth it.

Maybe for some but I can get internet and the tv stations I want for less than YoutubeTV or any other combo. And I'm not watching 720p garbage.

 

[Terry_2426]

Maybe for some but I can get internet and the tv stations I want for less than YoutubeTV or any other combo. And I'm not watching 720p garbage.

guess you’re not watching much sports then if you’re not watching 720p lol

 

[ponyfoot19]

Anyone ask their US Senator or House of Representative member why they don't prod the Department of Justice to take on service providers like they did with AT&T years ago? A county, community or neighborhood should not be limited to one provider. As Covid showed, high speed internet access should be viewed as a utility essential as access to electricity and heat.

 

[nick614]

guess you’re not watching much sports then if you’re not watching 720p lol

The only Tv I watch is ~13-14 OSU games a year and OTA signal is way better than streaming

 

[RUsojo]

OK, so I'm much closer to considering this than I was a couple of years ago when the big thread started. I'm in South Jersey in a development without an option for FIOS, so for internet, I'm pretty much limited to Comcast/Xfinity. I'll be calling them today for their internet-only pricing. Re: TV, we are in a family plan with Verizon with unlimited data so we qualify for their bundle of Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for free, so that's pretty awesome.

But that brings me to my question: I know a lot if cord cutters have gone either the Youtube TV or the Hulu route. In my case, because of the Verizon Wireless deal, it makes sense to go Hulu. That said, for those of you who are also Hulu subscribers, are you satisfied? Any buffer issues? DVR good with Hulu? And are you pretty much good to go to get most/all Rutgers games? I'm a football and a men's basketball fan so those are the two I'd want to maintain if I kill my Xfinity bundle.

TIA!

Cut the cord two weeks ago (Comcast/Xfinity) and went with YouTubeTV and couldn’t be happier.

Im an avid bettor that was skeptical of the delay in life sports and it has barely impacted me or my viewing experience.

Saving about $65 a month and most days don’t even remember I cut as nothing has changed. In fact it’s better as I always have TV in my pocket on the phone wherever I go.

 

[Terry_2426]

The only Tv I watch is ~13-14 OSU games a year and OTA signal is way better than streaming

For sure, it definitely looks better because it's not compressed (and being ahead of cable feeds is even better) but it is still a 720p picture OTA

 

[Tango Two]

YouTube TV may lose NBC and 14 other channels​

YouTube TV may lose NBC and other channels: Here are 3 alternative streaming services for cord-cutters

YouTube TV may lose as many as 14 channels in a carriage fight with NBCU. In the event that happens, here are some potential alternatives.

www.nj.com

 

[rutgersguy1]

YouTube TV may lose NBC and 14 other channels​

YouTube TV may lose NBC and other channels: Here are 3 alternative streaming services for cord-cutters

YouTube TV may lose as many as 14 channels in a carriage fight with NBCU. In the event that happens, here are some potential alternatives.

www.nj.com

Yea I posted that. That’s how this thread got revived.

NBC networks aren’t must see tv for me so I’m okay either way. We’ll see if this is typical posturing from both sides or if an agreement gets reached in the final hour.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

guess you’re not watching much sports then if you’re not watching 720p lol

yeah... having that Rutgers-Michigan game limited to 720p on ABC... was ridiculous when later you could see 1080i games on regular networks.

Government should be mandating 4K broadcasts or lose whatever advantages you have in all kinds of fed rules.