Cord Cutting-How to watch college/pro sports?

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

IMO, sports are THE ONLY THING keeping traditional cable/satellite companies alive. Everything else is available through much cheaper streaming apps. Sure, you can get the sports streams through YouTubeTV or Hulu Live but the cost ends up being about the same as having a traditional tv setup. ESPN absolutely should have a buy in package for all of its subnetworks that costs the same as say Netflix, but that would be the death knell for traditional TV subscriptions.

At one point just a year or two ago, Sling TV had a much cheaper package than YTTV or HLive that focused on sports and included networks like the SEC Network. That package was sabotaged by Disney and SEC Network is no longer available on anything except whatever form you decide to pay $80+ a month to get.

(Really, it’s very old people + sports that are keeping traditional subscription TV alive, but, I mean, the other part of that equation is a rapidly decaying demographic)

 

[roguemocha]

It’s so easy. I pause it after March madness all summer until football. The DVR even keeps recording the shows so you can catch up. Plus I use it camping.

Same and I don’t miss a second. Sometimes I wish I didn’t care about sports and UK because I could easily go without the rest of it, but UK is in the blood.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

There are very few reasons for me keeping Directv. I care for my older parents in my house, tried to teach them the streaming devices and how to change apps to watch different things. Just easier to have a simple remote to change channels.

I like the remote and DVR functions of Directv better than any streaming service out there so I can precisely see the point as I RW, FW and pause. Can't ever time it right on streaming apps without going to far past the point I intended.

Also, Bally Sports for Reds games and Directv's sports package was my only option to watch the Reds games.

Every year once my customer loyalty discount ends, I call them and tell them I am going to cancel and how so many people are out there pirating streams to TV yet I'm paying this ridiculous price seeing my bill jump up. Bill dropped $80 this year from their insane jump once the discount expired and even got a $100 prepaid gift card. They know they are gouging people. It's bullshit and you aren't going to recoup all of your losses screwing me over.

 

[know1]

YouTube TV. I turn it on first week of football and turn it off when basketball season is over.

Same for me for a few years now.

 

[cdbearde]

IMO, sports are THE ONLY THING keeping traditional cable/satellite companies alive. Everything else is available through much cheaper streaming apps. Sure, you can get the sports streams through YouTubeTV or Hulu Live but the cost ends up being about the same as having a traditional tv setup. ESPN absolutely should have a buy in package for all of its subnetworks that costs the same as say Netflix, but that would be the death knell for traditional TV subscriptions.

At one point just a year or two ago, Sling TV had a much cheaper package than YTTV or HLive that focused on sports and included networks like the SEC Network. That package was sabotaged by Disney and SEC Network is no longer available on anything except whatever form you decide to pay $80+ a month to get.

(Really, it’s very old people + sports that are keeping traditional subscription TV alive, but, I mean, the other part of that equation is a rapidly decaying demographic)

Easy son, if wasn't for us old people you youngsters wouldn't be here. 🤣🤣

 

[TheDude73]

YouTube TV bro. Easy as hell. I have UK football and basketball on like season mode so it records all the games. Unlimited DVR. Love it.

Well apparently I hadn't even tried it. I'll have to look into it. Thanks my brother!

 

[SosaUK1987]

Well apparently I hadn't even tried it. I'll have to look into it. Thanks my brother!

You won’t be disappointed man. I’m sure they have a free trial. Good luck.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Well apparently I hadn't even tried it. I'll have to look into it. Thanks my brother!

IMO it really suffers from poor branding, since at a glance, you’d just think it’s regular YouTube but on a TV. At least they didn’t use a + like everyone else.

As a bonus, Youtube Tv has little overlays and real time stats you can access during the broadcast of games.

 

[SosaUK1987]

IMO it really suffers from poor branding, since at a glance, you’d just think it’s regular YouTube but on a TV. At least they didn’t use a + like everyone else.

As a bonus, Youtube Tv has little overlays and real time stats you can access during the broadcast of games.

Yeah I agree with that. I constantly hit the wrong button for the app as well. Lol. I would recommend to anyone tho. I’ve had zero issues. Absolutely love the unlimited DVR.

 

[bbonds]

YTTV for us. But UK started doing some of the games on ESPN+ the last few years, so you’ll need that too.

One caveat to YTTV, Reds games are not available in Lexington. You may be able to get Bally Sports Ohio if you live closer to Cincinnati. FYI.

DirectTV Stream and Fubo both carry BSO. But they’re more expensive.

 

[StubbornPenny]

YTTV for us. But UK started doing some of the games on ESPN+ the last few years, so you’ll need that too

IF your YouTube TV account has the SEC network…

THEN you can log into the espn app using your YTTV credentials

SO you can watch the “internet only” games through the espn app on the SEC+ network. No separate EPSN+ subscription needed.

 

[Glenn's take]

If you're an NFL fan you get the Sunday Ticket for $100 cheaper if you're a YouTubeTv subscriber.

 

[TheDude73]

Yeah I agree with that. I constantly hit the wrong button for the app as well. Lol. I would recommend to anyone tho. I’ve had zero issues. Absolutely love the unlimited DVR.

So I'm looking at this now and am curious. It says $72.99 / mo. What is the catch? I get all my local channels, ESPN, SECN, and any other channel I could get on my DTV, but through my TV streaming service? I'm not worried about internet speeds - I'm only paying $113 / mo for Xfinity 1.4 gigabit and rarely get to the 1.2 TB max monthly data usage (although my kids and that PS5 w/VR2 have gotten close as of late...).

All I'd need to do is sign up for the free trial, then pay $73 a month and I get it on up to 6 TVs in my house? Seems almost too good to be true...

EDIT: Now they have a limited time offer - $64.99/mo for 3 months, then $72.99....

 

[Glenn's take]

So I'm looking at this now and am curious. It says $72.99 / mo. What is the catch? I get all my local channels, ESPN, SECN, and any other channel I could get on my DTV, but through my TV streaming service? I'm not worried about internet speeds - I'm only paying $113 / mo for Xfinity 1.4 gigabit and rarely get to the 1.2 TB max monthly data usage (although my kids and that PS5 w/VR2 have gotten close as of late...).

All I'd need to do is sign up for the free trial, then pay $73 a month and I get it on up to 6 TVs in my house? Seems almost too good to be true...

EDIT: Now they have a limited time offer - $64.99/mo for 3 months, then $72.99....

I just need to know that it's going to be just like my regular DTV (although I HATE DTV's shit receivers and guide). Except it appears I can have it on any mobile device as well, so work travel = watching my games any time, anywhere?

And what is the video quality? 1080 or 4K perhaps?

You may have to invest in a one time investment depending on your TV. I would suggest the $39.99 one. You would need 1 per TV. On the $72 plan you are limited to 3 streams going at once among your TVs. You can have it installed on more than 3 TVs but only watching on 3 at the same time.
There is a cheaper Roku you could get but I would recommend this one.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/roku-streaming-stick-4k--streaming-device-with-voice-remote-and-long-range-wi-fi-black/6479078.p?skuId=6479078&extStoreId=335&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLB-7GJ9uICH8axictzrvTAhq0CWzR-G3rREy6Umwm6CKh--LvDrXdBoC3n8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[herrli]

I am trying to sort it out. Using free right now as not much in sports on . I dont like the remote and channel flipping so will have to see.

 

[TheDude73]

You may have to invest in a one time investment depending on your TV. I would suggest the $39.99 one. You would need 1 per TV. On the $72 plan you are limited to 3 streams going at once among your TVs. You can have it installed on more than 3 TVs but only watching on 3 at the same time.
There is a cheaper Roku you could get but I would recommend this one.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/roku-streaming-stick-4k--streaming-device-with-voice-remote-and-long-range-wi-fi-black/6479078.p?skuId=6479078&extStoreId=335&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLB-7GJ9uICH8axictzrvTAhq0CWzR-G3rREy6Umwm6CKh--LvDrXdBoC3n8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have high-end LG OLED 4K smart TVs, so no issues there.

I just did the trial and checked all three TVs - works perfectly. Works on my iPad and iPhone. All at the same time.

Got 30 days free trial, then $62.99/mo for 3 months, then ramps to $73.99 / month from there on out. Also added the 4K add-on, which is only something like $4 / month for 12 months, then bumps to $9.99/mo.

It's already LEAGUES better than that trash DTV. The user interface alone is worth it (hell, I'd pay the same as DTV for this faster interface and much, much higher quality, even on local channels). And, we get our usual handful of channels we watch, plus the sports.

I want to buy each of you that pushed this in here a big fat beer (or ice tea, if you don't drink)! I just poured a nice Willett rye whiskey and am settling in for the 30 minutes it's going to take me to convince a guy in India that I don't need his garbage DTV service any longer. Take your trash hardware, goofy roof dish, pathetic user interface, and the no signal in snow or thunderstorms, and shove it!

(two calls, two hangups when I tell them I want to cancel our DTV service...going into call #3 now...)

 

[StubbornPenny]

I have high-end LG OLED 4K smart TVs, so no issues there.

I just did the trial and checked all three TVs - works perfectly. Works on my iPad and iPhone. All at the same time.

Got 30 days free trial, then $62.99/mo for 3 months, then ramps to $73.99 / month from there on out. Also added the 4K add-on, which is only something like $4 / month for 12 months, then bumps to $9.99/mo.

It's already LEAGUES better than that trash DTV. The user interface alone is worth it (hell, I'd pay the same as DTV for this faster interface and much, much higher quality, even on local channels). And, we get our usual handful of channels we watch, plus the sports.

I want to buy each of you that pushed this in here a big fat beer (or ice tea, if you don't drink)! I just poured a nice Willett rye whiskey and am settling in for the 30 minutes it's going to take me to convince a guy in India that I don't need his garbage DTV service any longer. Take your trash hardware, goofy roof dish, pathetic user interface, and the no signal in snow or thunderstorms, and shove it!

(two calls, two hangups when I tell them I want to cancel our DTV service...going into call #3 now...)

It’s a nice service, and google can afford to out price other providers. I’m just too cheap for the $80 a month and keep using workarounds lol

But if I didn’t care about the money, it’s the service I’d go with

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

DIRECTV Reportedly Lost 400,000 TV Subscribers In Just 3 Months As Cord Cutting Grows | Cord Cutters News

DIRECTV has had a hard 2023 so far, according to a report from the Leichtman Research Group, which follows the Broadband, Media, and Entertainment Industries. According to a recent report looking at major pay-TV providers, DIRECTV lost 400,000 subscribers in the 2nd quarter of 2023. This works...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[cdbearde]

I have high-end LG OLED 4K smart TVs, so no issues there.

I just did the trial and checked all three TVs - works perfectly. Works on my iPad and iPhone. All at the same time.

Got 30 days free trial, then $62.99/mo for 3 months, then ramps to $73.99 / month from there on out. Also added the 4K add-on, which is only something like $4 / month for 12 months, then bumps to $9.99/mo.

It's already LEAGUES better than that trash DTV. The user interface alone is worth it (hell, I'd pay the same as DTV for this faster interface and much, much higher quality, even on local channels). And, we get our usual handful of channels we watch, plus the sports.

I want to buy each of you that pushed this in here a big fat beer (or ice tea, if you don't drink)! I just poured a nice Willett rye whiskey and am settling in for the 30 minutes it's going to take me to convince a guy in India that I don't need his garbage DTV service any longer. Take your trash hardware, goofy roof dish, pathetic user interface, and the no signal in snow or thunderstorms, and shove it!

(two calls, two hangups when I tell them I want to cancel our DTV service...going into call #3 now...)

Dude, you guys have almost lost me with all the TV type talk, I am one of the older dudes. 😉
But if you are talking about YouTube TV, like I think you are, I am in for that free COLD one because I was the first one to bring them up. 😎 Now I don't know the things about this stuff you young people do, but I do know what simplicity is for us seniors.
As far as a TV goes, I have ROKU, meets all our needs. Just don't buy a Hisense TV of any type, just a mistake we made.🙄

 

[UK-chulo]

I have high-end LG OLED 4K smart TVs, so no issues there.

I just did the trial and checked all three TVs - works perfectly. Works on my iPad and iPhone. All at the same time.

Got 30 days free trial, then $62.99/mo for 3 months, then ramps to $73.99 / month from there on out. Also added the 4K add-on, which is only something like $4 / month for 12 months, then bumps to $9.99/mo.

It's already LEAGUES better than that trash DTV. The user interface alone is worth it (hell, I'd pay the same as DTV for this faster interface and much, much higher quality, even on local channels). And, we get our usual handful of channels we watch, plus the sports.

I want to buy each of you that pushed this in here a big fat beer (or ice tea, if you don't drink)! I just poured a nice Willett rye whiskey and am settling in for the 30 minutes it's going to take me to convince a guy in India that I don't need his garbage DTV service any longer. Take your trash hardware, goofy roof dish, pathetic user interface, and the no signal in snow or thunderstorms, and shove it!

(two calls, two hangups when I tell them I want to cancel our DTV service...going into call #3 now...)

One of the best features is that you can choose to follow a sports team on the dvr and it will record their games no matter what station it is on.

 

[TheDude73]

One of the best features is that you can choose to follow a sports team on the dvr and it will record their games no matter what station it is on.

Yep, I noticed that.

Another fantastic feature? They drop the volume of ads/commercials and tell you how much time you have before the ads will end. Totally different than regular TV, where the ads come on and blast you out of the chair (there was a law passed a few years ago to make advertisers keep the same volume as the programming, but they don't enforce it at all).

This feature is just for ads on shows that I've watched on-demand, not for live TV like ESPN or other channels.

But the user interface and guide and response time is night and day when compared to that garbage Directv hardware.

 

[WildcatsAndBourbon]

Easy son, if wasn't for us old people you youngsters wouldn't be here. 🤣🤣

Life is a sexually transmitted disease, and I got snipped to stop this affliction from being perpetuated by myself.

Point taken though; it was an unnecessary comment. I’m not that young to be honest. Lost my dad this year so really just being persnickety over the trials and tribulations of getting older.

That, and I was part of the first generation to commonly have this kind of technology at our fingertips. I was/am a geek so I was always the one being asked to explain or fix tech gadgets for other people, particularly my older family members. Developed a pet peeve as a result.

 

[Wildcats301]

I enjoy YouTube TV

This ^^^^^^

 

[Glenn's take]

And if you didn't know, each user can put the channels in whatever order they want.

 

[herrli]

Life is a sexually transmitted disease, and I got snipped to stop this affliction from being perpetuated by myself.

Point taken though; it was an unnecessary comment. I’m not that young to be honest. Lost my dad this year so really just being persnickety over the trials and tribulations of getting older.

That, and I was part of the first generation to commonly have this kind of technology at our fingertips. I was/am a geek so I was always the one being asked to explain or fix tech gadgets for other people, particularly my older family members. Developed a pet peeve as a result.

There is only one alternative for getting old. Today's ''old'' people created things that led to your current quality of life so quit bitching.

 

[rick64]

Spectrum increasing my monthly bill starting next month. Will make it over $200/month for internet and cable. Moving TV to YouTubeTV, Hulu, Sling, etc. might increase my internet cost with Spectrum since no longer bundling.

Guess I could dump Spectrum altogether move internet as well. Wondering if the cost savings is as great as it used to be.

 

[K86]

We have Spectrum internet and YouTube TV. It runs between $140-$150 per month. I like our set up much more than the standard offerings with cable or satellite.

 

[Wesley91581]

I’ve had you tube tv for several months now. No complaints except it took a while to figure the ins and outs.

 

[rick64]

Anyone using EarthLink as their ISP? Are they any good? Reliability? Customer service? Price?

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Spectrum increasing my monthly bill starting next month. Will make it over $200/month for internet and cable. Moving TV to YouTubeTV, Hulu, Sling, etc. might increase my internet cost with Spectrum since no longer bundling.

Guess I could dump Spectrum altogether move internet as well. Wondering if the cost savings is as great as it used to be.

Give them a call and tell them you will cancel. Worth a shot to see if they might do something like DirecTV does, a customer loyalty discount to drop it back down but have to call them every year once it expires. I do it every January. They jack my bill up and it comes down after I tell them to cancel the service. If you can accommodate new customers with a lower price for a year on a package then take care of your long term customers.

 

[rick64]

Give them a call and tell them you will cancel. Worth a shot to see if they might do something like DirecTV does, a customer loyalty discount to drop it back down but have to call them every year once it expires. I do it every January. They jack my bill up and it comes down after I tell them to cancel the service. If you can accommodate new customers with a lower price for a year on a package then take care of your long term customers.

Such BS to have to do that every freaking year though you know.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Such BS to have to do that every freaking year though you know.

Yeah but it's not that much effort really. Not even a 10-15 minute phone call and I really can't complain with my Directv or Xfinity internet. Happy with what I have. I have tried alternatives for Directv, like I said in my August posts. I have my reasons why I keep them and in the end, it all works out.

 

[kybloo92]

Will have to determine if it is worth losing the discount of bundling your internet when you break off from your TV/ISP provider and go the streaming route. Can't call and haggle Pluto, Sling or YouTube TV like you could Xfinity, Spectrum or Directv. When I had YouTube starting out around 2017, it was around $35. After 3 months now, it jumps up to $73. Everything goes up, not just cable.

 

[cdbearde]

Will have to determine if it is worth losing the discount of bundling your internet when you break off from your TV/ISP provider and go the streaming route. Can't call and haggle Pluto, Sling or YouTube TV like you could Xfinity, Spectrum or Directv. When I had YouTube starting out around 2017, it was around $35. After 3 months now, it jumps up to $73. Everything goes up, not just cable.

Yes sir, they keep raising the price, like have said, I am YouTube TV.
The more business the streaming companies take away from cable and satellite, the higher they raise the fees, I guess it's just the American dream. 🙄

 

[rick64]

Will have to determine if it is worth losing the discount of bundling your internet when you break off from your TV/ISP provider and go the streaming route. Can't call and haggle Pluto, Sling or YouTube TV like you could Xfinity, Spectrum or Directv. When I had YouTube starting out around 2017, it was around $35. After 3 months now, it jumps up to $73. Everything goes up, not just cable.

ATT has fiber optic available in my area so it’s possible I leave Spectrum completely. Have to run some numbers and research who offers the channels my wife and I watch.

 

[herrli]

I’ve had you tube tv for several months now. No complaints except it took a while to figure the ins and outs.

Thats what I have , pd for internet regardless and so much cheaper than direct and so much free on streaming. Have to get used to switching all over with remote and not just flipping around. My Direct TV equipment was going out anyway and didnt really want them at my house. So much cheaper and not paying for 150 channels I never use to get the 25-30 I did use.

 

[vhcat70]

My take is that at some point they're all not as important as they think they are.

 

[BBBLazing]

Give them a call and tell them you will cancel. Worth a shot to see if they might do something like DirecTV does, a customer loyalty discount to drop it back down but have to call them every year once it expires. I do it every January. They jack my bill up and it comes down after I tell them to cancel the service. If you can accommodate new customers with a lower price for a year on a package then take care of your long term customers.

About 12 years ago, I was living in Louisville and had 2 grandkids that were in school still living with me. I had 4 Spectrum boxes with DVRS. My bill was automatically deducted from my account so I didn't realize what I was paying. One month I saw that I was paying over $300 a month for internet and cable. I called and tried the whole "I'm cancelling unless you reduce my bill" line and they said "Cancel then." Much to the dissatisfaction of my grandkids, I said "OK, come pick up the boxes and DVRS." They said "No, bring them to us or we will continue you charging you monthly." That is when i cut the cord. I started out with just an antenna and the ability to cast things from my phone. I then tried one of the bootleg boxes, which I bought on Amazon (XMBC Box) which had/has everything on it, but buffers at times and has to be updated damn near daily. Now I have YouTubeTV. I have the Sunday ticket and NBA package, both for about 1/2 of what it costs on DirectTV. I still have to watch certain baseball games on the old XBMC box, and have to let it upload for an hour or so before the game starts. All that being said, YouTubeTV is the best I've used. I've tried Sling and HuluPlus and neither was as good as YouTubeTV. Now, my grandkids are both married and think I'm the coolest old man ever because I figured out TV before they did.

One thing I will say about streaming. If you like to gamble and bet live betting during games, streaming TV is behind. Pay attention to the line as it moves and you can predict what is about to happen if you are watching on YouTubeTv.

 

[BBBLazing]

Another thing to add streaming is PlutoTv. It is free. Doesn't have live tv, but at night I watch Matlock, Andy Griffith, World Poker Tour. All have their own channel on there. If you are just looking for tv shows to watch, this is enough for me, except it doesn't have live sports.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

About 12 years ago, I was living in Louisville and had 2 grandkids that were in school still living with me. I had 4 Spectrum boxes with DVRS. My bill was automatically deducted from my account so I didn't realize what I was paying. One month I saw that I was paying over $300 a month for internet and cable. I called and tried the whole "I'm cancelling unless you reduce my bill" line and they said "Cancel then." Much to the dissatisfaction of my grandkids, I said "OK, come pick up the boxes and DVRS." They said "No, bring them to us or we will continue you charging you monthly." That is when i cut the cord. I started out with just an antenna and the ability to cast things from my phone. I then tried one of the bootleg boxes, which I bought on Amazon (XMBC Box) which had/has everything on it, but buffers at times and has to be updated damn near daily. Now I have YouTubeTV. I have the Sunday ticket and NBA package, both for about 1/2 of what it costs on DirectTV. I still have to watch certain baseball games on the old XBMC box, and have to let it upload for an hour or so before the game starts. All that being said, YouTubeTV is the best I've used. I've tried Sling and HuluPlus and neither was as good as YouTubeTV. Now, my grandkids are both married and think I'm the coolest old man ever because I figured out TV before they did.

One thing I will say about streaming. If you like to gamble and bet live betting during games, streaming TV is behind. Pay attention to the line as it moves and you can predict what is about to happen if you are watching on YouTubeTv.

YouTube TV is worthless to me without Bally Sports which would eliminate me from being able to watch my Reds in a 162 game season. I'm good! By the time you add all of the premiere sports packages after paying $73 already for the base plan (just looked it up), it's not that much of a savings plus have to go pay $120 up front for the year or $25 per month for MLB TV, the legal way and it blacks out local market games. No reason to switch here.