Since the season is nearly over, I wanted to give an update from the perspective of a cable cutter.
I can honestly say that I haven't missed it nearly as badly as I thought I would.
First, let me preface with my previous total internet/tv cost ($200/mo) vs my current setup and cost:
a) Time Warner (now spectrum) cable internet: 50MB download, $50/mo (yes, this is still cable, so I'm not fully cut, but this necessary evil represents a DRAMATIC reduction in total cost).
b) Sling TV + Sports Package. ($25/mo). This has been great. I get most of the channels I enjoyed from my previous cable package at a fraction of the cost. The main drawback here is the lack of DVR recording, but I've seen recently that they've added a 'cloud based' DVR option, so I may check that out. I run this off a ROKU (Device came free with the sling service at the time). ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, SECTV, TNT, TBS, History, HGTV, plus many others. Plenty for what I need.
c) Leaf Antenna (one time cost of $80). This has been great. I split the signal near my main floor TV and sent 1/2 of the signal into the existing house coax network (simple as plugging it in). As a result, we have 'live' HD channels on 3 TVs in the house. ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc are crystal clear. Very nice.
d) Amazon Firestick, jailbroken to include KODI. (One time fee of $100 from a friend). This was completely optional. Some call it illegal, but that's a slippery slope that I won't navigate in this post. Despite needing some occasional light maintenance (reprogramming but simple), this device allows us to find ANY movie or TV show that was ever aired, for free. Amazing.
So basically after the initial investments (ROKU/Firestick/Leaf Antenna), I am paying about $75/mo for great internet and TV, and I am completely happy with my viewing content. I have watched EVERY SINGLE UK game this season, and I was able to watch most every NFL game I wanted to watch.
Overall, once you get past the feeling of missing 'live TV' for all channels (remember the antenna still gives you live TV for the basics), I think this has been a great solution, and one that I recommend to any other interested parties.
Happy to share more info as desired.
I can honestly say that I haven't missed it nearly as badly as I thought I would.
First, let me preface with my previous total internet/tv cost ($200/mo) vs my current setup and cost:
a) Time Warner (now spectrum) cable internet: 50MB download, $50/mo (yes, this is still cable, so I'm not fully cut, but this necessary evil represents a DRAMATIC reduction in total cost).
b) Sling TV + Sports Package. ($25/mo). This has been great. I get most of the channels I enjoyed from my previous cable package at a fraction of the cost. The main drawback here is the lack of DVR recording, but I've seen recently that they've added a 'cloud based' DVR option, so I may check that out. I run this off a ROKU (Device came free with the sling service at the time). ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, SECTV, TNT, TBS, History, HGTV, plus many others. Plenty for what I need.
c) Leaf Antenna (one time cost of $80). This has been great. I split the signal near my main floor TV and sent 1/2 of the signal into the existing house coax network (simple as plugging it in). As a result, we have 'live' HD channels on 3 TVs in the house. ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc are crystal clear. Very nice.
d) Amazon Firestick, jailbroken to include KODI. (One time fee of $100 from a friend). This was completely optional. Some call it illegal, but that's a slippery slope that I won't navigate in this post. Despite needing some occasional light maintenance (reprogramming but simple), this device allows us to find ANY movie or TV show that was ever aired, for free. Amazing.
So basically after the initial investments (ROKU/Firestick/Leaf Antenna), I am paying about $75/mo for great internet and TV, and I am completely happy with my viewing content. I have watched EVERY SINGLE UK game this season, and I was able to watch most every NFL game I wanted to watch.
Overall, once you get past the feeling of missing 'live TV' for all channels (remember the antenna still gives you live TV for the basics), I think this has been a great solution, and one that I recommend to any other interested parties.
Happy to share more info as desired.