NEED REVIEWS: Anyone Here Use Internet TV Services Instead Of Cable or Satellite?

[eniwetok]

We cut the cord except for internet leaving only antenna DTV... but we're considering Sling TV. Anyone have any reviews for these internet-based TV sources?

Thanks!

[theaocp]

1. There are some growing pains.

However, I'm happy with our switch to Sling. The money saved is primary. So long as your Intrawebz keeps up, you'll always have a signal and there are apps to watch other shows, depending on how you get your online to your teevee. We have a package of news shows to get MSNBC, so there's a bit more a la carte in play. I don't think you'll be unhappy, but be prepared to be kind of frustrated, as it's different from cable tv. I never used satellite, so I can't compare. Welcome to the dark side!

[still_one]

2. On November 9th I downgraded my Direct TV service to the Family Pack, which

essentially is just the locals, PBS, CSPAN, and a few other educational channels.

No CNN, MSNBC, fox, or CNBC. They do get Bloomberg though.

There are about 50 channels with that unadvertised package.

As to your question I guess it depends who your ISP is, and how much TV you watch. Does your ISP allow unlimited data? Most of the big guys have 1 Terrabyte, and surcharge for overage.

You have a lot of options for what you are asking though.

Sony has VUE, but you need a Playstation or a Roku device to receive it.

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/

Direct TV has something called DirectTV Now

https://www.directvnow.com/

As you mentioned, Dish offers SlingTV:

https://www.sling.com/

There are others also.

In all the cases above you need an internet connection, and ideally one that doesn't charge overage fees, or has a limit set so high that you normally would never reach that bandwidth

[Trekologer]

3. I did not like the channel changing delay on Sling

I had DirecTV for 12 years but when I moved last summer there were some... issues with getting installed at the new location so I tried out Sling during that time. It was ok. I didn't really like the interface but I really really didn't like the channel changing delay. I was already used to it taking a couple seconds with DirecTV but it would take longer than I was expecting and then took several more seconds to scale up the picture quality (most streaming services start at a low bitrate and then scale up based on how fast your Internet connection is). I didn't time it but it felt like 20 seconds or so.

The good thing is that with Sling at least, there's a free trial so you can give it a go yourself.

[Heddi]

5. Oh yeah great point, I had forgotten about that

It can get a little fuzzy when you tune in and then it takes a while to clear up -- if ever.

We also found that if you were watching something with a large number of viewers -- season premier of Walking Dead or something -- the signal would often cut out and you'd be show-less. That happened a few times on the "Free" channels as well as the premium add-on channels.

[Heddi]

4. I have used sling, amazon prime, hulu, netfix through Roku

Sling isn't bad -- basic tier of channels gets you HGTV, AMC, some sports channels. I can't think of the whole lineup but it's not bad, and you can add on premium this or that for $5 here $10 there.

My recc would be to get a Roku. We have had a chromecast and didn't like it, and didn't like Apple TV either. We also have an amazon fire stick but Roku is the best, hands down.

If you have amazon prime account then you get amazon streaming for free. There are some TV shows, lots of free movies and plenty to buy.

Netflix is $9 a month

We've done Hulu in the past but not enough shows we want to see that are available on streaming (vs watching on the computer) to justify the price.

We don't get any OTA channels where we live -- very difficult to get anything even with the nice antenna, so we have Dish and still use the roku for Youtube, amazon, netflix. WHen we lived in Philadelphia, Seattle, and another part of Clearwater we were able to get OTA channels and cut the cable cord years ago and did just fine with streaming options.

Also, with roku, there are other streaming channels you can get for free that show a variety of movies and TV shows. Some of them are good, most of them are mediocre to bad (meaning their offerings) but I think for $50 (for the roku) you just can't beat it.

THe one downside -- and one of the reasons that I like dish -- you can't DVR on sling. I think you can get a stand-alone box to work as DVR but it's not as intuitive and easy as the box with cable or dish. I don't always want to watch The Walking Dead at 9pm on Sunday, but we found that if we wanted to watch it, we had to watch it when it was on the TV, no way to record for later.

Also, when you're not hooked upto a cable or sattelite program, you can't log into AMC and watch on demand b/c they want you to sign in with your cable or satelite provider log in...

But there is a PBS channel on Roku that we use. You won't get local TV on the sling but if you have an antenna that should't be an issue.

[hexola]

6. Subscribe to the big news YouTube channels

MSNBC - for example - posts a great deal of daily content - and longer segments from their shows.

Its a few hours behind - but YouTube has all the Morning Joe one needs!

[Lochloosa]

7. Sling, Netflix a good indoor HD antenna and a Roku box.

Never looking back.

The Roku box is a necessity in my opinion. Gives you access to other free providers. And YouTube.

One time cost for the box.

[virtualobserver]

8. I like playstation vue.....the online "DVR" feature works well with ROKU

you can pause live shows and you can even fast forward through commercials on recorded shows

designate a show as a favorite and it will record all episodes

I've never deleted a "recording" and I have recorded more shows than I can count.

[BSdetect]

9. Would love to ditch con cast but internet only is open to throttling I suspect

Youtube now has $35 package with unlimited dvr supposedly.

Not sure exctly what they include.

[hunter]

10. Our television plays movies. That's all it does.

No cable, no satellite, no broadcast... and best of all, no advertising.

I find DVDs in the thrift store and we subscribe to Netflix over a medium speed DSL connection.

My kid bought me a Chromecast and I've watched a few things on YouTube and some fan-made Star Trek movies, but that's about it.

Anymore I have zero tolerance for television commercials or television news. It's just irritating noise to me.

I think watching commercial television is something we are conditioned to as children. As other posters here on DU have noted, once you lose that conditioning you don't go back.

[pstokely]

11. are there any where you don't to have to pay for Faux but can still get the regional Fox Sports?

every cable subscriber pays for it even if they never watch it and have it blocked on their parental controls, I'd probably drop cable if I didn't watch sports

[Big Blue Marble]

12. Sling is pretty good.

I have the basic level; use a Roku and have an antenna for local channels.

Sling can be somewhat frustrating as it will need to be reset or reboot the Roku
at least once every time we watch it. Still beats cable by a mile.

The best part of using Sling is you can turn it on or off, no monthly contracts.

Also have Netflicks and Amazon Prime. This combo gives us all the TV we need
or want.

It is great to be cord cutter!

[BainsBane]

13. I did not like sling

It has little on demand and the user interface is awkward.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Friend of mine loves Play On....

this is what he told me about it, in an email:

The cost is $30 a year. I thought it was just for sending stuff directly to the Roku.
But...it offers channels on its own.

https://www.playon.tv/