Kind of a dumb question about cable ---

[madamesilverspurs]

"Discovery+" streaming -- Are those shows on TV or only available on computer or other device?

Please be kind, when I was a kid it was my job to hold a mirror in front of the TV so Dad could see the picture as he twiddled the knobs on the back of the set, that's the tech I grew up with.


Thanks in advance!

.

[lillypaddle]

1. You're not alone

I don't understand this stuff either. And Discovery+ is one I'd like to have, but since it costs extra per month, I won't get it, even if I can figure out what it is exactly. Also, I still don't know how to get the Peacock streaming that MSNBC does, which I think is free.

Fire sticks and all that? Forget about it. I just got a smart phone a few weeks ago.

Obviously I'm no help.

[jmbar2]

2. I use a large screen TV for both my computer, and for watching TV.

I assume that Discovery is like Netflix and you can watch either with cable TV or streaming from the internet with your computer.

I don't have Discovery, or cable TV. I do have a smart TV that does double duty as a computer monitor and a TV. I also use Netflix and Amazon video, which gets me most of what I want to see.

When I'm on the computer/internet, the TV serves as my monitor. When I want to watch local, noncable TV, I switch the source button on my remote to TV. I had to add a cheap plastic antenna from Walmart to watch over-the-air local TV. I can watch all of the local TV stations, plus PBS.

When I switch to the internet, I can access Netflix, Amazon movies, Youtube, etc. Pretty much anything that I want to see.

Hope that answers your question.

I pay about $15/month for my internet service from PCs for People. Once I cut the cable, I've never missed it.

[Indykatie]

3. Any Show That Streams Can Be Viewed on Your TV as Long as It's a "Smart TV" Which Most Sets Are

The last 2 TVs I bought were 55 Inch smart TVs, a Toshiba and a Panasonic and they cost less than $400 a piece on Amazon. There are so many free channel apps and you can buy Channels like HBO and Showtime as stand alone channels. There's no need to buy bundled cable packages any longer. One more thing. If you have Amazon subscription it includes their Prime Video offering which I think rivals Netflix in terms of quality and quantity of programming.

[Backseat Driver]

4. Discovery+ is a digital subscription app package for streaming on SmartTVs.

Some cable-ready televisions have Discovery, but not Discovery+(plus), in their cable channel packages, my provider for example is Spectrum cable. One can buy a more "premium" version by subscription (plus channels) on-line via a desktop computer/laptops like Macs or android Windows 10 computers through compatible viewing AppleTV or android devices that run android or iOS system tablets and phone apps and then "cast" the programming through one's WiFi router to the compatible SmartTVs which have Googlecast, Compcast, Roku, Fire, and Apple built in or other boxes and gaming controllers. I think even some BlueRay devices can be added into the SmartTVs for playing discs. These televisions usually require sufficient HDMI cables/slots and may also provide USB ports for other uses (like soundbars, home theater sound, gaming, etc...

Then one uses a different HDMI "source" on one's remote to get to those special channel programs like Netflix, Prime Video (Amazon), Hulu, Disney+, Discovery+, HBO Max. Often there are special trial offers, but one needs to cancel within the time period or the billing begins. The Plus programming is different and usually goes beyond the programs that are offered by regular cable package programming offers. Some brands of Smart TV televisions offer some free viewing/music channels as well.

Some day, coming closer every day, I plan to cut the cable cord and stop paying for stuff I don't really want to watch, like all the various sport channels and religious stuff, but I'm a slow adapter and don't like all those separate billings for subscriptions. Of note, I love the cable's residential Weather Channel programming rather than the commercial one shown in the hotels.

I hope I've explained this better, but one must have Smart capability built into or added onto one's television even if its cable-ready.

I apologize if the explanation is a bit messy - It's pretty simple to use once it's all hooked up right. Some places offer home set up. Maybe others here can set things straight if I've goofed.

[mr_lebowski]

5. You need either a 'smart' tv or a streaming device

combined with a TV that's at least new enough to have HDMI, IOW newer than about 2007, but doesn't have to be 'smart'. The streaming device basically does the same thing as the 'smart' functionality of a TV (and is often more powerful/flexible in various ways).

To answer the main question yes you absolutely can enjoy Discovery+ on your TV, doesn't have to be a computer or 'other device'.

Your cable company probably offers a streaming device for rent for not much $/month.

Essentially what you have is 2nd 'cable box' in that case, you switch the 'input' on your TV from the regular cable box to the streaming box. Fire Stick and Roku and AppleTV are the same idea, but you buy those. For someone who really doesn't know they're doing all that well would probably be well served to rent a streaming device from the cable co, esp. since you can keep it for a month and return if you don't like/use. Plus they'll help you with it.

If you already have cable, you may very well be able to use Discovery+ for free w/your cable subscription. Can always call the cable company to find out.

[unblock]

6. Vertical and horizontal hold!

I remember adjusting those!

Ah, the good old days!

[SergeStorms]

7. And Andy Kaufman....

deliberately making his TV specials flip up and down to mimic horizontal hold problems, just as a goof on people. The network finally made him limit it to three seconds or something like that, just so people wouldn't tear their hair out and call a TV repairman.

Good old Andy Kaufman. He existed on a plane most mortals could never hope to achieve, or want to.

[Fla Dem]

8. With a paid subscription and if you have either a smart tv or a stick like Roku, Fire Fox etc.

Hope this helps..................

Discovery + is a streaming service available with a subscription. NBC's Peacock is the only major service I know of that is free.

Is Discovery Plus free on Firestick?
The new service is currently offering a free seven-day trial, but afterwards, users will be charged $4.99/month for an ad-supported plan or $6.99/month for an ad-free subscription.Jan 4, 2021

Discovery Plus will be available to customers on the platforms: Roku; Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, Fire TV Edition smart TVs, and later on Prime Video Channels; iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and the Apple TV app; Google devices and platforms including Android ...Jan 4, 2021

Unfortunately, this isn't the same Discovery channel you grew up with; Discovery Plus is only a subscription-based streaming service and won't be airing on Spectrum or any other cable provider.

What content does Discovery Plus include?
Discovery Channel.
Animal Planet.
Science Channel.
TLC.
Food Network.
HGTV.
Travel Channel.

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk022bFE7LIyt0ze78nprgsSwq3KY2A%3A1613318174334&source=hp&ei=HkgpYIy3EouFwbkP4-SW0Ao&iflsig=AINFCbYAAAAAYClWLogiFNMLn_1FoZlc27ZPuNJfOHoM&q=is+discovery+plus+free&oq=Is+Discovery%2B&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIHCAAQsQMQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjIECAAQCjoHCCMQ6gIQJzoICAAQsQMQgwE6DgguELEDEIMBEMcBEKMCOgUIABCxAzoLCC4QsQMQxwEQowI6AggAOgsILhDHARCvARCTAjoICC4QsQMQgwE6BQguELEDOggILhDHARCvAToFCAAQyQM6AgguUMstWKtXYOJtaAJwAHgAgAGzAogB0g2SAQgxMC4zLjEuMZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXqwAQA&sclient=gws-wiz