Electronics

[Nightowlz]

We had YTTV when we started streaming. I told DH it was similar to DISH without our local channels. I cancelled it since we don't need it.

We live over 100 miles from our local stations but we bought an antenna that brings in our local channels so we can see our local news. It worked sitting on the ground before DH put it on the pole which sits just above the height of our roof. 

We now have HULU $7.99, Philo $25, Paramount+ $4.99, Pluto, Tubi, Freevee, Roku Apps all free. We also have Amazon Prime. You can get just Prime Video for $8.99 per month. Our TV bill is $46.97 per month. Was paying almost $130.

Never have tried Netflix so DH wants to try it. We are still trying what's out there to figure out what we want. 

[781Florist]

I have been toying with the idea of ditching YouTubeTV ever since they dropped my Regional Sports Network (NESN).  The unlimited DVR and the incredibly easy and user friendly way to access channel and content information and DVR operation and library access has made me continue with it.

About a week or so ago they sent an email informing us that MLB (baseball) Network has been dropped.  Now they are going up again to $75 a month.

They have trumpeted the addition of a number of new channels that are supposed to make us think they are providing great value.  These channels are Spanish language 

channels and fringe news channels that are useless to this native English-only speaker.

I know that sports are a niche category and many (most?) customers may not want to 

pay to have those channels, just as I bemoan the many stations that are useless to me.

I don't know why cable and streaming services cannot have an a-la-carte system where the consumer chooses the channels they want and accepts the user fees that accompany them.  I am looking at Hulu, but I don't know how user friendly their platform is and they have a limit on DVR recording time.  They also don't have TBS, TNT, TCM and other Turner stations.  Every different streamer has their "poison pill"

that keeps them from being the ideal choice,  

Going back to cable seems less onerous now that the streamers keep upping their prices while providing less desirable content.  I am going on the various websites to see what cable is offering after having left them 5 years ago.

[gabstoomuch]

You all have to pay for internet also right? Xfinity has a 100% monopoly in my area, and the base speed internet is $130.00/month with a cap on how much you stream and then an amount added to the bill depending on how much overage you have. So if ones pays $130.00 and uses internet more, or watches TV a bit more, it can easily shoot your bill up to $160. or more.

Then I look at each streaming service and they are all starting to charge ridiculous prices per month.

I pay $227.00 a month for an Xfinity package of channels that I hardly ever watch except for a few shows (Good  Doctor, the Chicago Med, Fire Police, and one other I can't think of) and my local news. That's it. My bill is insane though!

Picking and choosing streamers for a monthly fee saves a little, but I would still be up around $200.00. I hate the way TV slowly morphed into a streaming service.

Also, sidenote, I read an article today that HBO Max and Discovery channel are merging very soon. What it didn't say is if they will still have 2 different fees? Or if they will reset the price higher and you will get HBO Max and Discovery for one price. I think as this TV morph goes on streamers are going to begin to merge to whittle down the competition of who people watch.

My local channels say at the end of the news every night that we can get the "VERY LOCAL" app, which is free, to get local news and weather. They explained that the app covers every state, you just put in your zip code. I haven't tried it yet because I am still stuck in my $227. bill so I don't need the app yet. Has anyone ever heard of VERY LOCAL?

I have been shutting off my TV all day lately and just watching stuff on You Tube (the free You Tube) and there is a lot to watch on there that is interesting. I also saved $15.00 off my electric bill just by shutting of my TV! A bonus!

Watching TV should not be so complicated. ~sighhhh~

[Venezia]

I saw the notice that YouTubeTV is going up to $72.99, but I think I'm locked into the $64.99 for at least another 9 or 10 months.  I'll have to check the agreement under which I signed up.

After that, I'll think about what I want to do.   It's still a lot cheaper than what I was paying to DirecTV and then Spectrum for the TV package we had.

Right now we're trying different streaming services and will eventually cut it down to the ones we actually watch the most.

[catter70]

You just can't win.

[phoenixbrd]

@hckynutjohn Right there with you @hckynutjohn ....I look for and appreciate the few rays of sunshine and remind myself that i choose how I respond.

[Sunshine Kate]

We have HULU Live for $75.76 per month.  To me, it's a ridiculous price.  Getting really tired of increases in everything.

Taking advantage comes to mind.

[Harpa]

Looks like Fox lost their contract for football games, which is now going to be viewed by paid subscription to Youtube.

Interesting!?

[gardenman]

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@Marp wrote:

@Kachina624,  where I live I would need an antenna height of 75 feet minimum.  Most around here that use an OTA antenna are at 150 feet.

I am completely surrounded by mountains and while I'm at about 2500 feet the surrounding mountains create a "bowl" effect rising well above my elevation.  Also, I am close to 100 miles from most stations.  I'd be very happy to get the 10-15 "local" OTA stations but without the right kind of antenna I can't.

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There's probably a market for a balloon antenna if you feel like inventing something. (Think Chinese spy balloons but smaller and only used for an antenna.) The lead in wire could serve as the tether. Reel it in once a week or so to top off the helium or hydrogen, then back to the sky. Weather would be an issue and so would regulatory agencies, but you could get an antenna about as high as you'd like at a moderate cost. 

[gardenman]

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@Harpa wrote:

Looks like Fox lost their contract for football games, which is now going to be viewed by paid subscription to Youtube.

Interesting!?

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Fox still has their football package. What changed is the NFL Sunday Ticket package that used to be on DirecTV. That's now part of YouTube TV and likely part of why the price has gone up. Though you also have to pay extra for Sunday Ticket.

Fox will have Tom Brady leading their NFL coverage starting this fall. They're still fully invested in the NFL.