Cutting The Cord on Cable/Satellite TV Service?

[Bunt4aTriple]

I agree the Fubo reviews have been a great help. Thank you all for your input. I am very pleased with YTTV, other than dropping NESN. The unlimited DVR, and ability to say “record all of xyz” is one of those things you never knew you needed, but now hate to do without. Change of schedule, rain delay, extra innings, no problem.

That said, I’m going to give AT&T Now a trial run soon. Must watch for my family includes Sox, Celtics, Pats, and CNN. This seems like my only option to provide all of these. I will give some feedback once it try it out.

You're a dirty liar Bertha.

Now I DO know what I'm missing after watching this weekend's games on Fox and ESPN and I'm dying to get NESN back. Anyone using AT&T TV? If I get the choice package, it's $85 and includes a year of HBO Max which we're paying for anyhow, so it ends up being $5 more for NESN. That's with 20 hours of cloud dvr, which is pretty much pointless though. So I'd probably end up paying for the unlimited cloud DVR which is another $10.

So era of cord cutting is pretty much junk, but at least I'm not turning in equipment, paying hookup fees, waiting for appointments for techs or, like last year, digging up a cemented satellite mount.

 

[Bertha]

You're a dirty liar Bertha.

I did lie about AT&T, sorry. I completely forgot about them, due to their ineptness. Their IT issues were so bad I could not even get a trial. I then tried to subscribe, and their system would not allow me to pay. This happened over a few days, both on PC and mobile devices. Kept getting “sorry, please try later”.

I went VPN/MLB while keeping YTTV. It cost more than I wanted, but keeps everyone in the family happy.

 

[orgoman]

I did lie about AT&T, sorry. I completely forgot about them, due to their ineptness. Their IT issues were so bad I could not even get a trial. I then tried to subscribe, and their system would not allow me to pay. This happened over a few days, both on PC and mobile devices. Kept getting “sorry, please try later”.

I went VPN/MLB while keeping YTTV. It cost more than I wanted, but keeps everyone in the family happy.

I’m on YTTV also and have missed NESN - although the radio is a event substitute. I’m thinking of breaking down and doing something similar (MLB) but is there any chance that I don’t need a VPN if I use Roku? I know that Roku’s don’t transmit location.

Thanks in advance

 

[gtmtnbiker]

I’m on YTTV also and have missed NESN - although the radio is a event substitute. I’m thinking of breaking down and doing something similar (MLB) but is there any chance that I don’t need a VPN if I use Roku? I know that Roku’s don’t transmit location.

I believe you still need a VPN with Roku as MLB will know your IP address and from that, infer your location.

 

[jayhoz]

I believe you still need a VPN with Roku as MLB will know your IP address and from that, infer your location.

In order to use the Roku you will need to configure the VPN on the router itself since the Roku doesn't have a way to do it. Much easier to use a VPN on your laptop and then cast to your TV.

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

I did lie about AT&T, sorry. I completely forgot about them, due to their ineptness. Their IT issues were so bad I could not even get a trial. I then tried to subscribe, and their system would not allow me to pay. This happened over a few days, both on PC and mobile devices. Kept getting “sorry, please try later”.

I went VPN/MLB while keeping YTTV. It cost more than I wanted, but keeps everyone in the family happy.

Thanks. I'm gonna give it a shot.

 

[orgoman]

Can anybody interpret this for me? Does it mean that YTTV will stop working on my Roku or not? I can't really tell.....

​

View online


Dear Roku Customer,


We are disappointed to share the news that Google has chosen to let the YouTube TV contract expire.

While this news is unfortunate, we wanted to let you know that we are taking an extra step to ensure existing Roku users like yourself retain access to YouTube TV while we work to reach an agreement.

We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements that would allow for the manipulation of your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.

Our commitment is to always put your interests first and therefore we will continue to offer existing users access to YouTube TV unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel. New subscribers will not be allowed at this time. It is also important that you do not delete the YouTube TV channel as it will not be available for download to Roku devices.

We remain committed to reaching a good-faith agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, honors your desired search preferences and protects your data. We hope to update you soon.


Thank you,
Roku

 

[soxhop411]

Can anybody interpret this for me? Does it mean that YTTV will stop working on my Roku or not? I can't really tell.....



View online


Dear Roku Customer,


We are disappointed to share the news that Google has chosen to let the YouTube TV contract expire.

While this news is unfortunate, we wanted to let you know that we are taking an extra step to ensure existing Roku users like yourself retain access to YouTube TV while we work to reach an agreement.

We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements that would allow for the manipulation of your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.

Our commitment is to always put your interests first and therefore we will continue to offer existing users access to YouTube TV unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel. New subscribers will not be allowed at this time. It is also important that you do not delete the YouTube TV channel as it will not be available for download to Roku devices.

We remain committed to reaching a good-faith agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, honors your desired search preferences and protects your data. We hope to update you soon.


Thank you,
Roku

If their spat with spectrum is any indication. Yes. They will kill The app even if you have it installed

 

[RSN Diaspora]

FWIW, YTTV is still working on my Roku-enabled TV.

 

[johnmd20]

Can anybody interpret this for me? Does it mean that YTTV will stop working on my Roku or not? I can't really tell.....



View online


Dear Roku Customer,


We are disappointed to share the news that Google has chosen to let the YouTube TV contract expire.

While this news is unfortunate, we wanted to let you know that we are taking an extra step to ensure existing Roku users like yourself retain access to YouTube TV while we work to reach an agreement.

We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements that would allow for the manipulation of your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.

Our commitment is to always put your interests first and therefore we will continue to offer existing users access to YouTube TV unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel. New subscribers will not be allowed at this time. It is also important that you do not delete the YouTube TV channel as it will not be available for download to Roku devices.

We remain committed to reaching a good-faith agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, honors your desired search preferences and protects your data. We hope to update you soon.


Thank you,
Roku

It is worth mentioning that you can use the Youtube TV in the Youtube app. Google added that option in May when this was blowing up. Taking down the YTTV app won't effect many people. Taking down Youtube. . . .now there is something that isn't an option for Roku.

edit to add: https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22425035/google-youtube-tv-roku-app-feud

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

I’m on YTTV also and have missed NESN - although the radio is a event substitute. I’m thinking of breaking down and doing something similar (MLB) but is there any chance that I don’t need a VPN if I use Roku? I know that Roku’s don’t transmit location.

Thanks in advance

It's done by DNS requests to determine your location. You can hack this by changing the DNS settings of your router, if you're comfortable technically. I did this a few years ago before the NESN Roku app, but it was kind of a pain in the ass:

https://unlocator.com/channel/mlb-tv/

 

[Ed Hillel]

Sorry all, but I'm moving back to Maine after longs times, and I'm trying to gather what is currently the best option. I currently use YTTV, which is great, and I have Amazon TVs, so the Roku spat won't affect me. I was thinking I could then just use the MLBTV app, but totally forgot that all the Sox games will be blacked out. Does that mean I'm essentially stuck having to cancel YTTV and use Fobu TV if I want to stream? There's no other option? If so, can anyone tell me if the FobuTV DVD-type features work ok?

Shit, now I gotta make sure Amazon TV supports Fobu...one sec ya'll...

Edit - It's Fubo, my bad...

Thanks!

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I use hehestreams for Sox games, it's a quasi-legal paid subscription that allows you stream all of MLBtv's feeds with no blackouts. I can provide more info if anyone's interested, it's worked great for me so far, I signed up during spring training.

 

[Marceline]

I use hehestreams for Sox games, it's a quasi-legal paid subscription that allows you stream all of MLBtv's feeds with no blackouts. I can provide more info if anyone's interested, it's worked great for me so far, I signed up during spring training.

I'm pretty sure it's not legal or even quasi-legal.

https://www.theverge.com/22303642/hehestreams-pirate-sports-streaming-service-nba-nfl-mlb-nhl

 

[the1andonly3003]

I have a HDTV antenna receiver that seems to have trouble getting all the over the air channels. I have rescanned multiple times. Any thoughts on how to get better reception?

 

[MuzzyField]

I have a HDTV antenna receiver that seems to have trouble getting all the over the air channels. I have rescanned multiple times. Any thoughts on how to get better reception?

Chicago stations?

Are the stations playing the ATCS 3.0 transmitter share game? If so, you may need to re-aim your antenna and rescan to the towers the ATCS 2.0 signals... and still factor in the signal strength for some stations is likely to be minimal and suck.

 

[the1andonly3003]

Chicago stations?

Are the stations playing the ATCS 3.0 transmitter share game? If so, you may need to re-aim your antenna and rescan to the towers the ATCS 2.0 signals... and still factor in the signal strength for some stations is likely to be minimal and suck.

Yeah in Chicago. Can't get PBS, BEIN XTra or WGN, but ABC, CBS and NBC seem fine. Does it seem like if I get the first set, then the second set loses out and vice versa?

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

My CBS Sports App says the Sox game tonight (not sure why there's no game thread, but I'm not about to start one and curse my descendants) is on both ESPN and NESN. Anyone know if being in New England will mean the game is blacked out on YTTV?

 

[bradcote]

Here in Maine, it says that it will be blacked out on YTTV.

 

[PortlandSoxFan]

And evidently 6 days ago, shut down. I have a quasi fix where I use my dad's Xfinity login, but it isn't perfect.

I'm pretty sure it's not legal or even quasi-legal.

https://www.theverge.com/22303642/hehestreams-pirate-sports-streaming-service-nba-nfl-mlb-nhl

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

I restarted FuboTV just in time to see Renfroe hit a three run homer against the Rays. Performance and picture quality seem to be better. I hope it stays like this because it’s the only available service that has NESN and the locals for ABC, NBC, and CBS.

 

[Ale Xander]

Locast is suspending operations immediately.

Wish they weren't so aggressive with their $5 stick approach.

 

[the1andonly3003]

came here to share the news...it was only 24 hours ago that they said they would stop interrupting streams asking for donations

 

[RSN Diaspora]

Locast is suspending operations immediately.

Wish they weren't so aggressive with their $5 stick approach.

That was certainly the biggest part of their undoing, though had they been smarter about their use of those monies they generated they might have survived.

 

[Ed Hillel]

nm I'm dumb

 

[the1andonly3003]

with Locast gone, guess Sunday Ticket is the only option now to watch out of market games

 

[RSN Diaspora]

with Locast gone, guess Sunday Ticket is the only option now to watch out of market games

Having cut the cord from DirecTV this year, I signed up for streaming Sunday Ticket this season. It wasn't flawless--it kept telling me I was blacked out from the Pats despite it not being televised in DC where I live, but eventually the app got it right and was indistinguishable from the satellite product after.

 

[johnmd20]

Having cut the cord from DirecTV this year, I signed up for streaming Sunday Ticket this season. It wasn't flawless--it kept telling me I was blacked out from the Pats despite it not being televised in DC where I live, but eventually the app got it right and was indistinguishable from the satellite product after.

It shockingly didn't fail yesterday. It has failed every Week 1 for the last 6 years. So that was a good job by them.

The biggest problem with the Sunday Ticket streaming is that it's like 2 to 3 minutes behind the game. It's not delayed like YoutubeTV is, which is maybe 15-30 seconds. It's eons away from live. It's entire series' behind.

 

[the1andonly3003]

It shockingly didn't fail yesterday. It has failed every Week 1 for the last 6 years. So that was a good job by them.

The biggest problem with the Sunday Ticket streaming is that it's like 2 to 3 minutes behind the game. It's not delayed like YoutubeTV is, which is maybe 15-30 seconds. It's eons away from live. It's entire series' behind.

I paid for one season of Sunday Ticket back in 2017, and Mike Reiss would always spoil plays on Twitter

 

[RSN Diaspora]

It shockingly didn't fail yesterday. It has failed every Week 1 for the last 6 years. So that was a good job by them.

The biggest problem with the Sunday Ticket streaming is that it's like 2 to 3 minutes behind the game. It's not delayed like YoutubeTV is, which is maybe 15-30 seconds. It's eons away from live. It's entire series' behind.

Interesting. Sunday was my wife's birthday so I was doing party prep and watching the game, so I didn't notice any delay. I suppose if I was trying to game thread it would've been a different story.

I don't know if anyone else has tried this, but I considered signing up for a VPN with IP addresses in the Boston market and just airplaying YouTube TV's coverage to my Apple TV. Not sure if that would be as good, better, or worse. The NESN app surprisingly doesn't geolocate you, so screen mirroring is how I've started watching Bruins games.

 

[the1andonly3003]

looks like the browser long/lat trick to get Boston channels on Locast doesn't work to stream on Xfinity streaming eh?

 

[edoug]

looks like the browser long/lat trick to get Boston channels on Locast doesn't work to stream on Xfinity streaming eh?

Locast has been shut down.

 

[epraz]

I don't know if anyone else has tried this, but I considered signing up for a VPN with IP addresses in the Boston market and just airplaying YouTube TV's coverage to my Apple TV.

I've tried this, but YTTV detected the VPN and wouldn't stream anything. I tried two services and had the same result with both.

 

[foulkehampshire]

Locast has been shut down.

Dang, that bummed me out…locast was a great service. I’m going with Hulu Live for the duration of football season.

 

[edoug]

Dang, that bummed me out…locast was a great service. I’m going with Hulu Live for the duration of football season.

It had too many powerful enemies. I was rooting for it. Even if it wasn't available in my area.

 

[Caspir]

I was pleasantly surprised that HBO cut its price in half because of the Amazon issues. Gladly hopped on that for six months.

Also trying out Paramount+ so that I can watch the Pats games on CBS. It's about a minute behind, so not too bad, and the app itself has been flawless. I haven't explored anything beyond watching the game, but they gave me a free week, followed by an additional free month when I tried to cancel. It's only like $5 a month ongoing, so I can get most of the Pats CBS games this year for a total of $20 plus some reality tv for the wife and Nick for the kids. I’ll take it.

 

[Dollar]

Youtube TV has a free preview of NFL Redzone this Sunday and HBO/Cinemax from September 23-27, so it's a good time to try it out if you haven't gotten a free Youtube TV trial before.

 

[Madmartigan]

I was pleasantly surprised that HBO cut its price in half because of the Amazon issues. Gladly hopped on that for six months.

Also trying out Paramount+ so that I can watch the Pats games on CBS. It's about a minute behind, so not too bad, and the app itself has been flawless. I haven't explored anything beyond watching the game, but they gave me a free week, followed by an additional free month when I tried to cancel. It's only like $5 a month ongoing, so I can get most of the Pats CBS games this year for a total of $20 plus some reality tv for the wife and Nick for the kids. I’ll take it.

I just got the ad free version of Paramount+ for 10/month. It’s pretty solid; it has the back catalogue of most CBS shows, plus some decent movies. This covers me for all the Pats games on CBS, and the other ones I can access using ESPN, Fox Sports, and NBC sports apps with my parents’ Spectrum login.

 

[genoasalami]

These disputes are tiring. https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-tv-and-nbc-programming-update/

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

I just switched back to YouTube.TV, but I’ll unsubscribe again if I can’t watch local NBC and Sunday Night Football. Agreed, this is so tiresome.

 

[johnmd20]

These disputes are tiring. https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-tv-and-nbc-programming-update/

This would be a massive hit for how I use my Youtube TV. I would have to probably go to Hulu Live if this happened.

 

[OurF'ingCity]

I just switched back to YouTube.TV, but I’ll unsubscribe again if I can’t watch local NBC and Sunday Night Football. Agreed, this is so tiresome.

But if I'm reading YouTube's post mentioned above correctly, they would reduce monthly subscription prices by $10 and you can get most of what NBC offers via Peacock for $5, so wouldn't this actually work out better from a cost perspective?

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

But if I'm reading YouTube's post mentioned above correctly, they would reduce monthly subscription prices by $10 and you can get most of what NBC offers via Peacock for $5, so wouldn't this actually work out better from a cost perspective?

Possibly. The fact that Peacock has SNF softens the blow. But I think I’d lose my local NBC news (I haven’t read the fine print), which is the main non-NFL draw to NBC for me.

 

[OurF'ingCity]

Possibly. The fact that Peacock has SNF softens the blow. But I think I’d lose my local NBC news (I haven’t read the fine print), which is the main non-NFL draw to NBC for me.

Fair enough. I suspect you would lose that. Also, I just realized that this would mean no NBC Sports Boston either, and I don't think Peacock includes regional sports coverage. Not an issue for me since I am outside the Boston area anyway but for anyone living in New England who watches the Celtics that would be a huge deal.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

It would also include USA Network. Outside of Mr Robot, I don’t think I ever tune it on when Monday Night Raw isn’t on. I do watch NBC Sports network regularly, but they’re eliminating the channel next year. I like the Celtics, but winter sports aren’t must watch for me anymore.

I’d rather save $10 bucks and pay for Peacock as needed. I own a digital antenna and can get NBC Boston with it for Sunday night games.

 

[genoasalami]

I will drop YTTV if they drop NBCU stations. The two viable replacement options seems to be FUBO and HULU Live. When i do my due diligence on both, I of course find strengths and weaknesses on both platforms. Any real life experiences here with either platform? I am leaning FUBO, but just noticed they do not carry any turner stations which means I will miss some playoff baseball.

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

I will drop YTTV if they drop NBCU stations. The two viable replacement options seems to be FUBO and HULU Live. When i do my due diligence on both, I of course find strengths and weaknesses on both platforms. Any real life experiences here with either platform? I am leaning FUBO, but just noticed they do not carry any turner stations which means I will miss some playoff baseball.

I’ve used Fubo twice (once as a trial, and once for several months when YTTV dropped NESN). Fubo is …fine, I guess, but everything about it is just slightly worse than YTTV to the point where it’s annoying. Interface, DVR, and especially picture quality.

For week 1 of the NFL season I had both YTTV and Fubo. I watched parts of the Pats game on both services. The YTTV picture is noticeably better.

I used Hulu Live for a bit a couple years ago when the service debuted. The interface drove me nuts. Everything took three more clicks than it should have, and multiple menus named the same thing did different things.

I’m anti-Google. I don’t use Chrome or Gmail. But credit where credit is due, YTTV is a best in class product.

 

[Zedia]

I know I always say this, but if you can live without a built-in DVR, an HD antenna is great for watching football on NBC/CBS/FOX.

 

[genoasalami]

I know I always say this, but if you can live without a built-in DVR, an HD antenna is great for watching football on NBC/CBS/FOX.

Yes, but telling my wife to live without Bravo is not gonna happen. The impasse is just NBC owned affiliates which includes Boston.

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

Does Peacock have Jeopardy? That’s another thing I’ll miss if YouTube drops NBC.

Edit: Nevermind. Jeopardy is on ABC. I’m an idiot (who really has lost the concept of channels. It’s my favorite part of these services, just being able to watch and record things without caring what channel they’re on)