Is there an easy way to do this??
I’ve become disgusted with our “triple play” provider. Their service is fine, but our cost is getting higher and higher and higher. We now pay over $200 a month for a not-very-elaborate TV package, plus internet and phone. I’ve started researching different providers, but it’s very complicated: First I have to compare which TV channels I’d get for which package and then add on all the equipment charges, which of course are not posted on-line. I have to call to determine what they are and then I get lost in the miasma of the special deals they’re offering because this is a leap year.
Is there an easier way to do this? It really gets me mad that I need to pay all this money for things that are, in this day and age, absolutely necessary.
I hope someone has some ideas because I am in exactly the same boat. Every time I try to sort out other options I get totally lost in the deals/packages.
I am so glad you brought this up, as I was thinking of doing the same. I pay $225 now for triple play with Comcast. I get the package that you have ESPN, for the kids, and Starz is free with it. I have a friend with the same one that also gets HBO and SHowtime free. Our cost went up $25 in the last few months. I’ve also started researching other ways to do this, and it’s quite difficult. It’s disgusting to be paying this much, then add in our Verizon Bill for the 4 of us for our phones. 25 years ago all we paid was about $80 for our phone line.
I pay $70 per month for high speed internet (TWC), $30 per month for DISH TV (no premium channels…I might drop this service as we rarely watch it and my remote drives me crazy), $8 (or so) for OOMA phone (VOIP) and $9 for Netflix.
If I drop DISH TV, I will add SLING TV to watch CNN, HGTV and ESPN, etc.
I also bought an HDTV antenna which provides fabulous reception for local on air channels.
We watch a lot of Netflix. I also have Amazon Prime and we access those programs, too, and occasionally pay extra for a new movie.
Yes, discuss away. I don’t have the cable option (the computer is enough entertainment) but my communication bill for internet, land and cell is nuts. I too keep thinking that years ago, all I paid was landline. All that money in the bank would look so good! My provider is AT&T, and it seems something is always pushing up the bill.
Every time I have look into switching from TWC to Verizon Fios, once I add in all the extras I want (a sports tier/whole house DVR it’s a wash so I’ve decided not to bother anymore. I get great customer service from TWC and so it’s worth it to me not to switch, too. A couple hundred dollar increase a year is not going to change my lifestyle so unless something drastic changes I’m sticking with what I have. I do call once a year after my rate increase and threaten to leave and they always find a “deal” which reduces my increase.
I had ATT Uverse for a a short time…phone, internet and TV. For years we resisted pay TV, but we finally gave in about 5 years ago mostly for the convenience of a DVR. Each year when my “special deal” ran out we’d call them and sign up for another “special deal”. This worked for a while, but last summer when we called again, they said their “special deals” were for new customers only. We refused to pay the high cost so I looked into alternatives. I discovered using TIVO with over the air options. We also ordered Netflix (and we were already Amazon Prime members). We’ve been doing this now for a few months and barely miss any of the pay TV channels (mostly only when a sports event is on). Saves us a ton of money! And I still get the convenience of a DVR which was my main objective.
Doesn’t really answer the OP’s original question (How to compare), but does give you another option to think about especially if you don’t really utilize all those cable channels. (For sports Sling TV is an option as well…but we haven’t tried it yet).
BTW, after setting up our TIVO, we called ATT to cancel our TV. Of course, then they offered us a “special deal”. We told them, sorry too late. So the lesson here is to be ready to cancel and you’ll get the better deal!
This is where I get so confused…all these options I’m not familiar with. TiVo, Hulu, Amazon prime, direct tv, on and on…mixing and matching confuses me even more.
I guess I need to read what they all are, what you get, what are the hidden costs? I do like cable and all the options…if it weren’t for the boys, we’d drop the package with the sports channels. Argh…it’s so frustrating.
So someone please tell me about Sling TV.
@VeryHappy - Their website is here: https://www.sling.com/
A good article detailing plusses and minuses is here: http://www.cnet.com/news/sling-tv-everything-you-need-to-know/
(Big minus is you can’t record or play back)
Since I haven’t used it yet, I can’t give you personal feedback.
@conmama - I feel your pain. That was another reason it was so easy to just get cable. But when we were ready to get rid of it (but I didn’t want to lose my DVR!) I did some reading (google is your friend) and learned about the different plans and what you get or don’t. Also, there are articles out there that will also help you decide. I googled “Hulu vs. Netflix” for example (so we could still get some movie content) and learned which might be better for what type of viewing etc.
We’d have to write an entire article here to explain it all, but of course, if you have a specific question…
The CNET article is a good review of sling.
I have used it.
Pros: price, channel selection, use with ROKU
Cons: glitchy…programs would freeze up at times. This is a bit annoying.
We are not big TV watchers and watch very few sports events.
We’re in the same boat right now. Trying to get a regular (after promotion) price is like trying to pull teeth with these companies. I don’t freaking CARE about your stupid gimmicky promotions! I want to know what bill I’m stuck with after 12 months.
We’re looking into sling box at the moment. I think that combined with our Netflix/Amazon prime and cable internet should be plenty. Satellite packages were just too pricey given that we do not watch much TV, and usually only a few channels when we do, and of course the channels we watch were not in the lower prices packages (bastards).
if you cut the cable cord and do sling, Netflix, etc., get Roku. Roku allows one interface for all the channels and has a search feature which includes all the channels, programs like Netflix and Hulu, and will return the results for all the channels or programs you are using for movies or tv. If I did a search for Casablanca, the results would show Netflix (not available), Amazon (available for rental for 3.99), VUDU (rental price $$), etc. The Roku is a one time fee for the device.
^If you do that and still want a DVR you can access some of these through TIVO in a similar way. We access our Netflix and Amazon Prime through TIVO (there are others I can’t think of off the top of my head, but I’m sure they are listed on the Tivo website).
If you have iPhones and iPads, you might consider AppleTV, it does the same stuff but also gives you the capability to mirror your iPhones and iPads to your TV. There are many such devices out there with their pros and cons, you’d have to look at what functionality you need/want and which services they connect with (not all connect to all providers).
I have TWC and fight the promotional pricing as well. I’ve learned that when the promotion runs out, I just call to cancel because the new price is too high. And like magic, the promotion gets extended for a year. One day, I guess they will call my bluff, but this is going on almost 10 years.
I’m so glad to see this thread. I’ve been trying to build up my stamina to get on the phone and start doing some comparison calling. I’m sick of paying so much for all of this stuff. Our youngest son shares a house with 6 roommates and they do not have cable - just stream everything. However, when I asked how they get all of the programs they watch (a LOT of sports) he confessed they get a lot of it illegally. Of course when I started lecturing him, he insisted he doesn’t do it- just the roommates. Sure. My husband watches a lot of soccer from all teams and countries so we pay extra for a sports package. I’m going to have to look at some of the options suggested here and then start calling.
Our monthly bill was up to $150+ for cable and internet, so I called our company and said I wanted to disconnect my cable. They dropped my bill by $50 and tossed in high speed internet to boot in order to convince me to keep it. If the cost creeps back up there again, I’ll pull the plug on cable in a heartbeat. I have Netflix and the internet. I don’t need cable.
It’s all too damn much information and confusion.
I remember when they broke up Ma Bell and suddenly we needed to pay attention to our phones and the phone packages. No one wanted to do that – too confusing.
I just want to plug in my TV and call it a day.
Here’s an aside: Back in the old days, IIRC, cable TV didn’t have commercials, because we were paying for it separately. Now? Fugedaboudit! We not only pay for cable TV but we have to suffer through all their ads as well!