I’ve read the prior discussions and want to cut my cable TV & phone and just stream. Anything new and good in 2019? Best options to share with the family or multiple locations or portable devices when traveling?
We recently did this and have had no issues whatsoever. We upgraded the speed of our internet from 60 Mbps to 500 Mbps for the exact same price from the same provider (they are often willing to let you “upgrade” essentially for free if you sign a contract). We already had Netflix and Prime Video which we are keeping, and then after researching the streaming TV options, settled on Youtube TV. It includes local channels, all of the sports channels we need, and more of the other channels than we will ever use. At this point we don’t feel like we are missing anything…it’s really just a difference in how you interface with your television…you just access everything through apps.
We switched from DirecTV which cost us roughly $125 a month. Youtube TV is $49 a month. Everything else is constant, so that is our monthly savings. If savings is a prime driver, you can likely reduce the cost of your internet as well by switching providers as they give the best deals to new customers.
One potential issue with some of the streaming providers is how many streams you can have going at once. Some have more than others, so make sure whichever you choose will meet your needs.
We were hesitant to do this as we anticipated headaches but I think this has all evolved to the point where the issues of the past are not really issues anymore. And actually, our picture quality is improved as I don’t believe there is the degree of signal compression that you have with cable or satellite. Happy streamers here.
I did a lot of research this year and even tried to switch to Sling TV. Our problem was the broadband speed – Sling kept “spinning” and not loading, or even goiing black from time to time. I upgraded from 100 whatevers to 200, for an additional $20 per month, but going all the way to 400 would have cost me ~$40 a month. Our cable company has a monopoly here and I’ve found they won’t play ball. I’m not at all happy about it but will continue to look at this periodically.
We have hulu live and it’s great. I can’t live without my cable news and sports though which is why we got it.
We upgraded our internet speed and cancelled cable. We have Hulu live and as an Amazon Prime member, we can access a large number of shows. We also had cable up in our home in CT where my son still lives. We cancelled cable there and son has internet only. We visit about 5-6 times a year and got a chrome casting device for the TV in CT. We can “cast” from our laptops or phones.
We have an antenna that brings in all of our local channels and PBS. Then we stream using a ROKU stick. We also use Sling for chunks of time. For example…we bought whatever we needed for the month to watch the Olympics.
@VeryHappy we live in the boondocks and have never had a streaming issue with Sling…and we have DSL and not a particularly high level package. Occasional issues…but VERY occasional. I’m surprised the cable Plan you have for Internet doesn’t accommodate this. Are you streaming different things on multiple devices? If so, maybe that’s the issue.
Me? Are you kidding me?
I cut the cord many, many years ago (like 15 maybe?). Don’t miss it one bit and I watch way too much TV. For starters, I have a digital antenna. We live in the boonies, but it’s a pretty clear area (can see for miles and miles in each direction) and get at least 20 channels with that. All the major networks, PBS, Laff, ION…I don’t know the names of them all…but there’s more. I bought a TIVO box because I DID miss the DVR. I don’t like being tied to live TV. Everyone that comes to my house thinks I have satellite TV due to the on screen guide that downloads. It also works like a Roku and interfaces to all kinds of streaming apps. About the only one I pay for is Prime and that’s for other reasons not the streaming. I share a Netflix account with my ex. So, all total my monthly bill is about $15/month and I have so much to watch… Occasionally in the winter I’ll sign up for a free month trial of Hulu or HBO or something and binge that for awhile then cancel. 
As for internet speed. As I mentioned, we live in the sticks. There is no cable out here at all, just one wireless provider which is spendy so I get the cheapest available plan which is a mere 5 Mbps for $51/month. I never have issues streaming, even when DS is on his computer online gaming. The only time it’s ever an issue is when he’s doing some massive download.
Agree with @cshell2
@VeryHappy - are you trying to stream using the built in app in your TV? This is what we had - a spinner when we did that. And we have the fastest internet available! Apprently, the built in apps are very flaky… as soon as we began using a Roku stick, our issues were solved.
We also found that some compromises need to be made. If you want every single channel that you are used to watching…it’s not likely that you will save much. For example…if you want ALL of the ESPN channels, NESN, sports specific channels (bicycling, tennis, golf for example), HGTV all shows, HBO, Showtime or whatever…you probably are not going to be able to cut the cable cord and actually save money.
We found that subscribing to ESPN via SLING only when we wanted it works for us. But some folks just have to have it all the time. Ditto other channels.
My sister, for example, wants to reduce her TV costs which are about $200 a month. She gets 200 channels…and watches regularly maybe 6. BUT she won’t give up access to any of the others…because she doesn’t want to miss something just in case.
So…there has to be a bit of compromise…and willingness to not be able to just channel surf all the time dozens of channels.
We have friends who just wouldn’t have saved a dime, because they were also unwilling to jettison some of the channels they were used to getting.
@BunsenBurner : I was using a Roku stick. It still spun. I haven’t tried it since I increased the bandwidth. I have some travel coming up to see my kids but probably at the end of September I’ll be ready to try it again.
Our total bill with the cable company is $245 a month. That includes TV, internet and Yes, that pesky landline. (I’d be happy to give it up but DH can barely use his cell phone, so – not yet.) The TV portion is around $130 of that total. If I can get that down to something like $40 or $50, I’d be happy.
We pay $50 a month for DSL and our landline which makes it a bundle.
We purchase Sling as needed. Less than $10 a month and only for the months we need it.
DH has some bicycle channel that shows every bike event for a year $50.
We can use Netflix or Amazon Prime, plus lots of shows can be streamed the following day or week for free.
The antenna cost $200 or so and brings in all the major networks and PBS.
For us, that is plenty of TV. But for others, it wouldn’t be
We cut the cord over 3 years ago & haven’t looked back. We use an indoor antenna for local channels, Sling’s cheapest plan, and Amazon Prime. We have all the TV we need or want. For Father’s Day, I got DH an mlb subscription so he could watch his beloved Yankees here in VA, but I considered that as a gift, not an additional TV cost (and it was a reduced price because it was part way into the season).
@VeryHappy - I haven’t tried it myself since we have good service here, but I know people with cell problems at home that set their phones up with WiFi calling and said it worked great.
I’m having Sling issues lately, mostly syncing voice and picture, maybe one channel is worst. It does black out once in a while (unplug/replug)- which shouldn’t be bandwidth fluctuations, as we’re an area that Verizon supposedly verified. It’s 50 or 100mg.
Annoying. But I accept this as an issue of the new(ish) technology. And the cost savings are substantial. I pay Sling about 45 (combo plus the cable news and Sho) and V less than 90, for LL and web.
I did spend 2 hours on the phone with them, to no avail.
@VeryHappy Have you checked to see if the cable company is actually delivering the internet speed you are paying for? Perhaps you need a new router as well?
We pulled the plug on cable tv in the past year. Still have landline - need to get rid of that - and internet through Comcast/Xfinity. That cut our monthly bill from around $240 (it spiked up in January prompting my finally dealing with it) to around $140 including taxes, most of which is internet. It’s our only real option where we live.
We have Apple TV. We already had Netflix and Amazon Prime. When we cut cable tv, we added Fubo which is more sports heavy than some competitors. Net, we’re saving over $60/month but I’d like to get it down more.
Don’t miss cable TV at all.
Went to a seniors’ talk about cord cutting last year. I still like cable but H uses a Roku on other sets. A very recent Consumer Reports (at library) has a nice article about various streaming services. You need to get a good antenna, there is info online about which are best (outdoors of course are better than indoors). Perhaps posters know the best at a decent price point. Several variables, including where you live.
VeryHappy- Regarding that landline. We paid around $100 several years ago for the Ooma device and currently pay $5 per month for home phone service. Yes, it is through the internet but uses our old phones and acts like a landline. Loss of internet is rare and not an issue. You can save a ton of money,
I’m getting ready to cut the cord. I currently have Direct TV but the whole system stopped working when I had to unplug everything, installed new floors and bought a new Roku TV. Now it’s either pay them a service fee to come out and fix it or find a new streaming service.
I am looking at Hulu Plus but I cannot find answers to 2 issues :
How do I get PBS? Do I have to install an antennae and then switch to HDMI 1 or something to watch one channel on the TV??
Does Hulu come with a DVR recording system where I can record a couple of shows off network television? If yes, can I fast forward through the commercials,? which is one of the main reasons I like to record.
All of this is leaning towards me finding a 20 something Geek Squad Guy/gal to come put me back together??
We canceled the cable a few months ago and went with Hulu Live. We love it but I am curious about the other streaming tv options and how they compare.
Fast internet is $55/month and Hulu Live is $45/month. That saved us $80/month and we haven’t missed a thing. We decided to cancel netflix, too since we have plenty of options on Prime, Hulu, and other free Roku channels (including PBS). We will eventually get Netflix again, but will only keep it a few months each year…long enough to binge whatever we’ve missed…likely in the winter.
We got rid of the landline years ago, but kept our landline number using an Ooma device, which costs $5/month. I probably ought to get rid of that, too since we mostly only get sales calls on it now, but I hate to give up that phone number for the rare important calls we do get on it.