Streaming TV (or other ways to ditch cable) - what do you have?

I have an antenna for basic channels that I never watch and an older apple tv for Netflix and youtube. That gives me all the home entertainment I could ask for and I never miss cable. I just pay for internet and Netflix.

 

Hulu has a great library of material in addition to it's live lineup, including some exclusives (like Stephen King's 11/11/63).

 

What do you consider to be basic?
Your local TV stations are about as basic as it gets.
You may be able to pick them up over the air with an antenna connected to your TV.

Those channels may also stream over the internet.
See if they have their own apps.
Otherwise, there are a number of streaming services, like Hulu Live or Sling, for instance.

None of them give you all the channels that you usually get with even basic cable.
Some of them charge extra for the more “premium” of basic channels.
None of them, that I’ve seen offer some of the channels you get with cable.
A big hole in that lineup for me is the Weather channel.
But the Weather channel app is not too bad.

Other than what you get over the air, there is no free lunch and you often end up paying less but get a lot less.
If you can live with not having some stuff you’ve come to expect with cable, you’ll be alright and save a little bit each month.

I’m not an advocate for cable, but you often give up the convenience of having it all in one place when you cut the cord. If you’re into tech stuff and don’t mind switching inputs or messing around with an antenna, then you may be a candidate for dropping your all in one service,

By the way, antennas are not as easy or work as well as most of the sellers would have you believe.
Some of them just outright lie to you about what they will do.
I saw one ad recently that claimed you could get all of the channels you are currently getting on cable by using their antenna. It’s a lot like buying a new amp. There are a lot of smoke and mirrors in the sales pitch. So you really need to know what you’re doing.

Don’t drink the antenna cool aid, no matter how thirsty cable has left you. Antennas may or may not get any, or all of your local stations. It all depends on your reception environment and the type of antenna you use. If you can get the locals most of them will have 2nd, 3rd or even 4th additional subchannels with different programming.

Good luck.

 

With regard to just the streaming device, I have nothing but positive things to say about Roku. Talking the standalone box, not the HDMI sticks (which I've never tried and probably wouldn't for a couple reasons). I stream Amazon Prime and Netflix all the time via Roku and it just works.

I just discovered Roku has a feature that allows you to rewind the program by 15 second increments, and replay that scene with closed captioning on. So if you can't pick up some piece of dialog, press rewind and the scene replays with captions. Once you get past that rewind section, captioning turns off again. Maybe that feature has always been there.

Apple TV's current remote control is horrible. It wouldn't have made it past the prototype stage if Steve Jobs was still in charge. Also the device itself is just too expensive.

 

we use netflix and prime video, the second is included for amazon prime members.

your best bet is probably to check which shows/movies each service offers and choose the one that has the most of what you want to watch.

btw, our antenna does get our local stations but the image quality is pretty meh, sometimes a bit worse.

 

We use ROKU for Amazon Prime, VUDU, HULU, Netflix, etc.
My over-the-air antenna is powered ($80 at Best Buy). I get about 40 channels. Iusr this for NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, etc. Mostly for football.
The HD from the antenna is much better than the local Cable Company's BS HD...

 

A power antenna for free over the air. Got a $15 one in one room .works fine. Looks like a flat helicopter wing. a much better power one $39 have 14 channels. The 4 major networks. Can't get PBS tho. And that's my favorite. Netflix. Hulu. For movies. An ocassional redbox when they send me a free coupon. Which seems like every other day.

 

Takoma Park... my hometown... shout-out

TV antenna + internet and nextflix thru Roku

I bought one of these antennas at amazon

for $30 and can pick up all the DC stations from Westminster. (40+ miles away) From Takoma Park you can probably get away with putting it in your attic and be able get all the broadcast stations (I had to roof mount mine to get the DC stations but could get everything in Baltimore with it siting in my attic) )

 

Does the stick require using an HDMI extender cable and a wall wart power supply connected to the stick?

 

I have one of those and although we’re about 65 miles from the antennas, we get just about everything over-the-air. There’s a lot of action in the sub channels now too. Very highly rrecommended can’t mended. Everything else I get with a (family shared) Netflix subscription, and our Amazon Prime account. Haven’t had cable for years-haven’t missed it.

 

I'm getting 4 PBS channels with my antenna.
ROKU also has a PBS channel. With that, I can select various PBS channels by zip code.

 

Guys, I need suggestions & costs of internet live TV streaming services. like ESPN, fox news, home shows , etc. My area does not have the fastest broadband,
Thanks

 

There’s a lot that’s steaming but ESPN and Fox News, as far as I know, would both be premium paid services on their own. I think ESPN is part of a bundle offered with Hulu. But if your area doesn’t have fast broadband you’re not gonna have fast streaming anyway.

 

Do you know what speed you do have?