Live TV Streaming?

300sniper

300sniper

Gun Plumber
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
695
Messages
483
Loc
Greenwood, CA
I'm old school and don't quite understand this live streaming TV thing. I do know our Direct TV bill is getting ridiculous so we're looking for options.

With the live TV streaming, is there a guide like normal satellite TV? Are there any other differences that would make it annoying to someone that is used to normal satellite TV? Are there better services than others? Will it work with a ten year old "smart" TV? How fast of internets do you need?
 
What channels do you want to watch? Make a list and find a service that offers all or most of what you want.

Pretty much any channel can be subscribed through Amazon. Thats probably the most user friendly, but probably not cost effective way of ditching sat TV.

Don't forget about Antenna TV. You might be surprised at what you can get for free using a $50 antenna.
 
300sniper said:
I'm old school and don't quite understand this live streaming TV thing. I do know our Direct TV bill is getting ridiculous so we're looking for options.

With the live TV streaming, is there a guide like normal satellite TV? Are there any other differences that would make it annoying to someone that is used to normal satellite TV? Are there better services than others? Will it work with a ten year old "smart" TV? How fast of internets do you need?
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I just called our cable company last week.

You have to play games with these people. I have the absolute best possible internet at my place. We have 3 smart TVs, 3 phones, 9 devices, and 3 computers sapping the internet and it doesn't lag.

The cable box I just changed to only have the basic **** CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. Yes I know these are free with an antenna but I really like the interface with the cable box where I can just talk to the remote and it plays what I want. Far superior than my dad telling me to get up and change the channel.

$150/month. :homer:
 
We don’t have cable or dish. We have YouTube tv for all the typical tv channels. We record and save the shows we watch for when we are ready, we also watch YouTube on the tv as well. We almost watch more YouTube than anything. I’ve gotten into some crazy cooking shows from a guy in Azerbaijan. I like fishing shows, wheeling shows and other bs. We also watch max, Disney, Netflix and prime but those are paid for by other family members. We all share our logins.
 
NorCalJalopy said:
We don’t have cable or dish. We have YouTube tv for all the typical tv channels. We record and save the shows we watch for when we are ready, we also watch YouTube on the tv as well. We almost watch more YouTube than anything.
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This is what we are doing as well, I think it's $65/month. My wife pays for it so I'm not positive:homer:
Gets us all the regular TV shows that we rarely watch plus we can watch everything on YouTube without commercials interrupting the show. Like you, all I really ever watch are YouTube shows, not broadcast TV.
 
300sniper said:
I'm old school and don't quite understand this live streaming TV thing. I do know our Direct TV bill is getting ridiculous so we're looking for options.

With the live TV streaming, is there a guide like normal satellite TV? Are there any other differences that would make it annoying to someone that is used to normal satellite TV? Are there better services than others? Will it work with a ten year old "smart" TV? How fast of internets do you need?
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Make sure you are calling to "cancel" your DTV service at least once a year so they keep offering the best deals. That was me for almost 30 years, and I got tired of it. We had no option except satellite TV. Bill would be $200+ I would call and complain, it would go to $120 for 6 months then creep up again.

If you have any option from cable or similar, that is probably the best value for money

If you are stuck on satellite, then Starlink might be an option
Starlink - $120/month, equipment is 250 - 500 one time cost
Get a Roku, most TV's come with it installed - $40
This gives you access, better access comes at a cost.

Streaming channels now exceed Directv in cost if you allow. Disney+, Netflix, Max, Youtube, YoutubeTV, Apple TV, NBC, Peacock

Those 5 - 25 monthly fees can really add up. And you are back to what you were paying for Directv, just without the ****ty Indian customer service.

I pay for
Netflix - 25
Peacock - 10 Premier League and IMSA, Tour De France
Youtube Premium (not Youtube TV) - 10
Starlink 120

If something is on Max or Apple or similar, we will sign up for a few months (or use a free sub) and binge watch that then cancel. Last we did was Apple TV for Ted Lasso, watched them all then cancelled.

At times of the year I will pay for the Cricket Channel. used to pay for ESPN for Formula 1 but the highlights are on youtube almost immediately, and I cannot remember the last time I watched an entire race

Redbull Channel streams all WRC, and some Dakar

MotorGP has a channel and subscription, I watch the highlights on youtube.

So compared to Directv, we actually have less channels, but I think we watch more quality of stuff we want to watch with no commercials

We have Amazon Prime but since they introduced commercials, I only ever use it when traveling and want to download a movie (you can do this with Netflix and YouTube too) Wife has a work around on her iPad, she downloads the movie, then logs off from the network - no ads.

Only issue for 2025 is Indycar is moving to Fox, and I don't believe Fox Sports 1 has a streaming channel, so you would need some sort of TV channel package, like youtube TV or similar.

OP, with streaming most times you no longer need to "record" your program. You log into that channel and find the program(s) you are going to watch and let it stream.

Now if someone could just bundle the best of the channels that I watch and sell me a deal on those I would be interested, they could call it cable or something. :lmao::lmao:
 
They all suck IMO, tried them all since canning "cable" 10 yrs ago.

Live and streaming TV/Movies are oversaturated and dead.
For NCAA Football season I have been subscribing to hulu live or whatever its called for the season. Its similar interface to dish/direct tv. But way more confusing. I hate it.
 
Buy a vseebox. My buddy got one and it has every tv show and channel, movies and streaming things on it for free. It even has ppv channels you can watch.
https://www.vseebox.shop/
 
Wheelerfreak said:
This is what we are doing as well, I think it's $65/month. My wife pays for it so I'm not positive:homer:
Gets us all the regular TV shows that we rarely watch plus we can watch everything on YouTube without commercials interrupting the show. Like you, all I really ever watch are YouTube shows, not broadcast TV.
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YoutubeTV is $78 right now, and going to $83 next month.
 
300sniper said:
Will it work with a ten year old "smart" TV? How fast of internets do you need?
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An older smart TV may not be able to download extra apps. What I did was buy a ROKU box (about $39). With that you can download lots of apps into that. I only do the free ones, yes I'm a cheap wad. ROKU has some live channels as do Plex, Pluto, and some others. You can also download YouTube onto it.
I also have satellite dish as the wife wants local Canadian stuff but have the basic plan.
 
DirecTV can eat my ass with a grapefruit spoon. I signed up for their bull**** service when I bought my house. Long story short, I used my connections to get the CEO's personal phone number. I Called to express my dissatisfaction and he said there was nothing he could do for me. I told him to cancel the service and take the ****ing dish off my house. He told me it would be a $650 cancellation fee. I said I have cash send the technician over immediately.

2 hours later there was some jackboot pulling the dish off my house and I handed him $650 and considered the matter settled.

**** direcTV.
 
I currently have Hulu+ Live which includes Disney+ and ESPN+ . It's not too bad for $75- ish/mo - 150 channels including locals.
I've also had Fubo TV, Philo, and YouTube TV but definitely like Hulu the best. It's channel lineup is very close to my old DirecTV lineup.

I had DirecTV for 22 years and finally got sick of their bull**** of not taking care of long time, loyal customers but keep jacking up the rates all while giving new customers sweet deals and big savings worth $1k plus. I'm extremely glad I switched to streaming and question myself why I waited so long to do it.

Speed-wise I'd say 20-30mbps would be enough if all you're doing is surfing and watching TV. Gaming and other **** while watching TV I don't know about -not my thing.

Some minor annoyances with these streaming services :
There isn't a previous channel button, you can't hit 1 button and bounce between 2 channels.
Most have a program guide which you can filter by category but get used to scrolling or using a voice remote.
They sometimes freeze up - YMMV.
 
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I am a cheap ass and watch bootlegs or free streaming wherever I can.
Lots of YT, but I do use ad blockers.

In your case I would do as suggested, make a list of what is important, try out a few solutions and settle for the one that best matches your needs.

A la carte will add up in cost.
 
planefixer said:
I currently have Hulu+ Live which includes Disney+ and ESPN+ . It's not too bad for $75- ish/mo - 150 channels including locals.
I've also had Fubo TV, Philo, and YouTube TV but definitely like Hulu the best. It's channel lineup is very close to my old DirecTV lineup.

Speed-wise I'd say 20-30mbps would be enough if all you're doing is surfing and watching TV. Gaming and other **** while watching TV I don't know about -not my thing.

Some minor annoyances with these streaming services :
There isn't a previous channel button, you can't hit 1 button and bounce between 2 channels.
Most have a program guide which you can filter by category but get used to scrolling or using a voice remote.
They sometimes freeze up - YMMV.
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I've found the same. and ads seem to make up about 40% of the content.
 
Thetvapp and a vpn, no need to subscribe. All nba, nfl, mlb, ncaa and regular tv. I use it for sports and use Kodi for shows and movies

Edit; unfortunately it has commercials and they are Canadian :lmao: but it’s free
 
I called DirecTV this morning trying to get the $15 discount I have been getting the last 3 years, no Joy this time. I have choice or select package not sure which one, cheap one my bill is $101 now, cancelled my second receiver so saving $9 , Florida has a 9.3% communication tax on there I'll change my address next month to my in-laws to drop that.

I did get HBO,Max and something else for the next few months free just gotta remember to cancel them.

I have been a customer since they started back in the 90s , like said above they don't give us ****.
 
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Zg86 said:
Buy a vseebox. My buddy got one and it has every tv show and channel, movies and streaming things on it for free. It even has ppv channels you can watch.
vSeeBox Official Store | The Best Android TV Streaming Media TV Box
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Just be aware that it could be shut down tomorrow by some government somewhere.

www.the-independent.com

World’s largest piracy network taken down after 100 homes raided across 10 countries

Websites hosting streams of movies, TV shows and live sporting events knocked offline as part of Operation Takendown
www.the-independent.com www.the-independent.com

They got real debrid last month too.
 
Yeah im on the fence about buying my own for that exact reason.
 
Thats all good and well if you know how to do all that.
 
Hippie666 said:
Thetvapp and a vpn, no need to subscribe. All nba, nfl, mlb, ncaa and regular tv. I use it for sports and use Kodi for shows and movies

Edit; unfortunately it has commercials and they are Canadian :lmao: but it’s free
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Finally got to watch a Monday Night sports ball game this season. Funny with all the hockey commercials though.. Thanks!
 
IPTV free channel list that is updated regularly:


Programs like Kodi or Jellyfin can help you to use the list:

kodi.tv

Open Source Home Theater Software

Kodi is a free media player that is designed to look great on your big screen TV but is just as at home on a small screen.
kodi.tv kodi.tv

jellyfin.org

The Free Software Media System | Jellyfin

The volunteer-built media solution that puts you in control of your media. Stream to any device from your own server, with no strings attached.
jellyfin.org jellyfin.org

There are others as well, these are just what I have used.

I'm to the point of hating advertising so much that I'm going to drop the Fire sticks that I currently use eventually for small computers running Linux. That will give me the ability to control exactly what's on the device without having companies attempting to spy on what I'm watching directly. I don't even connect the smart tvs to my network any more.
 
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