Done with cable...I think. YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV

[Toothpick]

Now that the cable bill made it north of $250 a month I'm looking at other options. I need local channels and Food Network, along with some other basic cable channels.

What are y'all thoughts on YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV. Both about the same price around $80 a month. or maybe Sling TV?

 

[Eben Stone]

I switched from DirecTV to Hulu + live TV. It's okay. Hulu has absolutely zero parental controls if you care about that sort of thing. Some of the ads on Hulu are so inappropriate it's embarrassing on a human level.

 

[Mojo88]

We have tried Fubo, Sling, Hulu, YouTube Tv and Philo. The reason for switching different streaming services is because they all offer different programming options that change. In addition to those changes they all have disputes with different channels and typically drop them with little or no notice.

After trying multiple services we chose Fubo because they offered our local channels, Bally for our professional baseball team, Cooking Channel, Food Network and DIY shows. We had Fubo for quite sometime then true to form they had a dispute with the cooking channels along with the DIY channels and consequently dropped them. We needed a replacement for the cooking and DIY shows so we added Philo and kept Fubo for baseball and local channels.

All are relatively the same it terms of picture quality and reliability. A positive is most streaming services offer a month of free programming and no long term commitments once you decide on a service.

We have high speed internet and a mesh system so we are able to watch in any room with no lag. We pay around 100 for Fubo and 25 for Philo.

 

[Mojo88]

I switched from DirecTV to Hulu + live TV. It's okay. Hulu has absolutely zero parental controls if you care about that sort of thing. Some of the ads on Hulu are so inappropriate it's embarrassing on a human level.

I’m pretty open minded but I have to agree on the Hulu ads. When we had it I found we were turning off the tv when the grandkids were around.

 

[DesertIguana]

We dumped Direct TV the money grubbing ATT Company use U-Tube TV.

 

[Columbo]

We cut the ‘cable’ many years ago. Had satellite since the days of USSB 30 years ago.

Had several internet TV providers over the years. Sony Vue was excellent, but it ended.

Take a look at Fubo. They had the best overall package, all the local channels, too. A mountain of sports.

Then we dumped all TV, slapped an OTA antenna in the attic, but really don’t watch any commercial TV anymore. Just a handful of things we care about on the pads, or via an app on our Apple TV. Don’t miss all the visual garbage, and we stay well informed.

The trick to Internet viewing is the STB. Smart TVs are just never as good at it. And Apple TV is probably the best Internet STB right now, all things considered.

We’re much more concerned about having top Internet service. Finally getting Verizon FIOS all fiber optic here next week.

 

[Acmemfg]

About 2 years ago local cable rates went insane; moved to Hulu for about $75.00
Zero problems.

 

[Columbo]

We dumped Direct TV the money grubbing ATT Company use U-Tube TV.

I helped a relative set up Youtube TV on their set a couple years ago.

Good service. Fast, and all the local channels included, for around $60.

But I got the sense the service was watching the relative more than the relative was watching the service.

 

[Toothpick]

We got Spectrum in August 2023 for $165. Cable & Internet

In February 2024 I guess the promotion ran out and it went up to $175

In May 2024 it jumped to $190

In June 2024 it jumped to $205

In July 2024 it jumped to $232

In August 2024 it jumped to $238

I'm done playing this game.

I'm thinking I might go with YouTube TV. YouTube TV would have to raise their prices about $100 to match the cost of Spectrum. I know that's not out of the question but typically they raise it $5-10 at a time, so I'd say I got a few years before it costs the same as Spectrum. And then who knows what Spectrum would cost by then

 

[Phoenixkh]

We've had Hulu, Sony Vue and YouTube TV... As was mentioned Sony got out of that business. We had Hulu first and after we'd watched the content we wanted, we switched to YouTube TV... Now, we've cut back and only have a few regular streaming services with no live TV other that some sports offered through Amazon Prime Video... and there are a few live channels on Roku, but not much.

 

[Toothpick]

We pay for 600mpbs internet now. I'm thinking we don't need it that high. probably can get away with 300? which will save more money

 

[FarmerTan]

Look at Frendly TV. Could be Friendly TV, not really sure. Not great sports content, at all. But I only really care about March Madness to be honest. And whatever Kollege Football is on OTA broadcast. As for Frendly, it's less than $100 for the year, has the History channel, multiple Hallmark movie channels, lots of old TV shows, movies... It's enough for the War Department and I, we go in spurts, probably average 2 hours an evening or so. Be blessed my friend. Spectrum sure won't be lowering their cable prices any!

 

[cleanshaved]

We got Spectrum in August 2023 for $165. Cable & Internet

In February 2024 I guess the promotion ran out and it went up to $175

In May 2024 it jumped to $190

In June 2024 it jumped to $205

In July 2024 it jumped to $232

In August 2024 it jumped to $238

I'm done playing this game.

I'm thinking I might go with YouTube TV. YouTube TV would have to raise their prices about $100 to match the cost of Spectrum. I know that's not out of the question but typically they raise it $5-10 at a time, so I'd say I got a few years before it costs the same as Spectrum. And then who knows what Spectrum would cost by then

I know nothing of the US cable, streaming platforms or internet suppliers.
With that said it may be worth looking at de bundling the package. What's the price for Cable alone? Internet suppliers should have a bit of competition, so a better deal could be out there.
I believe streaming doesn't require supper high speed internet, so you could save there. High speed is handy if you're downloading a show but also not critical. It's not only your streaming that needs to be considered for selecting an internet speed.

 

[Toothpick]

I know nothing of the US cable, streaming platforms or internet suppliers.
With that said it may be worth looking at de bundling the package. What's the price for Cable alone? Internet suppliers should have a bit of competition, so a better deal could be out there.
I believe streaming doesn't require supper high speed internet, so you could save there. High speed is handy if you're downloading a show but also not critical. It's not only your streaming that needs to be considered for selecting an internet speed.

Internet alone will be 40-80 depending on the speed I want. I have 600Mbps now. I don't think I need that much. Probably will have 2-3 TV's streaming at most. More often than not just 1. So I'm thinking half of what I got now will be fine.

 

[brucered]

Sounds like you guys are getting hooped down there.

In Canada right now, I pay $135(cad) for GB internet, Disney+, HDTV, 3 wireless PVR capable boxes, including all sports and food channels and many specialty channels and even home phone (which we will be cancelling soon to save $10). I pay for Amazon Prime membership, so stream that as well. TSN+ (includes extra sports and NFL Red Zone) for $9 a month.

This is on a 2y contract, price locked, squabbled to get that. Once the contract is up, they start jacking up the price like you mentioned in post #9.

 

[Toothpick]

Sounds like you guys are getting hooped down there.

In Canada right now, I pay $135(cad) for GB internet, Disney+, HDTV, 3 wireless PVR capable boxes, including all sports and food channels and many specialty channels and even home phone (which we will be cancelling soon to save $10). I pay for Amazon Prime membership, so stream that as well. TSN+ (includes extra sports and NFL Red Zone) for $9 a month.

This is on a 2y contract, price locked, squabbled to get that. Once the contract is up, they start jacking up the price like you mentioned in post #9.

Yup and I'm tired of playing their games. You put it in someone else's name and get a good discount but that only lasts 12 months then you are paying double the price. Then you switch to a different company for a good rate but yet again.....after the promotion is up you are paying double. Then someone else's name...promotion....expires....price hike...

I'm just done playing this game. Between the cell phones and cable it's $500 per month. I mean.... WHAT THE ACTUAL FUDGE. Sorting out the cell phones will be next after the cable.

 

[brucered]

Yup and I'm tired of playing their games. You put it in someone else's name and get a good discount but that only lasts 12 months then you are paying double the price. Then you switch to a different company for a good rate but yet again.....after the promotion is up you are paying double. Then someone else's name...promotion....expires....price hike...

I'm just done playing this game. Between the cell phones and cable it's $500 per month. I mean.... WHAT THE ACTUAL FUDGE. Sorting out the cell phones will be next after the cable.

I asked for a deal on my expiring XM radio as I was paying $5/24 months. They said the lowest they could go was $8.99. I cancelled. Now I can sign up as new customer for $4.99 or better yet, I went on a 4month free trial with no credit card, that will get extended a few times with email addresses.

They make billions a year and don't care about customer retention, only signing up NEW customers.

 

[Toothpick]

I asked for a deal on my expiring XM radio as I was paying $5/24 months. They said the lowest they could go was $8.99. I cancelled. Now I can sign up as new customer for $4.99 or better yet, I went on a 4month free trial with no credit card, that will get extended a few times with email addresses.

They make billions a year and don't care about customer retention, only signing up NEW customers.

Mine is $6.65. That's all in, taxes and everything. But same thing....I canceled when the price went to like 12 bucks or something and they called and offered it for half the price so I said sure. AND I get 1% back from my credit card on it every month so it's only costing me $6.58

 

[luvmysuper]

I had Hulu/Disney bundle and signed up for live TV through Hulu.
I canceled it a week later. IMHO, Live TV is a wasteland.
Two days ago I canceled Hulu and Disney. We hardly ever watched it.
We had already dumped Amazon Prime.
Between Netflix, my digital library, and numerous free (with advertising) streamers, we're doing just fine.

 

[Toothpick]

I had Hulu/Disney bundle and signed up for live TV through Hulu.
I canceled it a week later. IMHO, Live TV is a wasteland.
Two days ago I canceled Hulu and Disney. We hardly ever watched it.
We had already dumped Amazon Prime.
Between Netflix, my digital library, and numerous free (with advertising) streamers, we're doing just fine.

I'd be perfectly happy with no "tv" channels. I'm fine with HBO, Netflix, Prime (getting rid of prime in January). But mom wants the Food Network, and she watches network TV for the news. So I'm stuck with some sort of TV just for a few channels.